| Net Worth: | $10 million |
| Age at Death: | 90 years (Oct. 18, 1926 – Mar. 18, 2017) |
| Name: | Charles Anderson E. Berry |
| Stage name: | Chuck Berry |
| Birth date: | Oct. 18, 1926 – Mar. 18, 2017 |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 6 ft 1in (1.87 m) |
| Country of Origin: | United States |
| Place of birth: | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Profession: | Singer, Songwriter, Guitarist and Film producer |
| Religion: | N/A |
| Source of wealth: | Music, songwriting and live performances |
| Marital status: | Married |
| Wife: | Themetta “Toddy” Suggs |
| Children: | Darlin Ingrid, Aloha, Charles Jr., and Melody |
| High School: | Sumner High school, St. Louis |
| Social media: | Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook |
What Is Chuck Berry’s Net Worth
Charles Anderson E. Berry, popularly known as Chuck Berry, was a professional American singer, songwriter and seasoned guitarist. Chuck’s had an estimated net worth of $10 million and is widely recognised as one pioneer of the Rock and Roll industry.
Even though he is no more, Chuck’s legacy and contribution to the R&R genre remain. His hit songs like Roll over Beethoven, Maybellene and Johnny B. Goode revitalized the industry.
Chuck’s music was also one of the first musical performances to be inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame when the honors started in 1986. He had a unique style of guitar solo performances.
Chuck Berry’s net worth was approximately $10 million. However, the celebrity musician is believed to have slightly exceeded that figure when considering his assets, royalties and recording artists’ contracts.
But one thing is certain- Chuck Berry was very comfortable and wealthy. He had an applaudable 60+ year successful career and is still remembered for his significant contributions to early rock and Roll music.
Early Life
Chuck Berry was born on October 18, 1926, into a family of six. He was the third child and grew up in the northern axis of St. Louis. It was one of the few places where blacks could own properties.
Chuck’s father, Henry W. Berry, worked as a contractor and was also a deacon at the community’s Antioch Baptist church. His mother, Martha Bell, served as a public school principal in one of the surrounding colleges.
However, Chuck’s community wasn’t very developed and was believed to be a middle-class residential area. He attended Sumner High school and took an early interest in music. He even performed his first public performance at Sumner in 1941.
The supportive Chuck Berry managed odd jobs like being a factory worker and even a janitor. Chuck also trained as a beautician at the Poro College of Cosmetology and took other jobs with different local brands.
However, the hardworking Chuck Berry wasn’t so perfect while growing up. He was arrested in 1944 for armed robbery and remanded in the intermediate reformatory at Algoa, around Jefferson City.
Chuck was of improved behavior during his stay there, formed a singing group and was released in 1947 on his 21st birthday.
Chuck Berry’s Musical Career
Before pursuing a full career in music, Chuck Berry previously worked at Fisher Body automobile assembly plant. However, he had always been passionate about music and took guitar lessons with the local jazz expert, Ira Harris.
But the big breakthrough came in 1952 when the famous Sir John’s Trio requested Chuck Berry to join them. He accepted, and that was another start of something great for him.
Berry introduced his distinct country music style to the band’s Rhythm & Blues and soon became the band’s leader. They produced some good music together and usually performed at a nightclub in Eastern St. Louis.
In 1955, Chuck met one great blues artist, Muddy Waters. He sang some of his songs to him, and Waters loved it. He then recommended Chuck to the Chess Records company.
Chess Records
The Chess Records loved the performance, which Berry wrote, and gave him a contract. They also revamped the song and renamed it “Maybellene” in 1955. It was a masterpiece, and the popular disc jockey Alan Freed continuously played a given copy of the music on his show for two hours.
“Maybellene” sold over 1 million copies and was #1 for R&B and #5 on the Hot 100 chart. However, Chuck Berry had a few early challenges. The top-selling “Maybellene” piece had shared royalty payments since Alan and Russ Fato also had their names on it.
Chuck later discovered his management was secretly withholding funds from his live performances. He started having trust issues and was perceived as always trying to control earnings.
