Chris Cornell Net Worth

What was Chris Cornell’s net worth?

Chris Cornell was an American singer, songwriter, and musician best known for his work as lead vocalist and guitarist of the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. At the time of his death, Cornell’s net worth was $40 million. He was born on July 20th, 1964 in Seattle, Washington and passed away on May 18th, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan at the age of 52.

Chris Cornell’s Net Worth, Career, and Success Story (2023 Update)

Early Life

Cornell was raised in Seattle, Washington with his mother and five siblings. His mother, a self-proclaimed psychic of Jewish descent, and his father, a pharmacist of Irish Catholic descent, influenced his upbringing. As a child, Cornell took lessons for both the piano and guitar, and his early musical taste was shaped by artists such as Alice Cooper, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the Beatles.

He displayed a talent for performance from a young age, putting on his first show in school during the 6th grade.

However, Cornell’s teenage years were marked by struggles with substance abuse, which began after his parents’ divorce. He experienced periods of heavy drug use, followed by social isolation and sobriety. By the age of 12, he had already experimented with various hard drugs.

He dropped out of school after the 8th grade and started working to support his family. At 16, he learned to play the drums and began playing in local bands, including a few shows with future Soundgarden bandmates Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto, although they didn’t initially form a band together.

Soundgarden

Cornell eventually reunited with Thayil and Yamamoto in 1984 to form Soundgarden. He initially played drums and did lead vocals until the band found their permanent drummer, Matt Cameron. Soundgarden signed with the local recording label Sub Pop and released their debut EP “Screaming Life” in 1987, followed by the album “Fopp” the following year.

As Seattle’s grunge music scene expanded, Soundgarden gained popularity and released “Ultramega OK” in 1988 with the independent label SST Records.

Soundgarden became one of the “big four” bands to emerge from the Seattle grunge scene, alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains. Their breakthrough came with the 1991 album “Badmotorfinger,” which featured successful singles and a controversial music video for “Jesus Christ Pose.” The album earned them a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance.

Soundgarden achieved international recognition and critical acclaim with their fourth album, “Superunknown,” released in 1994. It reached the top of Billboard’s top 200 and won the band two Grammy Awards.

The band released their fifth album, “Down on the Upside,” in 1996, which showcased a more subdued acoustic sound. While it received praise from critics and had chart-topping singles, tensions within the band intensified, and they split up shortly after the album’s tour in 1997.

Solo Career and Audioslave

Following Soundgarden’s breakup, Cornell embarked on a solo career and released his debut album, “Euphoria Morning,” in 1999. Although the album received critical acclaim, it didn’t achieve significant commercial success. Cornell then joined forces with the remaining members of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave.

They released their self-titled debut album in 2002, which was a commercial hit despite mixed reviews.

Audioslave’s second album, “Out of Exile,” debuted at number one on the charts and received critical praise. However, their third album received a lukewarm reception, leading Cornell to leave the band in 2006 due to creative differences. Throughout his solo career and time with Audioslave, Cornell released several albums and embarked on multiple tours, solidifying his reputation as a talented and influential musician.

Personal Life

Cornell had two marriages in his lifetime. His first marriage was to former Soundgarden manager Susan Silver, with whom he had a daughter in 2000. After divorcing in 2004, he married publicist Vicky Karayiannis, with whom he had two children. In 2013, Cornell and his wife established the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, which aimed to help homeless youths.

Death and Legacy

Tragically, Cornell was found dead in his Detroit hotel room in May 2017, just hours after performing. He was 52 years old. The coroner ruled his death as a suicide, but his widow, Vicky Cornell, doubted this conclusion. She believed his death was unintentional and filed a lawsuit against his former doctor for negligence in 2018.

Cornell’s death was a significant loss to the music industry, and his legacy as a talented and influential artist continues to resonate.

Summary

Chris Cornell was a highly accomplished American singer, songwriter, and musician. He gained fame as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. Throughout his career, Cornell achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, earning a net worth of approximately $40 million at the time of his passing.

His music continues to inspire and influence musicians and fans worldwide, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the rock music industry.

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