Sam Roy Hagar, commonly known as the Red Rocker, is an American singer-songwriter-guitarist who was born on October 13, 1947. He gained notoriety in the early 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose before pursuing a successful solo career, which included a hit with “I Can’t Drive 55” in 1984.
Hagar’s commercial success continued when he became Van Halen’s second lead vocalist in 1985, replacing David Lee Roth. However, he left the band in 1996 before rejoining from 2003 through 2005.
As a member of Van Halen, Hagar was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. He has a strong preference for hard rock and heavy metal music.
Aside from his music career, Hagar is also a businessman who has founded a tequila brand and restaurant chain. He established Sammy’s Beach Bar rum and currently performs as the lead singer for the bands Chickenfoot and Sammy Hagar and the Circle. Hagar also hosts AXS TV’s Rock & Roll Road Trip with Sammy Hagar.
Table of Contents
Sammy Hagar Net Worth: How Did the American Singer Build His Fortune?
American rock singer and businessman Sammy Hagar has a $150 million fortune. Sammy Hagar, often known as “The Red Rocker,” is most well-known for being a member of the band Van Halen. In 1985, he became the band’s renowned lead singer after David Lee Roth left.
From 1985 to 1996 and again from 2003 to 2005, he collaborated with Van Halen. Sammy Hagar and Guy Fieri jointly own the tequila brand Santo Tequila. Sammy used to operate the tequila Cabo Wabo tequila firm and now holds the rum business called Beach Bar Rum. Sammy sold Cabo Wabo twice, in 2007 and 2009, for $95 million.
Cabo Wabo Fortune
While Sammy Hagar made a substantial income through his music career, his current wealth does not primarily come from his work with Van Halen. In the late 1990s, Hagar began to market his own tequila brand, called “Cabo Wabo,” named after a club he had acquired in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico in the 1980s.
The tequila brand became very successful, and Hagar eventually sold a majority stake in the company for $80 million. In addition to his tequila business, Hagar is also involved in the restaurant industry, has his own rum brand, and has various other business ventures, contributing to his wealth.
He sold the final 20% in 2009 for an extra $15 million. Hagar owned most of the business, earning almost $95 million from the transactions personally.
When Did Sammy Hagar Get His First Big Break With the Band Montrose?
Hagar’s first significant break came in 1973 with the band Montrose. He participated in both the band’s first and second albums. “Bad Motor Scooter,” Hagar’s debut composition, was written for Monstrose.
Hagar left Montrose and started a solo career. With “I Can’t Drive 55” from his 1984 album “VOA,” Hagar scored one of the biggest hits of his solo career in the 1980s. In this period, he picked up the nickname “Red Rocker.”
How Many Albums Did Van Halen Release With Sammy Hagar?
Eddie Van Halen contacted Hagar in July 1985 to fill the void left by David Lee Roth’s departure from Van Halen. Four multi-platinum, number-one albums were released by Van Halen with frontman Sammy Hagar: “5150,” “OU812,” “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge,” and “Balance.”
Van Halen also produced nine rock chart-topping singles during the Hagar era. Fans frequently called the band Van Hagar around this time. In the summer of 1996, Hagar left Van Halen due to friction within the group.
Early in the 1990s, Hagar founded the rock group Los Tres Gusanos, also known as The Three Worms, with Michael Anthony, the bassist from Van Halen, and David Lauser, the drummer.
Both at Cabo Wabo, Hagar’s nightclub in Cabo San Lucas, and at different places in San Francisco, the band performed original music by Hagar, Van Halen, and cover songs.
Late in 2003, Hagar re-joined Van Halen. The band began a world tour with Hagar the next year and issued a greatest hits album titled “The Best of Both Worlds” simultaneously. Unfortunately, over time, longstanding conflicts within the band re-emerged.
READ NEXT: Philip Esformes retrial plans raise double jeopardy question
FAQs
Why is Sammy Hagar so rich?
Sammy Hagar is a successful musician and businessman, which has contributed to his wealth. He has had a long and successful career in the music industry. In addition to music, Hagar is also a businessman. He is the founder of the tequila brand Cabo Wabo, which he sold for a reported $80 million in 2007.
How much money did Sammy Hagar make?
American rock singer and businessman Sammy Hagar has a $150 million fortune.
