Christopher John Boyle was born on 20th July 20 1964, in Seattle, Washington USA, of English, Scottish, and Irish descent. As Chris Cornell, he was known as a musician, singer and songwriter, who became famous performing with rock bands including Soundgarden and Audioslave. Cornell was one of the representatives of the grunge movement back in the ‘90s. He passed away in 2017.
So just how rich was Chris Cornell? Sources estimate Cornell’s net worth at $60 million, being ranked number 40 in the list of the richest rock stars in the world. The musician made most of his money in the music industry, from album sales, ticket sales, touring, and royalties. Besides performing in rock bands, Chris Cornell had a solo career, which also added important income to his total net worth.
Chris Cornell Net Worth $60 Million
Chris Cornell suffered from depression when he was young and, as an adolescent, he was involved in drugs and stealing issues. The artist has declared that it was music that saved his life from addictions. He studied piano as a child, and later on he started playing drums, which brought him closer to rock ‘n’ roll. The musician quit school when he was 15, because he had to work to maintain his family.
In the ‘80s, he formed the rock band Soundgarden, together with Hiro Yamamoto, Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil, and they were signed in 1990 by the major label A&M Records. The band recorded five EPs, six albums, and two greatest hits compilations, including “Louder than Love”, “Badmotorfinger”, “Superunknown”, and “Down on the Upside”. Soundgarden had numerous hits, some of the best known being “Jesus Christ Pose”, “Spoonman”, “Black Hole Sun”, “Pretty Noose”, and “Blow Up the Outside World”. Soundgarden won two Grammy awards and many of their albums achieved platinum status in several countries worldwide. All these activities increased his net worth.
Chris Cornell started his solo career after 1997, when Soundgarden disbanded. His first solo album was called “Euphoria Morning” and brought Cornell a Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Performance. At the end of the ‘90s, the rock star had to face depression again, and only after several years of fighting drugs and alcohol problems did he manage to rebuild his life and career. Regardless, he maintained his net worth.
Between 2001and 2007, the musician performed with Audioslave, a rock supergroup. Together with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, Cornell released three albums: “Audioslave”, in 2002, “Out of Exile”, in 2005, and “Revelations”, in 2006. After the Audioslave project was over, in 2006 Cornell won a Satellite Award for the song “You Know My Name”, featured on the soundtrack of the film “Casino Royale”. The song also brought him a World Soundtrack Award, in 2007; his net worth increased considerably
During his solo career, Chris Cornell recorded five solo albums, the last being “Higher Truth”, released in 2015. The artists toured all over the world, having concerts in the US, Europe and Australia. Rolling Stone ranked him number nine in the list of “Best Lead Singers of All Time”, while MTV placed Cornell in 12th position in the top “22 Greatest Voices in Music”. All helped his net worth to climb.
In his personal life, Chris Cornell was first married to Susan Silver(1990-2004) with whom he has a daughter. He then married Vicky Karayiannis in 2004, and they have a daughter and a son.
Chris Cornell was found hanged on 18 May 2017, identified by authorities as by his own hand. Perhaps his depression had not been cured, as was thought by family and friends.
Christ the King School, Shorewood High School, Black Hole Sun, Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart, You Know My Name, Tampa, FL, USA, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Fort Myers, FL, USA
Nationality
American
Spouse
Vicky Karayiannis (m. 2004-2017, his death), Susan Silver (m. 1990–2004)
Children
Toni Cornell, Christopher Nicholas Cornell, Lillian Jean Cornell, Black Hole Sun, Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart, You Know My Name, Tampa, FL, USA, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Fort Myers, FL, USA
Parents
Karen Cornell, Ed Boyle, Black Hole Sun, Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart, You Know My Name, Tampa, FL, USA, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Fort Myers, FL, USA
Siblings
Katy Boyle, Patrick Boyle, Suzy Boyle, Peter Boyle, Maggie Boyle, Black Hole Sun, Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart, You Know My Name, Tampa, FL, USA, Jacksonville, FL, USA, Fort Myers, FL, USA
iHeartRadio Music Award for Rock Song of the Year (2016), Satellite Award for Best Original Song (2006), World Soundtrack Award for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film (2007)
Record Labels
A&M Records
Albums
“Audioslave” (2002), “Out of Exile” (2005), “Euphoria Morning”, “Revelations” (2006), “Louder than Love”, “Badmotorfinger”, “Songbook” (2011), “Superunknown”, “Down on the Upside”, “Higher Truth” (2015)
Music Groups
Alice Mudgarden, Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, Center for Disease Control Boys, Mad Season
Nominations
Satellite Awards, World Soundtrack Award, Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Performance
Movies
“Casino Royale”
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Trademark
1
Raw edged vocals
2
Goatee
#
Quote
1
I'm not a lyric writer to make statements. What I enjoy doing is making paintings with lyrics, creating colorful images. I think that's more what entertainment and music should be.
