What Was Joy Division Icon Ian Curtis’ Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? Who Inherited His Money And Estate?

The late lead singer of Joy Division, Ian Curtis achieved to leave his mark on the music industry with his unique bass-baritone voice and his songwriting skills even though his struggle with depression led to his death at a very young age.

Joy Division was founded back in 1976 by Bernards Sumner, Peter Hook, and Ian Curtis. The band released their first EP, ‘An Ideal for Living,’ in 1978 which was followed by the release of their debut album titled ‘Unknown Pleasures.’ Although their initial sound was mainly under the influence of punk, Joy Division found their own sound in time and became one of the lead figures of the post-punk movement.

However, the band’s career came to an end around the 1980s after a tragic incident that changed everything for the band members. The young musician, Ian Curtis, sadly lost his battle against depression and took his own life at the age of 23 shortly before Joy Division’s first-ever tour in the United States.

Following Curtis’ passing Joy Division released their second and last album, ‘Closer.’ His bandmates decided not to continue with the same name and formed New Order. The sudden death of Ian saddened fans around the world, but most importantly, it affected his widow Deborah and his daughter Natalie, who was only one year old at the time of her father’s death. Curtis left behind a tragic story to his family as well as his considerably small fortune.

Ian Curtis’ Net Worth $2 Million

Joy Division’s frontman and lyricist, Ian Curtis had a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. Although the band was only in the very first years of their careers, they managed to become popular around the world mainly due to Curtis’ exceptional voice and songwriting as well as his unique stage performances.

Unfortunately, his talents as a musician were overshadowed by his physical and mental health problems. He was suffering from epileptic seizures which caused extreme mood swings and worsened over the years. Ian even collapsed on stage during a live show with Joy Division at the Rainbow in Finsbury Park.

Curtis had a long history of depression which also influenced the themes of the songs he had been writing for Joy Division. After his first suicide attempt failed back in April 1980, Ian sadly passed away on his second attempt by hanging himself using the kitchen’s washing line. The late musician left a note to his wife and daughter expressing his love to both of them.

Did Ian’s Daughter Natalie Curtis Inherit His Money And Estate?

Ian Curtis got married to Deborah Woodruff while he was only 19 years old. A couple of years later, the couple had their first child, a daughter named Natalie. Years after Ian’s death, his widow revealed that her husband was having an affair with the Belgian journalist Annik Honoré. Deborah was about to get divorced from Ian if he didn’t end his relationship with Honoré. Yet, the divorce never finalized since he took his own life around the same time. Curtis’ money and estate, including music royalties from Joy Division, was most likely left to his widow and their daughter.

Natalie Curtis was only a one-year-old baby when her father passed away. Now, as a successful photographer, she shared her feelings about not being able to meet her own father in an interview she joined. She recalled how much she was impressed by Joy Division’s music thinking it was out of this world. However, Natalie stated that she realized not everything was as amazing as their music when she grew older and heard the real stories about her father’s mental health problems.

Here is what Natalie Curtis stated about her father:

“When I was growing up, neither myself nor my mother was in the public eye, and Joy Division were more cult than mainstream. The first time I heard their album ‘Closer,’ I thought it was out of this world. I assumed all music was done with that level of style and intelligence. As I grew older, it was a shock to discover not everything was that amazing.

He did the best he could; he was just very ill. I’ve never really felt angry at my father for committing suicide, nor was I emotional about it all being brought up in the film because it’s been there every day for me, although I’ve not had a tortured life.”

Looking back to her father’s death, Natalie is more understanding than many other people who couldn’t comprehend why Ian wanted to take his own life. When evaluating everything Curtis had to deal with in his life, the diseases, the band, and the problematic marriage, his daughter seems to made peace with him suggesting that he did the best he could in a very chaotic situation.