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Marvin Gaye - Minus $9 Million Net Worth, The Prince Of Motown

Marvin Gaye net worth was - $9 million. Marvin left behind an estate that was $9 million in debt.

Author:Alex Mercer
Reviewer:Nathanial Blackwood
Aug 02, 2022
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Marvin Gaye was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer who died in 1984.
Marvin Gaye net worth was - $9 million. Marvin left behind an estate that was $9 million in debt.
He had no will, and the IRS was the recipient of the majority of his obligation for unpaid taxes.
Prior to his passing, due to financial difficulties, he sold Motown Records the majority of his music royalties rights while keeping the publication rights.
All of his estate's royalties, which amounted to about $1 million a year for several years following his passing, were paid to the IRS.
Gaye was a pioneer and one of Motown's most dependable hit creators, and she played a significant role in defining the sound of R&B music.
As soon as he got a solo deal with Motown Records, his ability began to shine through. He was gifted with a mellifluous tenor and a three-octave vocal range.

Top 7 Quick Facts About Marvin Gaye

NameMarvin Gaye
Date Of BirthApr 2, 1939 - Apr 1, 1984 (44 years old)
GenderMale
Height6 ft (1.854 m)
ProfessionRecord producer, Singer-songwriter, Musician, Composer, Keyboard Player, Film Score Composer
NationalityUnited States of America
Net Worth-$9 Million

Marvin Gaye Personal Life

Marvin Gaye Wearing A Black Suit
Marvin Gaye Wearing A Black Suit
On January 8, 1964, Marvin wed Berry Gordy's sister Anna, and before their 1977 divorce, they adopted Marvin III, Anna's niece's biological son.
On October 10, 1977, Gaye married Janis Hunter; on September 4, 1974, they had a daughter named Nona and on November 16, 1975, a boy named Frankie.
In 1981, Marvin and Janis were divorced. Gaye smoked weed all of his life and started taking cocaine in the early 1960s.
He also took PCP, and it's been said that he developed depression and paranoia as a result of his drug usage.
Marvin Gaye tried to shoot himself in the head in 1969, but Berry Gordy's dad stopped him.
Marvin made another attempt at suicide ten years later by consuming an ounce of cocaine.
Gaye made another attempt at suicide by leaping out of a moving automobile four days before to his passing, according to his sister.

Marvin Gaye Death

Marvin broke up a disagreement between his parents on April 1, 1984, in their Los Angeles home.
As the situation worsened, a fight broke out between Gaye and his father. Marvin Sr. used a rifle that Gaye had given him as a present to shoot his son in the chest and shoulder.
Less than 30 minutes after the incident, Marvin was declared dead at California Hospital Medical Center at 1:01 p.m.
According to Frankie Gaye, Marvin whispered these words as he was passing away:
“„
"I obtained my goals... I asked him to do it since I couldn't do it myself.
“„
It's nice since I finished my race and have no more left in me." Marvin Gaye was cremated and his remains was laid to rest on April 5 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Gaye's ex-wife Anna and his three children scattered half of his ashes close to the Pacific Ocean.
Since Marvin had no will, Marvin III, then 17 years old, was appointed to serve as co-administrator of the estate.
Gaye had debts at the time of his passing, but they were later settled thanks to song royalties.
After it was determined that Marvin's father had a brain tumor, the charges against him were dropped from first-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter.
He was given a six-year sentence with a five-year probationary period that was suspended.

