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Don Henley's net worth is estimated to be $250 million, making him one of the wealthiest singers on the planet. He is a well-known drummer, singer, and songwriter, as well as one of the Eagles' founding members. Henley has had a long and illustrious career, selling over 10 million albums worldwide and winning two Grammy Awards. Behind Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, and Dave Grohl, Henley was estimated to be the world's fourth wealthiest drummer.
Donald Hugh Henley was born in Gilmer, Texas on July 22, 1947. He was raised in the nearby town of Linden, developed an interest in music after being forced to leave his high school football team due to his shorter stature. Eventually, he settled into the percussion section of the school.
He joined a band called the Four Speeds during his high school years. Henley wrote the song "Hurtin'" for the band, which they released under their new moniker, Felicity. Kenny Rogers began assisting the band after hearing the single, and they released a few singles under a new moniker, Shiloh. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University after high school before transferring to Texas State University.
Between 1971 and 1980, Henley was the Eagles' lead vocalist and drummer, appearing on smash hits such as "Desperado," "Best of My Love," and "Hotel California." Following the breakup of the Eagles, he had a very successful solo career, releasing four studio albums, two compilations, and a live DVD. In 2008, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked him as the 87th greatest singer of all time. The Eagles reunited and resumed touring 14 years after their breakup in 1994. They also recorded new songs, which resulted in new albums being released. Some of their tours have included "Hell Freezes Over" and "Long Road Out of Eden," the latter of which became the title of a new album. One of their most recent tours, the "History of the Eagles Tour," lasted two years, until Frey's death in early 2016. The Eagles later paid tribute to Frey at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
He is also involved in political, environmental, and humanitarian causes. In 1990, he established the Walden Woods Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historic woods in Massachusetts. Henley has served as the organization's board of directors' chairman since its launch. In his home state of East Texas, he established the Caddo Lake Institute, a privately funded foundation that acts as an “ecosystem-specific” sponsoring entity, funding local wetland science and conservation education, as well as cultural and ecological research and monitoring. Henley also co-founded the Recording Artists Coalition, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization formed to represent recording artists' interests.
The drummer-vocalist began dating Loree Rodkin in 1974, and the breakup of their relationship inspired the song "Wasted Time" and parts of the lyrics for "Hotel California." As his relationship with Lindsey Buckingham ended in late 1975, Henley began dating Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks. The relationship lasted about two years, on and off. Later, Nicks wrote the song "Sara," which Henley claimed was about their unborn child, for which Nicks had an abortion. Henley married Sharon Summerall in 1995. He dedicated the song "Everything Is Different Now" from the album Inside Job to his wife after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. They have three children together and live with them in Dallas, Texas. Don Henley paid $2.2 million for a home in West Hollywood in 2018. The Spanish-style home was originally listed for $1.85, but Henley won a bidding war to secure the 1,800-square-foot home. Henley also has a residence in Hollywood, California.
Sources: Celebrity Net worth, CelebsOnline, AffairPost, Walden, Eagles.com
This article was updated on April 8, 2021 by Vanessa Shumbanhete
Earnings & Financial Data
Date | Category | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
2020 | Project Earnings | The Eagles’ earning $3.5 million per show estimated for the upcoming tour dates 2021 | $3,500,000 |
2019 | Event | The Eagles’ earning $3.5 million per show Hanley gets a share of that | $3,500,000 |
2019 | Earnings | Eagles grossed $73.4 million in 2019 despite playing just 29 shows Hanley gets a share of that. | $73,400,000 |
2018 | Asset | Home in West Hollywood for $2.2 million. The Spanish-style property | $2,200,000 |
2006 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album Long Road Out of Eden with the Eagles (certified 7x platinum by RIAA, 3x platinum by ARIA and RMNZ, 2x platinum by BPI, and platinum by IFPI-AUT and IFPI-SWE) | $8,537,000 |
2002 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album The Very Best Of/The Complete Greatest Hits with Eagles (certified 5x platinum by RIAA, 3x platinum by ARIA, 2x platinum by Music Canada, and platinum by BPI and RMNZ) | $5,725,000 |
2000 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album The Very Best of the Eagles with Eagles (certified 8x platinum by RMNZ and platinum by BPI) | $420,000 |
1999 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album Selected Works: 1972–1999 with Eagles (certified platinum by ARIA, and gold by ARIA and RMNZ) | $1,043,000 |
1999 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from his album Inside Job (certified platinum by RIAA and gold by Music Canada) | $1,050,000 |
1994 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from his compilation album Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits (certified platinum by RIAA) | $1,000,000 |
1993 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album The Very Best of the Eagles with Eagles (certified 12x platinum by ARIA, 2x platinum by BPI, platinum by RIAJ, and gold by IFPI-SWE) | $1,880,000 |
1993 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the live album Hell Freezes Over with the Eagles (certified 9x platinum by RIAA, 7x platinum by Music Canada, platinum by IFPI-NOR, and gold by BPI, RIAJ and IFPI-SWE) | $11,449,000 |
1988 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from his album The End of the Innocence (certified 6x platinum by RIAA, 2x platinum by Music Canada, and gold by BPI) | $6,300,000 |
1984 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album The Best of Eagles with Eagles (certified 4x platinum by BPI and gold by RIAJ) | $1,300,000 |
1983 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from his album Building the Perfect Beast (certified 3x platinum by RIAA and silver by BPI) | $3,060,000 |
1981 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album Eagles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 with Eagles (certified 11x platinum by RIAA and 3x platinum by ARIA) | $11,210,000 |
1981 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from his album I Can't Stand Still (certified gold by RIAA) | $500,000 |
1979 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the live album Eagles Live with the Eagles (certified 7x platinum by RIAA, and platinum by Music Canada and BPI) | $7,200,000 |
1978 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album The Long Run with the Eagles (certified 7x platinum by RIAA and gold by BPI) | $7,614,000 |
1975 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album Hotel California with the Eagles (certified 16x platinum by RIAA, 10x platinum by Music Canada, 6x platinum by BPI, and gold by IFPI-AUT) | $22,272,000 |
1975 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the compilation album Their Greatest Hits (1971–1975) with Eagles (certified 29x platinum by RIAA, 8x platinum by ARIA, 2x platinum by Music Canada, and platinum by BPI) | $31,875,000 |
1974 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album One of These Nights with the Eagles (certified 4x platinum by RIAA, and platinum by Music Canada and BPI) | $4,400,000 |
1973 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album On the Border with the Eagles (certified 2x platinum by RIAA and silver by BPI) | $2,060,000 |
1972 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album Desperado with the Eagles (certified 2x platinum by RIAA) | $2,000,000 |
1971 | Record Sales | Estimated earnings from the album Eagles with the Eagles (certified platinum by RIAA and silver by BPI) | $1,060,000 |