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Fact
1
Wife Vicky gave birth to their second and his third child, Christopher Nicholas. It's the first son. [December 2005]
2
Left Audioslave, citing "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences" as the reason. [February 2007]
3
New wife Vicky gave birth to his second daughter named Toni on the 18th of September. [September 2004]
4
Will be one of the artists with Audioslave in this year's revival of Lollapalooza, started by Perry Ferrell of Jane's Addiction, a touring festival of music and other exhibits. [July 2003]
5
Left Audioslave in 2007 due to growing differences between himself and the other band members. The other members of the band went on to reestablish Rage Against the Machine with their former vocalist Zack De La Rocha, while Cornell went back to his solo career.
6
First American male to perform the opening credits song for a James Bond film (You Know My Name, from Casino Royale (2006)).
7
Dropped out of school at age fifteen.
8
His father had Irish ancestry. His mother has English, Scottish, and Northern Irish ancestry. Chris's maternal grandfather, Ralph Trivett Cornell, was born in Rothesay, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Julian Trivett Cornell and Emily Keillor Emmerson. Chris's maternal grandmother, Marion M. MacNutt, who was born in Washington state, was the daughter of a Canadian-born father, James Frederick MacNutt, and a Wisconsin-born mother, Clarabell J. Hubbell.
9
Lives in Los Angeles.
10
Owns a rock-themed restaurant in Paris called "Black Calavados".
11
Vicky gave birth to his second daughter named Toni on the 18th of September, 2004
12
Sold over 5 million records with his band Soundgarden. Sold over 300,000 copies of his solo debut, Euphoria Morning, as well as earned a grammy nomination. In 2002 his new band Audioslave sold 2 million copies of their self titled debut.
13
Is an avid reader who enjoys books on philosophy and eastern culture. Counts Sylvia Plath among his favourite authors.
14
Wrote the track 'Wave Goodbye' about the death of his friend, musician Jeff Buckley.
15
Enjoys snowboarding and mountain biking in his leisure.
16
November 19th 2002: release of Audioslave's debut album.
17
Used to be a cook.
18
Wrote "Jesus Christ Pose" as a parody of Jane's Addiction singer / Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell.
19
Lead vocalist, songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of the alt rock band Soundgarden (was originally the drummer before Matt Cameron joined and Cornell switched to vocals).
20
Daughter Lilian Jean (b. 28 June 2000) (7 lbs 12 oz).
Video documentary lyrics: "Set It Off", "Your Time has Come", "Like a Stone", "The Worm", "Gasoline", "Doesn't Remind Me", "Be Yourself", "Out of Exile", "I am the Highway", "Show Me How to Live", "Cochise" / writer: "Outshined"
The Work of Director Mark Romanek
2005
Video documentary lyrics: "Cochise"
Idol
2002-2005
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004
Video Game writer: "Rusty Cage"
Collateral
2004
writer: "Shadow On The Sun" - as Christopher Cornell
Documentary writer: "Nothing to Say" - as Christopher J. Cornell / writer: "Searching With My Good Eye Closed"
The Basketball Diaries
1995
writer: "Blind Dogs" - as Christopher J. Cornell
Beavis and Butt-Head
1993-1994
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
S.F.W.