1955- 1957 weren’t up to expectations as Chuck struggled to produce a song that made the charts. But his “Roll Over Beethoven” single made the #29 Billboard’s Hot 100 spot in 1956.
However, an impressive streak began with his “School Days” release in March 1957. The next two and a half years featured a few back-to-back hits that charted. Some of those songs include “Sweet Little Sixteen”, Rock and Roll Music”, and “Johnny B. Goode.”
Legal Setbacks To Chuck Berry’s Musical Career
Aside from his earlier legal issues at high school, Chuck Berry was involved in another case again in December 1959. He got arrested for sexual intercourse charges with a 14-year-old.
He was convicted under the Mann act in 1961 and received a 5-year sentence in jail. He appealed and got a reduced 3 years sentence. Fortunately, he served only 20 months before he was released in 1963.
Mercury Records And Berry’s Return To Music
Following his release from prison, Chuck Berry returned to writing and performing new songs. However, he switched to the Mercury Records deal this time around.
The move cost him some challenges with producers but didn’t stop him from recording hit tracks. It was during that period that Berry sang “You Never Can Tell”, “Nadine”, and “Any Place to Go.”
He also released five albums with Mercury Records between 1966 and 1969 and organized musical tours across the UK and some North American venues.
However, Chuck Berry surprisingly returned to Chess Records in 1970 and recorded his first and only Gold album – “My Ding-a-Ling.”
He also released a live single, “Reelin and Rockin”, that made the Top 40 chart. Chuck Berry would then later go on to produce an album. He also got another studio album, “Rockit”, in 1979, but with a different deal – Atco Records.
But problems started again when the IRS accused him of committing federal tax evasion crimes. He pleaded guilty and got a 4 months jail time + 1000 hours community service sentence. He fulfilled the latter with free concerts.
Nevertheless, Berry got the honors of a Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction in 1986. He released a movie and autobiography in 1987 and undoubtedly left a huge footprint in the Rock and Roll genre.
Biography
Amidst his exciting musical career, Berry achieved some personal success. He married Themetta Suggs in 1948 while still working different jobs to make a living. That was also just a year after his first jail term.
The couple had a child, Darlin Ingrid, in 1950 and later birthed three children – Aloha, Charles Jr., and Melody. Berry and Themeta, nicknamed Toddy, bought a small brick home along Whittier street. That property is now on the National Register of Historic places.
However, the couple later got a much better home situated around Wentzville, Missouri. The home had a guitar-shaped swimming pool. Berry was a loving husband to his wife, Toddy, who he married for 68 years.
Chuck Berry’s Death
Chuck Berry was found unconscious at his Wentzville home on the 18th of March, 2017. According to the DailyMail, the St. Charles County police attested to responding to the emergency call at his residence.
But first responders and health personnel couldn’t revive the 90 years old. His physician later confirmed his death, reporting a cardiac arrest.
The funeral took place on April 9, 2017. It was held at The Pageant in St.Louis – Berry’s hometown. He was given a last public viewing honor by family, friends, fans and loved ones at The Pageant, where he used to perform.
It was an emotional one for loved ones, and a red Gibson ES-335 guitar was placed inside his coffin. Berry lived his life as a musical icon and they made sure they gave him that honor.
The eulogy was presented by Gene Simmons of Kiss. Many surrounding bars in St. Louis also honored him with a mass toast just the night before.
Lifestyle
Chuck Berry’s favorite residence was his enormous 30-acre mansion at Wentzville, Missouri. That was where he usually hid himself even until his death.
The wealthy Rock and Roll musician also had other assets too. One of such is another luxurious home in Ladue, Missouri.
Berry wasn’t one to lavishly spend for the camera. Hence, there are a lot of speculations regarding the properties he actually owned. We only updated the ones we could verify and will update this page as we discover more.
Conclusion
Chuck Berry lived most of his life singing, doing live performances and playing the guitar in his favorite Rock and Roll genres. Even in death, his contributions and innovations to early R&R are not forgotten.
He will forever be remembered as a music icon that went on to entertain others with his incredible talent. His name remains cemented firmly as one of the greatest to ever grace the Rock and Roll industry.
