Kirk Lee Hammett was born on 18th November 1962, in San Francisco, California USA, of Filipino (mother) and part-Irish (father) descent. Kirk is a musician, and is no doubt best-known as the lead guitarist of Metallica, the band with which he has been performing since 1983. Besides being a rock start, he is also a songwriter and a writer: his first book was published in 2012.
So just how rich is Kirk Hammett? His net worth is estimated at $70 million, most of the money having been made from music, during a career spanning more than 30 years.
Kirk Hammett Net Worth $70 Million
Kirk grew up in El Sobrante, California, where he attended high school. In the early ‘80s, Kirk Hammett took guitar lessons from the famed Joe Satriani, but also studied film and Asian arts at San Francisco State University. Kirk formed his first band, Exodus, in 1980, when he was only eighteen. Three years later, he became the guitarist of the rock band Metallica, by replacing the former lead guitarist, Dave Mustaine, right before the band started producing its first studio album, “Kill ‘Em All”. He has released eight albums with Metallica, from 1983 to 2008, and is actually the songwriter of many of the plays on these albums, from which the most famous are “Enter Sandman” and “Creeping Death”. The rock star had several appearances on other studio albums and videos, including “Kichigai” (by Septic Death), “John the Fisherman” (by Primus), and “Trinity” (by Carlos Santana).
Kirk Hammett is rated one of the best guitarists in the world: he is number 5 in “The 100 Greatest Metal Guitarists” (Joel McIver, 2009), number 11 in “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” (The Rolling Stone, 2003) and has three songs in “The Top 100 Guitar Solos”: “One”, ranked number 7, “Fade To Black”, which is number 24, and “Master of Puppets”, which is number 51.
He has also appeared in a series of documentaries and television shows, which add to the income the rock star makes from music. In 2009, the Metallica members, including Kirk Hammett, were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, but the band, whose worth was estimated at $500 million, is still performing and touring, with Kirk as lead guitarist. Kirk Hammett contributed a lot the rock band’s success not only as a lead guitarist, but also as a song writer. Kirk’s earnings from performing with Metallica are confidential, but media have written about millions of dollars earned by the troupe’s members from albums’ sales, concerts, tours and royalties.
For more than 20 years, he has been working with the Japanese company ESP Guitars, for which he endorses; he also has his own range of electric guitars signed by this company, called The ESP Kirk Hammett (or just ESP KH). Kirk Hammett’s collection consists of more than 20 guitars, from which the most expensive was estimated to cost about $2 million. In 2009, Kirk Hammett sold a mansion in Pacific Heights, California, for $7.6 million.
He completes his earnings with television appearances, in shows and documentaries, and by doing voice-overs for animated characters, in series like “The Simpsons” or “Metalocalypse”. Kirk Hammett has a large horror memorabilia collection, which inspired him to write his first book, called “Too Much Horror Business”, published in 2012. The guitarist created also the “Kirk Von Hammett’s Fear FestEvil”, an annual horror convention, which had its first edition in 2014.
In his personal life, Kirk Hammett was married to Rebecca Enrica Kestelyn from 1987 to 1991, and in 1998 he married Lani Gruttadauro; the couple has two children.
San Francisco State University, De Anza High School, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, San Francisco State University, De Anza High School, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven
Teofila "Chefela" Oyao, Dennis L. Hammett, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Dennis L. Hammett, Teofila "Chefela" Oyao, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven
Siblings
Tracy Hammett, Rick Hammett, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Tracy Hammett, Rick Hammett, Nothing Else Matters, Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven
Nicknames
Kirk Lee Hammett , Hammett, Kirk , Metallica , The Ripper , Kirk Hampster
Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance, MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video, Grammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance, Kerrang! Award for Best Album, Kerrang! Award for Best International Band, Kerrang! Hall of Fame Award, American Music...
Metallica Through the Never, Metallica: Dark Souls, Metallica: Master of Puppets, Metallica: Reflections, Metallica: Phantom Puppets, Metallica Through the Never, Metallica: Dark Souls, Metallica: Master of Puppets, Metallica: Reflections, Metallica: Phantom Puppets
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Trademark
1
ESP Kirk Hammett guitar
2
Curly hair
3
Heavy guitar solos
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Quote
1
I think it's morally wrong to keep someone away from what keeps him happy.
2
There was a lot of anguish after Cliff died, and basically Jason was the punching bag. We vented so much on him, and it wasn't really fair. [on how Metallica coped with the transition from bassist Cliff Burton to Jason Newsted]
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We were very, very frightened. I had to sit down and take stock of my life and see if I had a life outside the band, because I was questioning if there was even a future for Metallica. That was a scary thought; when you've been in a band for as long as we have, you take for granted that it's always going to be there. [recalling the uncertainty of Metallica's future, after Jason Newsted left the band and James Hetfield entered rehab]
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A life lived unexplored is a life not worth living.
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Fact
1
When he plays the guitar wearing a bandage on the hand to avoid scratching.
2
Lives in San Francisco, California.
3
His father had Irish, English, Scottish, and German ancestry. His mother's family is Filipino.