1994
performer: "Like Suicide" Acoustic Version / writer: "Jesus Christ Pose", "Like Suicide" Acoustic Version
Top of the Pops
1994
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Soundgarden: Black Hole Sun
1994
Short writer: "Black Hole Sun"
True Romance
1993
writer: "Outshined"
Benny & Joon
1993
writer: "PUSHIN' FORWARD BACK" - as Christopher J. Cornell
Soundgarden: Motorvision
1992
Video lyrics: "Little Joe", "Jesus Christ Pose", "Slaves & Bulldozers" / music: "Jesus Christ Pose", "Slaves & Bulldozers" / writer: "Searching with My Good Eye Closed", "Rusty Cage", "Outshined", "Mind Riot"
Singles
1992
performer: "Seasons" / performer: "Spoonman demo version" - as Christopher J. Cornell / producer: "Seasons" / producer: "Spoonman demo version" - as Christopher J. Cornell / writer: "Birth Ritual", "Spoonman demo version" - as Christopher J. Cornell / writer: "Seasons", "Spoonman"
Wayne's World
1992
"LOUD LOVE", "ALL NIGHT THING"
Pacific Heights
1990
writer: "HANDS ALL OVER" - as Christopher Cornell
Soundgarden: Louder Than Live
1990
Video lyrics: "Get on the Snake", "Hands All Over" / writer: "Gun", "Big Dumb Sex", "Loud Love"
Lost Angels
1989
writer: "Get on the Snake"
Say Anything...
1989
writer: "Toy Box", "Flower"
The Promise
2016/II
writer: "The Promise"
Vinyl
2016
TV Series performer - 1 episode
13 Hours
2016
performer: "'Til the Sun Comes Back Around" / writer: "'Til the Sun Comes Back Around"
Bones
2015
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV Series writer - 2 episodes, 2014 - 2015 performer - 1 episode, 2015
Saturday Night Live
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2015 writer - 1 episode, 1996
A Walk Among the Tombstones
2014
writer: "Black Hole Sun"
The Marty Stuart Show
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Fino alla fine del mondo
2013
TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
One Hit Wonderland
2013
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2011-2013
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Guardian of the City
2013
Short writer: "Shadow on the Sun"
Danville 2nd Ward Young Men
2013
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Man of Steel
2013
performer: "Seasons" / writer: "Seasons"
Sound City
2013
Documentary writer: "Rusty Cage"
Late Show with David Letterman
TV Series writer - 1 episode, 2012 performer - 1 episode, 2011
Supernatural
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Sons of Anarchy
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Avengers
2012
writer: "Live to Rise"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2012 writer - 1 episode, 2012
Metal Evolution
TV Series documentary lyrics - 1 episode, 2011 writer - 1 episode, 2011
We Bought a Zoo
2011
writer: "Hunger Strike"
Machine Gun Preacher
2011
performer: "The Keeper" / writer: "The Keeper"
Conan
2010
TV Series lyrics - 1 episode
X Factor
2010
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Chris Cornell: Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart
2015
Video short
Howard Stern on Demand
2011
TV Series
Soundgarden: Black Hole Sun
1994
Short
Chris Cornell
Singles
1992
Chris
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Singles
1992
composer: additional music
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Colossus of Destiny: A Melvins Tale
2016
Documentary
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2007-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Musical Guest
Good Morning America
2015
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2015
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2015
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records
2015
Documentary
Himself
Late Show with David Letterman
1999-2013
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest / Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
2011-2013
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
Ali 70 from Las Vegas
2012
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2000-2012
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Musical Guest
Tavis Smiley
2011
TV Series
Himself
Pearl Jam Twenty
2011
Documentary
Himself
The Jay Leno Show
2009
TV Series
Himself
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
2009
TV Series
Himself - Musical Guest
Last Call with Carson Daly
2009
TV Series
Himself
Zulu Awards '09
2009
TV Special
Himself - Presenter
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts