Ben E. King Net Worth

What was Ben E. King’s net worth?

Ben E. King, the late American soul singer/songwriter, had a net worth of $20 million, largely due to the value of his songwriting and publishing catalog.

Rising to fame as the leader of the vocal group the Drifters in the late 1950s and early 60s, King recorded several notable songs with the group including “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “There Goes My Baby,” and “This Magic Moment,” with the former reaching number one on the U.S. charts.

As a solo artist, King’s best-known song is “Stand by Me,” which he both sang and co-composed.

Stand by Me: One of the Most Valuable Songs

Ben E. King’s most famous song, “Stand by Me,” co-written by Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber, is one of the most-valuable songs ever produced. The song has generated more than $30 million in royalties for the trio between 1961 and 2015. King, who was the performer in addition to co-writer, reportedly received 50% of the royalties.

Early Life and Career

Ben E. King, born Benjamin Earl Nelson in rural Henderson, North Carolina in 1938, moved with his family to Harlem when he was nine. He sang in church choirs and formed a doop-wop group called the Four B’s while in high school.

Ben E. King’s Career with the Drifters

In 1958, Ben E. King joined the Five Crowns, a doo-wop group. He later became the leader of the Drifters, an R&B vocal group that had recently fired its original members. King had a string of hits with the group on Atlantic Records, including “There Goes My Baby,” which he co-wrote, and “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “This Magic Moment,” and “I Count the Tears,” on which he sang lead. King left the group in 1960 to pursue a solo career but returned to the Drifters in the UK in the 1980s until its disbanding and reorganization in 1986.

Ben E. King’s Musical Success

Ben E. King became a solo artist on the Atco label under Atlantic Records and had his first solo hit with “Spanish Harlem,” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. He then released his biggest hit, “Stand by Me,” co-written with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The song had over 400 recorded covers and was used as the theme song in the film of the same name, experiencing a resurgence in popularity. King continued to record successful songs throughout the 60s with hits such as “Don’t Play That Song (You Lied),” “Amor,” “I (Who Have Nothing),” and “Young Boy Blues.” Despite falling out of favor somewhat amid the British Invasion, King still had some solid R&B hits, including “Tears, Tears, Tears,” “So Much Love,” and “Til I Can’t Take it Anymore.” In 1975, he mounted a comeback with the disco hit “Supernatural Thing,” which reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award nomination. King collaborated with the Average White Band on the album “Benny & Us,” and with children’s music artist Bobby Susser on the children’s album “I Have Songs in My Pocket.”

King’s Charitable Work and Continued Touring

Later in his life, Ben E. King was actively involved in his charitable organization, the Stand by Me Foundation. The foundation aims to improve youth education accessibility.

Despite a decline in his health, King continued to tour both the United States and the United Kingdom. He remained dedicated to his craft and his fans until the end of his life.

Ben E. King’s Personal Life and Death

King married Betty Nelson in 1964 and they had three children. The couple stayed together for over 50 years and lived in Teaneck, New Jersey. King passed away at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey at the age of 76 after a brief illness.