4
Son, Vincenzo Kainalu was born on June 28, 2008.
5
Officially endorsed by ESP Guitars (a Japanese company). He has several signature ESP guitar models (mostly identified by "KH" letters) and he has worked with the company since the late 80s.
6
Son Angel Ray Keala, born October 6, 2006.
7
In November 6, 1998 he suffered from appendicitis when Metallica was on tour in England. He went to a London hospital, recovered, and couple of weeks later flew back to San Francisco.
His musical influences are Led Zeppelin, UFO and Jimi Hendrix.
10
Previous band before Metallica was the trash metal band Exodus.
11
In a 1998 issue of Guitar Legends: The Top 100 Guitar solos, Kirk is credited with 3 songs: "One" (No. 7), "Fade To Black (No. 24), and "Master of Puppets" (No. 51).
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Known for his custom made guitars with horror film graphics
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Has one dog, Darla
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Collects horror film memorabilia
15
Avid surfer
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Vegetarian
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Has his birth date and place tattooed on his stomach
writer: "Master of Puppets", "Eye of the Beholder"
Mike & Mike
2013-2015
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Brows Held High
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Metallica: Amped for IMAX
2013
Short writer: "Fixxxer", "Damage, Inc"
Metallica Through the Never
2013
writer: "...And Justice for All", "Fuel", "Enter Sandman" - as Hetfield'/Urich/Hammett / writer: "Creeping Death", "Master Of Puppets" - as Hetfield'/Urich/Burton/Hammett / writer: "Cyanide"
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2011
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Late Show with David Letterman
2010-2011
TV Series writer - 3 episodes
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
2011
Documentary writer: "Welcome Home Sanitarium", "Fade to Black", "The Day That Never Comes"
Ruisrock - 40 vuotta rockia ja rakkautta
2011
TV Movie documentary writer: "Master of Puppets", "Enter Sandman"
Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World
2011
Video documentary writer: "Enter Sandman"
Trauma
2010
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Super Bowl XLIV
2010
TV Special writer: "Cyanide" - uncredited
Casino Jack and the United States of Money
2010
Documentary writer: "ENTER SANDMAN"
House M.D.
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
WWE Raw
2009
TV Series writer - 1 episode
California's Gold
2009
TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
Guitar Hero: Metallica
2009
Video Game writer: "All Nightmare Long", "Broken Beat & Scarred", "Creeping Death", "Cyanide", "Disposable Heroes", "Dyers Eve", "Enter Sandman", "Fade To Black", "Frantic", "Fuel", "King Nothing", "Master of Puppets", "My Apocalypse", "The Memory Remains", "The Thing That Should Not Be", "The Unforgiven", "Welcome Home Sanitarium"
A Cross the Universe
2008
Video documentary writer: "Final" - as Hammet
Guitar Hero World Tour
2008
Video Game writer: "Trapped Under Ice"
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock
2007
Video Game writer: "One"
Heavy Metal in Baghdad
2007
Documentary writer: "Fade to Black"
Rock Band
2007
Video Game "Enter Sandman"
Metal: A Headbanger's Journey
2005
Documentary writer: "Master of Puppets" - as Hammett
The Work of Director Anton Corbijn
2005
Video documentary writer: "Hero Of the Day"
The Devil and Daniel Johnston
2005
Documentary writer: "Master of Puppets"
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
2004
Documentary writer: "Frantic", "Some Kind of Monster", "Dirty Window", "My World", "Shoot Me Again", "Enter Sandman", "Purify", "Master of Puppets", "The Unnamed Feeling", "Sweet Amber", "All Within My Hands", "Damage, Inc.", "St. Anger", "Invisible Kid" - as Hammett
Old School
2003
writer: "Master Of Puppets"
Biker Boyz
2003
writer: "We Did It Again"
The Forsaken
2001
writer: "Enter Sandman" - as Kirk L. Hammett
The Sopranos
2000
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Metallica: Cunning Stunts
1998
Video documentary writer: "Creeping Death", "Hero of the Day", "King Nothing", "Fuel", "Until It Sleeps", "Fade to Black", "Master of Puppets", "Enter Sandman"
Your Friends & Neighbors
1998
writer: "Enter Sandman", "Welcome Home Sanitarium"
Spawn
1997
performer: "Satan"
Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
1996
Documentary writer: "Welcome Home Sanitarium", "Orion"
ECW Hardcore Heaven 1994
1994
Video writer: "Enter Sandman" - uncredited
MTV Video Music Awards 1991
1991
TV Special writer: "Enter Sandman"
Metallica: Enter Sandman
1991
Video short writer: "Enter Sandman"
Metallica: Cliff 'Em All!
