Born Frederick William Schneider III on the 1st July 1951 in Newark, New Jersey USA, Fred is a singer-songwriter best known to the world as the founding member of the new wave group The B-52’s in the mid-1970s.
Have you ever wondered how rich Fred Schneider is, as of mid- 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Schneider’s net worth is as high as $5 million, an amount earned through his successful career in the entertainment industry. Apart from The B-52’s, Fred has collaborated with numerous other musicians, including Richard Barone, Joe McIntyre, Elvira, among many others, which has also improved his wealth.
Fred Schneider Net Worth $5 Million
Fred’s love of music didn’t emerge until later in his life. In the early days he listened to Halloween songs, nutty Christmas songs and Motown recordings. Gradually he became more interested in music, but his studies hindered him from pursuing a career in music – he graduated from the University of Georgia, and despite his growing interest in music, Fred wasn’t involved in the music scene until the formation of The B-52’s; prior to that, he worked as a janitor. and driver for Meals on Wheels.
The group was created in a strange way; Ricky Wilson, Keith Strickland, Cindy Wilson and Kate Pierson, alongside Fred were all together at a Chinese restaurant located in Athens, Georgia; they started singing without even planning it, and after the night ended they decided to form a band. They had several different names in circulation, but decided on The B-52’s which is a tribute to a particular beehive hairdo resembling the nose cone of the aircraft of the same name.
Their first self-titled album came out in 1979, which reached No. 59 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and achieved platinum status, which certainly increased Fred’s net worth, and encouraged him and the rest of the group to continue to perform together. However, they couldn’t make a breakthrough, always being overshadowed by other similar acts of the era. Things became worse in 1985 when Ricky Wilson died of AIDS. He kept his illness from other band member from when he was diagnosed in 1983, except from Strickland. After his death, Cindy Wilson, who is his sister, fell into deep depression, and the group made an official statement of their hiatus.
They reformed in 1989 and since then have released three albums, including their highest charting “Cosmic Thing” (1989), which reached No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 chart, and achieved multiple platinum status in the US and Australia, which only increased further Fred’s net worth.
Their last studio release “Funplex”, came out in 2008, but to mediocre success. Since then they have been touring constantly, but haven’t released any new material.
Fred has also released two albums on his own – “Fred Schneider and the Shake Society” originally released in 1984, but re-released in 1991, and “Just Fred” (1996), the sales of which also added to his net worth.
To speak further of his accomplishments, Fred has started the group The Superions, which released one studio album “Destination… Christmas” (2010), and a number of singles with two EPs as well, “The Superions” (2010), and “Batbaby” (2011).
Regarding his personal life, Fred is openly gay, and has spoken about his coming out to his mother in an interview with Howard Stern. Fred is a vegetarian, and has volunteered with PETA in several campaigns, including the one discouraging people from eating lobsters!
