Highlights

  • Nirvana is still one of the most popular rock bands of all time, with multiple number-one hits and albums.
  • Dave Grohl, drummer for Nirvana, has had a successful career after the band's disbandment, joining other popular bands and venturing into filmmaking.
  • Despite Nirvana's massive success, the members did not accumulate as much wealth as people think, and Grohl's current fortune mostly comes from his work with the Foo Fighters.

To this day, Nirvana is one of the most popular rock bands of all time. Since their breakthrough album Nevermind came out in 1991, this band achieved five number-one hits on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart and four number-one albums on the Billboard 200. They also sold millions of records across the world and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Playing the drums in Nirvana kickstarted Dave Grohl’s career. Since the band disbanded following Kurt Cobain’s death, Grohl has gone on to join popular bands such as the Foo Fighters and Them Crooked Vultures. He’s also ventured into filmmaking, first directing a couple of Foo Fighters videos and, most recently directing the documentary film What Drives Us (2021).

Nowadays, Grohl has an impressive net worth. But, believe it or not, most of his current wealth doesn’t come from his Nirvana days. In an interview with Howard Stern, Grohl revealed exactly how much money he made with Nirvana. It was a lot less than you’d think!

Related
Dave Grohl Has Been Reading Lips For The Last Two Decades Because Of His Medical Condition

Dave Grohl's many years of performing without ear protection have caught up.

Dave Grohl Shocked Howard Stern By Revealing How Much He Actually Made with Nirvana

Despite having a short mainstream career that lasted only three years, Nirvana went on to become one of the most popular rock bands of all time.

The band only released three albums, Bleach (1989), Nevermind (1991), In Utero (1993). Despite this, they sold more than 75 million records across the world. Given that they are one of the best-selling bands of all time, most people assume that the members of Nirvana made millions. In reality, they weren’t as wealthy as most people believe.

In a 1993 interview with Melody Marker, Kurt Cobain revealed how much money he’d actually made with Nirvana.

"I know it's to be expected that people think I am wealthy, they'll think, ‘You sold 10 million albums, so that's 10 million dollars.’ But it's not,” he explained. “I made a million dollars off that record [Nevermind]. Over 300,000 dollars went on taxes, there were legal problems and medical bills because we didn't get insurance in time. I found myself spending all that money, all at once, all in that one year. I also bought a house, too." Most of Cobain's fortune was amassed years after his death.

Related
Dave Grohl Has A Strict Rule When It Comes To Singing Nirvana Songs

Dave Grohl has specific rules when it comes to singing Nirvana songs, especially following Kurt Cobain's passing.

In a more recent interview with Howard Stern, Dave Grohl revealed how much money he earned playing the drums for Nirvana.

“So when Nirvana ends, were you so wealthy at that point that you could have stopped everything?” Stern asked. “When I think of Nirvana, I think of Nirvana money for a second, it had to be insane.” The radio host noted that ticket sales from their tours must have made them a lot of money but Grohl answered that they didn’t tour much.

“But the records,” Stern continued. “You sold a lot of records. And I guess there was enough money there that you could have lived the rest of your life [with]?” He wasn’t wrong. Nirvana’s 1991 album Nevermind was certified Diamond by the RIAA, indicating sales of over 10 million copies in the United States alone. It was also certified multi-platinum in several other countries around the world, so the band clearly sold millions of records.

“Yeah, I mean, at that point I was 24, 25 years old,” Grohl said of his wealth at the time. “I’d never made more than $3.25 an hour.” Stern then asked him what his net worth was at the time. “Alright, so somewhere around $15 million you were worth,” Stern concluded. While a $15 million net worth is impressive, it’s not as much money as most people think the members of Nirvana made.

Dave Grohl Doesn’t Make a Lot of Money from Nirvana Royalties

Even today, thirty years after they disbanded, Nirvana is still one of the most popular rock bands of all time. The band’s songs continue to be played on the radio and their merch is still sold in thousands of stores. Although Nirvana is still making an impressive sum of money on royalties, Dave Grohl doesn’t get even half of that earnings.

All members of Nirvana were getting equal shares of the band’s income up until 1991, when Kurt Cobain asked for more money as the main songwriter for the band. After this, Grohl and Krist Novoselic only made 12.5% of royalties each, while the rest went to Cobain.

Related
Courtney Love Went After Dave Grohl In A Major Lawsuit For Unreleased Nirvana Recordings

Courtney Love and Dave Grohl have been at odds numerous times through the years.

Upon Cobain’s death, the remaining members of the band kept their ownership percentages, while Courtney Love, Cobain’s wife, got his portion. Meaning that Grohl and Novoselic don’t make as much in royalties nowadays. In fact, Grohl has been fighting with Love to get a bigger share of Nirvana's royalties for years now.

Dave Grohl Has Amassed An Impressive Net Worth Over The Years

Nowadays, Dave Grohl has an impressive $330 net worth. However, only a small fraction of his current wealth comes from his time with Nirvana. Instead, Grohl amassed most of his fortune with his current band, the Foo Fighters.

To date, the Foo Fighters have released 10 studio albums, 7 of which have been certified at least Platinum by the RIAA. In total, it’s estimated that the band has sold over 32 million albums worldwide.

The band also makes millions with tours, with the band making approximately $1,000,000 per show. Moreover, his filmaking ventures have helped Grohl grow his net worth significantly in recent years.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErZ%2Bippeoe6S7zGibmq6VYrSzu8elZK2nnJl6qbvWmqmdZaOpsrO6jKGmsGWdqrCpeceeZKaZlJp6uLXToWSnoaKrrq%2BtjJqlnWWZqXq4rdJmmGakn6l6rbHSrGStoJGjeri0wK1kraCVYrWwv9Nmq6GnpZy1tXs%3D