Marvin Gaye Career

Marvin Gaye On Stage
Marvin Gaye On Stage
After receiving his military discharge, Gaye and his buddy Reese Palmer established the vocal group The Marquees.
Bo Diddley assisted the duo in obtaining a record deal with Columbia's OKeh Records. The Marquees were fired from the label after "Wyatt Earp," one of their singles, failed to chart.
The Marquees were hired by Harvey Fuqua, a co-founder of the R&B group the Moonglows, who later renamed them Harvey and the New Moonglows and relocated to Chicago.
After the trio split up in 1960, Gaye relocated to Detroit and obtained a recording contract with Tri-Phi Records, contributing as a session musician to a number of the label's albums.
Marvin was hired by Berry Gordy's Motown Records subsidiary Tamla after playing at his home in December 1960.
Gaye's debut album, "The Soulful Moods of Marvin Gaye," and his first single, "Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide," were both released in May 1961.
He co-wrote the Marvelettes smash song "Beechwood 4-5789," and he also had a solo success that year with "Stubborn Kind of Fellow."

Marvin Gaye Awards And Nominations

Gaye won two Grammys in 1983 for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "Sexual Healing (Instrumental Version)" and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for "Sexual Healing," the latter of which he got posthumously in 1996.
He received ten additional nominations for Grammy Awards, including Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental for "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" (1968), Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance, Male for "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (1969), Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "After The Dance" (1977), Best Rhythm & Blues Song for "Sexual Healing" (1983), and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for (1984).
In 2001, Marvin received a posthumous Online Film & Television Association Award nomination for Best Music, Adapted Song for Jack Black's rendition of "Let's Get It On" in the movie "High Fidelity."
Gaye got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990 after being elected into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame in 1988.

Marvin Gaye Top 12 Albums And Sales

Over 12,315,770 records by Marvin Gaye were sold, including 9,773,000 in the US and 1,840,000 in the UK. Midnight Love, the best-selling album by Marvin Gaye, has sold over 3,203,440 copies.
MIDNIGHT LOVE (1982)3,203,440
EVERY GREAT MOTOWN HIT (1983)2,516,000
WHAT`S GOING ON (1971)1,800,000
THE VERY BEST OF MARVIN GAYE (1994)1,007,500
MARVIN GAYE`S GREATEST HITS (1976)1,000,000
20TH CENTURY MASTERS - THE BEST OF MARVIN GAYE (2000)697,000
LET`S GET IN ON (1973)680,000
THE VERY BEST OF MARVIN GAYE (2001) (2001)500,000
DIANA AND MARVIN (1973)170,420
SOUL COLLECTION (1990)100,000
THE LOVE SONGS (2000)100,000
GREATEST HITS (1983) (1983)100,000

Marvin Gaye Top 5 Songs

Marvin Gaye's unmatched voice reached millions of listeners with his songs demanding racial justice and sensual funk from his humble beginnings with Motown to his No. 1 successes.

I Heard It Through The Grapevine

Marvin Gaye - I heard it through the grapevine (Lyrics)

Sexual Healing

Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (lyrics)

What's Going On?

Marvin Gaye -Whats Going On Lyrics

Let's Get It On

Video unavailable
This video is unavailable: Original link to video

Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)

Marvin Gaye Mercy Mercy Me with Lyrics

Marvin Gaye Net Worth

Gaye was in debt when he passed away. The recording artist's death resulted in a $9 million loss in net worth.
His underwhelming net worth was mostly the result of owing taxes to the IRS. Gaye "sold the majority of his music royalties rights to Motown Records but was able to retain the publishing rights," according to the journal.
All of his estate's royalties, which were estimated to be worth $1 million year for several years following his passing, went to the IRS. In 1987, Gaye received a nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Marvin Gaye Real Estate

Marvin Gaye Smiling
Marvin Gaye Smiling
2101 South Gramercy Street in Los Angeles' West Adams neighborhood. Marvin Gaye bought the house in 1975; it had first been constructed in 1905.
Sadly, Gaye's physical and mental condition started to deteriorate, and he was compelled to give his parents the house barely a year after buying it.
The house resembles how it did that day in 1984, with the exception of a few minor aesthetic alterations.
The home is entirely visible from the sidewalk, but is encircled by a gate and some low vegetation.

Top 6 Disturbing Facts About Marvin Gaye

  • Jeanne Gaye, Marvin Jr.'s sister, recollects her father once threatening her that he would murder Marvin Jr. if he ever touched him.
  • Marvin Jr. frequently discussed death and suicide. He had also grown more and more paranoid in his later years.
  • On April 1, 1984, Frankie, Marvin Jr.'s brother, held Marvin as he bled to death. Marvin's last words, according to him, were, "I got what I wanted... I couldn't do it myself, so I had him do it... It's OK, I ran my race, there's no more in me."
  • According to the first autopsy and toxicology findings, Marvin Jr. died from a combination of cocaine and PCP poisoning. Despite the fact that just traces of cocaine were discovered in his system, it was subsequently reported.
  • Even though Marvin Sr. had a brain tumor removed only a month prior, he was found to be competent to stand trial and given a June 20, 1984, appearance date.
  • Marvin Sr. received a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation from Judge Gordon Ringer, which meant that he would not go to jail until his probation was successfully completed.

The Tragic Ending of Marvin Gaye

People Also Ask

Who Got Marvin Gaye's Money?

Gaye "sold the majority of his music royalties rights to Motown Records but was able to retain the publishing rights," according to the journal.
All of his estate's royalties, which were estimated to be worth $1 million year for several years following his passing, went to the IRS.

Why Was Marvin Gaye In So Much Debt?

Throughout the 1980s, Marvin lived in exile from taxes in Europe. He had amassed up to $9.2 million in debt in the days before his death, putting him under a great deal of financial duress. Of this, the IRS owed unpaid taxes totaling $4.5 million.

How Did Marvin Gaye Get Famous?

Gaye achieved fame in 1962 as a co-writer and drummer for the Marvelettes' song "Beechwood 4-5789."
Later that September, he released "Stubborn Kind of Fellow," his debut solo hit, which peaked at No. 8 on the R&B chart and No. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Conclusion

Marvin Gaye has been referred to as a musical genius. The Hitmaker is credited for helping to define the sound of Motown music and for winning both the Prince of Soul and Prince of Motown awards.
Though it has been more than three decades since the death of the song, people continue to wonder about his personal life and financial difficulties.
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Alex Mercer

Alex Mercer

Author
Alex Mercer is a seasoned author and analyst specializing in wealth research, with a keen focus on evaluating the net worth of individuals across various industries. With over a decade of experience in financial analysis and wealth assessment, Alex has developed a nuanced understanding of the factors that contribute to an individual's financial status, from investments and assets to market trends and economic policies. His work involves in-depth reviews and analyses, providing insightful observations on wealth accumulation, management strategies, and the socio-economic implications of wealth distribution. Throughout his career, Alex has become known for his ability to distill complex financial data into understandable and engaging narratives, making the subject of wealth and net worth accessible to a broad audience. His expertise is not just in numbers but in telling the stories behind them, highlighting the journeys, strategies, and decisions that lead to financial success or challenges. Alex's contributions to the field of wealth research are valuable resources for anyone looking to understand the dynamics of wealth in today's world, offering a unique perspective that bridges the gap between financial analysis and human interest.
Nathanial Blackwood

Nathanial Blackwood

Reviewer
Nathanial (Nate) Blackwood is a distinguished financial journalist with a decade of experience in net worth analysis. He holds an Economics degree from the University of Finance and a Data Analysis certification, enabling him to blend thorough insights with engaging storytelling. Nate is known for making complex financial information accessible to a wide audience, earning acclaim for his precise and reader-friendly analyses. Beyond his writing, Nate is dedicated to financial literacy, actively participating in educational forums and workshops. He is the founder of PureNetWealth, a platform that demystifies the financial achievements of public figures by exploring the strategies and decisions behind their fortunes. Nate's work bridges the gap between intricate economic concepts and the general public, inspiring a deeper understanding of wealth dynamics. Follow Nathanial Blackwood for essential insights into the financial narratives shaping our world.
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