What is Paul Simon’s net worth?

Paul Simon, the celebrated American musician and songwriter, has a net worth of $200 million. His career has spanned decades and has been met with both critical and popular success. Simon has been successful both as a solo artist and in collaboration with Art Garfunkel. Together, they formed the duo Simon & Garfunkel.

Paul Simon Sells Music Catalog to Sony for $250 Million

Paul Simon has sold his entire music catalog to Sony Music Publishing for $250 million. The sale includes 100% of Simon’s rights as both a songwriter and publisher, meaning all future royalty income will go to Sony. The deal includes approximately 400 songs, including hits released when he was a member of Simon & Garfunkel. Notable songs included in the sale are “The Boxer”, “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover”, “Graceland”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Mrs. Robinson”.

Early Life and Education

Paul Simon was born on October 13, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey and raised in Queens, New York. His parents were both involved in music and education, with his father being a double-bass player and dance bandleader, and his mother an elementary school teacher.

Simon met his future band mate, Art Garfunkel, while performing in a sixth-grade production of “Alice in Wonderland”. They began performing together at school dances and were influenced by The Everly Brothers and Woody Guthrie.

The duo found success under the name Tom & Jerry, signing with the Big Records label. They occasionally reunited to perform while attending college. Simon attended Queens College, where he majored in English Literature and joined the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity. He graduated in 1963 but changed his mind about attending law school after only one semester at Brooklyn Law School.

Simon & Garfunkel’s Career

Simon & Garfunkel signed a deal with Columbia Records in 1964 and released their first LP, Wednesday Morning 3 A.M., which was initially unsuccessful. However, “The Sound of Silence” from the album gained popularity on the radio and became No. 1 on the U.S. pop charts after being rereleased with overdubbing. The duo went on to release four more albums together and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. They have also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and have reunited for tours, drawing large crowds.

Paul Simon’s Solo Career

After the split of Simon & Garfunkel in 1970, Paul Simon focused on his solo projects. His self-titled album in 1972 and Still Crazy After All These Years in 1975 were both successful, earning him Grammy Awards. He slowed down in the latter half of the 1970s and 1980s, but his album Hearts and Bones is now considered one of his best works. Simon’s career was revived with the release of Graceland in 1986, which won multiple Grammy Awards and was highly inspired by his experience working with South African musicians. He followed up with The Rhythm of the Saints in 1990 and organized a successful concert in Central Park featuring African and South American bands. Simon has continued to release new music and tour extensively, receiving numerous awards and recognition for his contributions to music.

Marriage and Personal Life

Simon has been married three times. His first marriage was to Peggy Harper in 1969, and they had a son named Harper Simon in 1972. The couple divorced in 1975. He then married actress Carrie Fisher in 1982, but they divorced in 1984. However, they remained in a relationship for several years beyond their divorce. In 1992, Simon married singer Edie Brickell, and the couple has three children together and have remained married. Simon is 25 years her senior.

Friendship and Philanthropy

Simon is a close friend of Lorne Michaels, the creator of “Saturday Night Live”. They became friends in the 1970s while Simon lived in New York. Simon is also dedicated to youth music education and contributes to various music-related organizations and festivals.

Real Estate Portfolio

Paul Simon and his wife Edie acquired a 32-acre property in New Canaan, Connecticut for around $16 million in 2012. The property includes an 8,800 square-foot main house and sprawling grounds. The couple listed the home for sale in April 2019 for $14 million and finally found a buyer in June 2022 for $10.8 million.

In addition to their Connecticut property, the couple owns a duplex in a celebrity-filled NYC building on the Upper West Side, with neighbors including Lorne Michaels and Robert De Niro. They also own a 30-acre oceanfront estate in Montauk, New York and a 10-acre ranch property in Allen, Texas.

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