Rick James was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer whose net worth was estimated at $250,000 at the time of his death on August 6, 2004. He earned his income solely from his music career.
With a career spanning three decades, he would have been worth a lot if his drug addiction and legal troubles hadn’t robbed him of much of his hard-earned money.
Who is Rick James?
James Ambrose Johnson Jr., better known as Rick James, was born on February 1, 1948 in Buffalo, New York. His parents were James Ambrose Johnson Sr., and Mabel Johnson raised him and his seven other siblings.
James’ father worked as an auto worker while his mother was a dancer for Katherine Dunham, who also worked as a housekeeper by day and for the Buffalo crime family by night. When he was 10, James’ father left the family.
Rick James attended Bennett and Orchard Park high schools before dropping out. He was introduced to drugs during his high school years, leading to his arrest for burglary when he was a teenager.
At the age of 14, or probably 15, he enlisted in the United States Navy Reserve due to his prison sentences for theft. He lied about his age to avoid being drafted. At the same time, he pursued a career as a drummer for local jazz groups in New York.
James missed required Naval Reserve meetings, resulting in him being ordered to Vietnam. James then fled to Toronto in 1964.
Rick James’ career began when he moved to Toronto and met Levon Helm, who was playing in Ronnie Hawkins’ band at the time. The friendship between the two paved Rick’s way into the American music industry.
During these years, he called himself Ricky James Matthews so as not to be detected by American military authorities.
James formed the Mynah Birds, a soul and rock group, and briefly recorded with the Canadian division of Columbia Records. The group traveled to Detroit to record for Motown Records. He had the privilege of meeting Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder, who were his musical heroes.
When his refugee status with the U.S. Navy was revealed in 1966, he was asked to speak to authorities before his music was released. He turned himself in to the FBI and served five months of hard labor at the Portsmouth Naval Prison.
After his release, he began writing and producing songs at Motown for groups such as The Spinners and The Miracles. He moved to Los Angeles and continued to work and meet a number of high profile musicians, including Stephen Stills, Jim Morrison and Salt’N’Pepper.
How many houses and cars does Rick James own?
It is unknown how many homes Rick James owned during his lifetime. He lived and died in his modest home in Burbank, California. We don’t know how many cars he had in his garage at the time of his death.
How much does Rick James make per year?
Rick James may have died at a time when the music industry was growing, and he could have enjoyed a lot of success and windfall profits. There is no information on how much money he earned as base salary per year at his peak.
How many businesses does Rick James own?
The legendary singer-songwriter did not appear to have any affairs under his belt at the time of his death.
What brands does Rick James own?
Unknown.
How many investments does Rick James own?
To date, we do not have any information on the investments made by Rick James.
How many endorsement deals does Rick James have?
The answer to this question is not currently available to us. Stay with us for updates on this and many more questions.
How many charities has Rick James donated to?
No information is available on this issue. Regardless, James may have donated to a number of charities and foundations at some point in his career.
How many philanthropies has Rick James supported?
In addition to being a well-known singer, Rick James was also a strong supporter of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and the Joseph R. Takats Foundation Trust. He was a long-time member of this non-profit organization until his death on August 6, 2004.