1987
Video documentary writer: "Creeping Death", "Damage, Inc.", "Master of Puppets", "Fade To Black", "Welcome Home Sanitarium"
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Billions
2016
TV Series
Metallica
Tallica Parking Lot
2013
Short voice
Howard Stern on Demand
2013
TV Series
Metalocalypse
2006-2010
TV Series
Barkeep / Queen of Denmark / Smoked Fingers fan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live: Whole Lotta Shakin'
2009
Video
The Simpsons
2006
TV Series
Kirk Hammett
Metallica: Enter Sandman
1991
Video short
Kirk Hammett (uncredited)
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Metallica Through the Never
2013
executive producer
Too Much Horror Business: The Kirk Hammett Collection
2012
Short executive producer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Metallica Through the Never
2013
screenplay by
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
2011
Documentary special thanks: Metallica
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Metallica: Cliff 'Em All!
1987
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk
2017
Documentary completed
Himself
Smokestack Lightning: The Legendary Howlin' Wolf
2016
Documentary post-production
Pop Wrapped TV
2015
TV Series documentary
Lennon or McCartney
2014
Documentary short
Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2014
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Metallica Live at Blizzcon
2014
TV Movie
Himself
Metallica: This Monster Lives
2014
Documentary short
Himself
Hit the Lights: The Making of Metallica Through the Never
2014
Video
Himself
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards
2014
TV Special
Himself - Performer (uncredited)
Le grand journal de Canal+
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
Sidewalks Entertainment
2013
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Metallica: Amped for IMAX
2013
Short
Himself
Metallica Through the Never
2013
Himself
Too Much Horror Business: The Kirk Hammett Collection
2012
Short
Himself - Host
Metallica: Quebec Magnetic
2012
Video
Himself
Music Nuggets
2012
TV Series
Himself
Metal Evolution
2011-2012
TV Series documentary
Himself
MSN Exclusives
2012
TV Series
Himself (2013)
Rock in Rio
2011
TV Series
Himself
That Metal Show
2011
TV Series
Himself - Guest
Cry Baby: The Pedal that Rocks the World
2011
Video documentary
Himself
X-Play
2010
TV Series
Himself
Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth/Anthrax: The Big 4 - Live from Sofia, Bulgaria
2010
Documentary
Himself
Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage
2010
Documentary
Himself
Lemmy
2010
Documentary
Himself
Metallica: Orgullo pasión y gloria. Tres noches en la ciudad de México.
2009
Video
Himself
Metallica - Français pour une nuit
2009
Video
Himself - guitar
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live: Message of Love
2009
Video
Himself
Metallica: In Their Own Words
2009
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Guitar Hero: Metallica
2009
Video Game
Himself
Lars Ulrich - En metalrod vender hjem
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Metallica: The Videos 1989-2004
2006
Video
Himself
Get Thrashed: The Story of Thrash Metal
2006
Documentary
Himself
The Darwin Awards
2006
Himself
The Work of Director Anton Corbijn
2005
Video documentary
Himself (segments "Hero of the Day" and "Mama Said") (as Metallica)
When Metallica Ruled the World
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
2005
TV Series
Himself
Rage
2004
TV Series
Himself
Metallica: Some Kind of Monster
2004
Documentary
Himself
MTV Backstage Pass: Summer Sanitarium Tailgate Party
2003
TV Short
Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 2003
2003
TV Special
Himself - Performer (as Metallica)
Slayer: War at the Warfield
2003
Video documentary
Himself (In Special Feature) (DVD)
Boogie
2003
TV Series
Himself
Metallica: Dark Souls
2003
Video documentary
Himself
Metallica: St. Anger Rehearsals
2003
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Headbangers Ball
2003
TV Series
Himself
MTV Icon: Metallica
2003
TV Special documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
End of the Century
2003
Documentary
Himself, Metallica
Classic Albums: Metallica - The Black Album
2001
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
MTV Video Music Awards 2000
2000
TV Special
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock
2000
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself - Member, Metallica
S&M Documentary
2000
Video short
Himself (uncredited)
FanClub
2000
TV Series
Himself
Making the Video
2000
TV Series documentary
Himself
MADtv
2000
TV Series
Himself
Metallica: S&M
2000
TV Special documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
MTV Video Music Awards 1999
1999
TV Special
Himself - Performer (as Metallica)
Woodstock '99
1999
TV Special
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Hero of the Day
1998
Video
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Metallica: Cunning Stunts
1998
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Metallica: Live Covers
1998
TV Movie
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Metallica TV
1998
TV Special
Himself
Behind the Music
1998
TV Series documentary
Himself
Metallica: Reload/Rehearse/Request
1998
TV Movie documentary
Himself - Guitarist
Metallimania
1997
Documentary
Himself
The 24th Annual American Music Awards
1997
TV Special
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
In a Metal Mood
1996
Documentary
Himself
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
1996
TV Series
Himself
Woodstock '94
1995
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Headbangers Ball
1995
TV Series
Himself
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, San Diego
1993
Video documentary
Himself (Guitarist) (as Metallica)
Metallica: Live Shit - Binge & Purge, Seattle
1993
Video
Himself
For Those About to Rock: Monsters in Moscow
1992
Documentary
Himself (as Metallica)
MTV Video Music Awards 1992
1992
TV Special
Himself - Metallica Guitarist
A Year and a Half in the Life of Metallica
1992
Video documentary
Himself - Guitarist
Metallica: Live Tushino Airfield, Moscow 28 Sept 1991 - Monsters of Rock Festival