Smokey Robinson Net Worth: How the Motown Legend Made His Fortune

Publish date: 2021-03-05

Smokey Robinson is one of the most influential and successful singer-songwriters in the history of American music. He is best known as the founder and leader of the Motown vocal group The Miracles, as well as a solo artist and a producer for many other artists. He has been called “the King of Motown” and “America’s greatest living poet” by Bob Dylan. But how much is Smokey Robinson worth, and how did he earn his wealth?

Early Career and The Miracles

Smokey Robinson was born on February 19, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a poor neighborhood and developed a passion for music at an early age. He formed his first doo-wop group, The Five Chimes, with his school friends in the mid-1950s. The group later changed its name to The Matadors and then to The Miracles.

In 1957, Robinson met Berry Gordy, a songwriter and producer who would later become the founder of Motown Records. Gordy was impressed by Robinson’s talent and became his mentor and manager. He helped The Miracles release their first single, “Got a Job”, on End Records in 1958.

The Miracles signed with Gordy’s Tamla Records, which later became part of Motown, in 1959. They soon became one of the most popular and successful groups in the label, with hits such as “Shop Around”, “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”, “I Second That Emotion”, “The Tracks of My Tears”, and “The Tears of a Clown”. Robinson was the lead singer, songwriter, and producer for the group, as well as the vice president of Motown.

According to Celebrity Net Worth  Smokey Robinson earned about $100,000 per year from his work with The Miracles in the 1960s. However, he also faced some financial difficulties due to Gordy’s tight control over the royalties and contracts of the artists. Robinson later sued Gordy for unpaid royalties and settled out of court in 1986.

Solo Career and Production Work

Robinson left The Miracles in 1972 to pursue a solo career. He released his first solo album, Smokey, in 1973, which featured the hit single “Baby That’s Backatcha”. He continued to record and perform throughout the 1970s and 1980s, with songs such as “Cruisin’”, “Being with You”, “Just to See Her”, and “One Heartbeat”.

Robinson also worked as a producer and songwriter for other Motown artists, such as Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, The Temptations, The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross. He wrote or co-wrote over 1,000 songs for Motown, many of which became classics of the genre.

According to Celebrity Net Worth  Smokey Robinson earned about $200,000 per year from his solo career and production work in the 1970s and 1980s. He also received several awards and honors for his contributions to music, such as a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance in 1988, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999, a Kennedy Center Honor in 2006, and a Library of Congress Gershwin Prize in 2016.

Later Career and Business Ventures

Robinson left Motown Records in 1990, following the sale of the company to MCA two years earlier. He signed with SBK Records and released his album Love, Smokey in 1990. He then moved to Universal Records and released Intimate in 1999. He also collaborated with various artists, such as Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, Patti LaBelle, Rick James, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, and Mary J. Blige.

Robinson also ventured into other businesses, such as publishing, cosmetics, food products, and real estate. He founded Smokey Robinson Foods in 2004, which sells frozen meals inspired by soul food cuisine. He also launched a skincare line called Skinphonic in 2016, which caters to people of color.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Smokey Robinson earned about $300,000 per year from his later career and business ventures in the 1990s and 2000s. He also continued to receive royalties from his songs and performances.

Smokey Robinson Net Worth

As of 2023, Smokey Robinson has an estimated net worth of $150 million1. He is one of the richest and most respected musicians in the world. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide as a solo artist and with The Miracles. He has also written or produced over 4,000 songs for himself and other artists.

Smokey Robinson is a living legend who has made a lasting impact on the music industry and culture. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest songwriters of all time and a pioneer of the Motown sound. He is also a philanthropist who supports various causes, such as education, health, and human rights. He is an inspiration to many generations of artists and fans.

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