Kirk Hammett started his musical journey with the private lessons he took from Joe Satriani as a teenager, and then he continued with Exodus. Kirk later joined Metallica, which was the pinnacle of his career. The musician contributed to the band’s unique sound with his characteristic guitar-playing and started to carry the band and himself to the top.
Over the years, Metallica have released many impactful songs and put on memorable shows, and become one of the acts that left their mark on music history. As of 2018, their albums have sold more than 125 million copies worldwide, making them one of the most commercially successful bands in the music industry.
Thus, it is not surprising that the band members’ net worth is pretty high. However, of course, it is not possible to say that the earnings of each member are equal. Although Hammett has made numerous contributions, his income is less than James Hetfield‘s and Lars Ulrich‘s.
Who Are The Richest Metallica Members?
James Hetfield has succeeded in impressing his audience with his distinctive vocals and unique guitar playing since the formation of Metallica. Many songs he has contributed to have been crowned with awards and achieved commercial success, which is not very common in the metal scene. The singer has increased his net worth to $300 million and expanded his earnings by buying valuable estates.
However, Lars Ulrich beats his bandmate with his net worth. The rocker, who has advanced the band’s sound, has earned huge revenues. He also increased his gain by investing in real estate in the following periods. As a result, Lars became the band’s wealthiest member by increasing his net worth to $350 million. Although his bandmates’ investment plans were working out, the situation was different for Kirk Hammett, which caused him to earn less than the pair.
How Much Is Kirk Hammett’s Net Worth?
James Hetfield decided to spend a certain of his earnings on valuable estates in Marin County, Vail, and Hawaii. He became one of the most prosperous metal musicians by executing his plans to build houses on the vast acres of open land he owned. Similarly, his fellow bandmate Lars Ulrich increased his gain with investments in huge mansions, especially in California. In addition, he invested in art, and the drummer sold one of his Basquiats at an auction in 2002 for $5.5 million.
Although Kirk Hammett has also bought impressive houses like his bandmates, his total gain has fallen behind theirs. In the early ’90s, he spent $2.56 million on a gigantic estate in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, which had been designed in 1899 and included eight rooms and a music studio. The musician wanted to sell it for $12.5 million but could not find a buyer, and then he ultimately sold it for $7.6 million years later.
In the 2000s, Hammett paid $5.7 million for a house in an ultra-luxurious San Francisco area. Later he bought the house next door, which cost $8 million, desiring to build a small compound. However, Kirk couldn’t actualize his plans, and the rocker put both of them on sale. He profited by selling the first house for $12.8 million and the second for $11.7 million.
Additionally, in the documentary ‘Some Kind of Monster,’ the band members disclosed that they share the royalties equally. However, it remains unknown whether that has been the case since the band’s formation. Furthermore, it should be noted that Hammett joined Metallica to replace Dave Mustaine, and thus, he played in their debut album but did not contribute as much. Therefore, it is highly possible that he received fewer earnings.
It seems like the guitarist has earned a considerable income from his estates along with the commercial success he achieved with his triumphant appearance in the metal scene. Although he currently receives an equal share of the band’s royalties, it is not surprising that his net worth fell behind Hetfield and Ulrich’s, which is currently $200 million.
