Marvin Gaye has been described as a musical genius. The hitmaker is credited with helping to shape the sound of Motown music, earning him the nicknames Prince of Soul and Prince of Motown. Here’s how much one of Motown’s biggest musicians was worth at the time of his death.
Marvin Gaye’s Net Worth
Marvin Gaye was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer who died in 1984 with a net worth of -$9 million.
Who was Marvin Gaye?
Marvin Gaye was a legendary American soul singer, songwriter, and musician who contributed significantly to the music industry during the 1960s and 1970s. Gaye, who was born on April 2, 1939, in Washington, D.C., began his music career as a session drummer before becoming a solo artist.
He was noted for his seductive and smooth vocal style, as well as his ability to include social and political commentary in his music. Gaye’s career includes multiple chart-topping singles like “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “What’s Going On,” and “Let’s Get It On.”
He worked with several well-known musicians, like Diana Ross and Tammi Terrell, on a number of popular duets. Gaye was a civil rights activist who utilized his music to highlight topics such as poverty, racism, and war, in addition to his artistic triumphs.
Gaye’s life was tragically cut short when, at the age of 44, he was shot and killed by his father on April 1, 1984. His legacy, however, lives on, and he is acknowledged as one of the best musicians of his time, with his music inspiring and influencing artists to this day.
Personal Life of Marvin Gaye’s
Marvin married Anna Gordy, Berry Gordy’s sister, on January 8, 1964, and they adopted son Marvin III (Anna’s niece’s biological son) before divorcing in 1977.
Gaye married Janis Hunter on October 10, 1977, and they had two children: Nona on September 4, 1974, and Frankie on November 16, 1975. In 1981, Marvin and Janis divorced.
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Gaye used marijuana his entire childhood and began using cocaine in the early 1960s. He also used PCP, which allegedly caused him to become despondent and psychotic.
Marvin Gaye attempted suicide in 1969, but Berry Gordy’s father intervened and prevented Gaye from killing himself. Marvin tried suicide again ten years later, this time with an ounce of cocaine. Gaye tried suicide again four days before his death, according to his sister, by jumping out of a moving automobile.
Marvin Gaye’s Cause of Death
On April 1, 1984, Marvin interfered when his parents were fighting at their Los Angeles home. The situation deteriorated, and Gaye and his father got into a violent struggle. Marvin Sr. shot his son in the chest and shoulder with a gun Gaye had given him as a gift.
Marvin was pronounced dead at California Hospital Medical Center at 1:01 p.m., less than 30 minutes after the incident. Gaye’s brother Frankie said that as Marvin was dying, he said, “I got what I wanted… I couldn’t do it myself, so I had him do it… It’s fine; I finished my race and have no more left in me.”
On April 5th, about 10,000 mourners attended Gaye’s funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, and Marvin’s body was cremated; Gaye’s ex-wife Anna and his three children scattered half of his ashes near the Pacific Ocean.
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Marvin died without a will, thus his 17-year-old son, Marvin III, became co-administrator of the estate. Gaye was in debt at the time of his death, but the obligations were later paid off by royalties from his music.
Marvin’s father was charged with first-degree murder, but once it was determined that he had a brain tumor, the charges were lowered to voluntary manslaughter. He received a six-year suspended sentence with five years of probation.