How Did Jimmy Buffett Accumulate His Impressive Net Worth Prior to His Death?

Emma Saletta - Author
By

Dec. 19 2023, Updated 12:19 p.m. ET

Jimmy Buffett performs as part of the 23rd Annual Bridge School Benefit at Shoreline Amphitheatre on Oct. 24, 2009
Source: Getty Images

The Gist:

  • Jimmy Buffett passed away at age 76 in September 2023.
  • He left behind an impressive legacy that didn't stop at his music and contributed to a huge net worth.
  • Jimmy's wife Jane was left in charge of his estate which is held in a private trust.
  • Jane and Jimmy shared two daughters and adopted one son who stand to inherit quite a bit.
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Revered singer and shrewd businessman Jimmy Buffett died at age 76 on Sept. 1, 2023. He left behind an unforgettable legacy, with hits such as "Margaritaville" and "Cheeseburger in Paradise" to name a few.

Jimmy also left behind a long string of highly profitable business ventures such as his Margaritaville restaurants, hotels, and cruise line. Find out what else he did below and how he earned his astonishing net worth.

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Jimmy Buffett performs during the 2022 New Orleans & Jazz festival at Fair Grounds Race Course in 2022
Source: Getty Images

Jimmy Buffett's net worth was insane shortly before he died.

The singer and his legacy of albums, restaurants, and hotels are only part of the reason he left this world with an impressive net worth. Although many singers may have million-dollar net worths, Celebrity Net Worth confirms that Jimmy's final net worth clocked in at $1 billion.

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Jimmy Buffett

Singer, musician, author, and businessman

Net worth: $1 billion

Jimmy Buffett released 29 studio albums between 1970 and 2020. He also created more than 30 hotels throughout the U.S., with six more hotels currently being built. However, visitors who are only looking to eat can stop by one of his many Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville restaurants as well.

Birth date: Dec. 25, 1946

Birthplace: Pascagoula, Miss.

Birth name: James William Buffett

Father: James Delaney Buffett, Jr.

Mother: Mary Lorraine Peets Buffett

Marriages: Margie Washichek (m. 1969-1971), Jane Slagsvol (m. 1977)

Children: Savannah Jane Buffett; Sarah Delaney Buffett; Cameron Marley Buffett

Education: Auburn University; Pearl River Community College; University of Southern Mississippi, B.S. in history, 1969

Jimmy's music, restaurants, and hotel chains of course are factors in his impressive net worth. What could also be contributing factors are the many timeshares, RV resorts, and tours he visited and participated in over the years to promote his albums and businesses.

Despite 2018 reports stating that the Margaritaville company brought in between $1.5 billion and $2 billion annually, Business Insider confirmed on April 15, 2023, that his music catalog is worth a stunning $50 million.

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Jimmy Buffett's legacy will live on after his death.

Jimmy Buffett performs at Shoreline Amphitheater on June 15, 1991, in Mountain View Calif.
Source: Getty Images

Jimmy's many business and obviously his iconic music will continue to live on all around the world. Meanwhile, his widow Jane and their three kids have likely inherited a good amount of money from Jimmy. To be fair, some of the late singer's children have also been successful in the entertainment industry.

Who inherited Jimmy Buffett's money?

According to The New York Times, Jimmy's "wife of more than 40 years, Jane S. Buffett, has been tasked with carrying out his wishes after being named personal representative, or executor, of the estate." His business partner John L. Cohlan, who also serves as executive of Margaritaville Holdings, will be on hand to help Jane as needed.

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Jimmy's will, which he signed in 2017, assigned his intellectual property to a trust. As far as his personal belongings go, the will suggests there is a separate list with directions regarding what should be done with these items. All of his residential real estate was left to Jimmy's wife.

Jimmy Buffett and Jane Slagsvol attend 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Source: Getty Images
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The couple shares a son and two daughters though the exact nature of what they will receive isn't public due to the trust. Sarah Butters, a Florida estate lawyer, told The New York Times that, "Funneling everything to your trust affords you a ton of privacy." She then added, "There are a million celebrity wills gone wrong, but this isn’t one of them."

Jimmy Buffett shares three kids with his wife Jane.

Jimmy's oldest daughter Savannah was born in Aspen, Colo., in June 1979, per PEOPLE. Like her father, Savannah gravitated to the entertainment industry and began studying acting at a prestigious performing arts high school in South Florida. Soon the robust Los Angeles music scene brought her to Hollywood where Savannah worked in A&R. As of the time of this writing, Savannah is the host of the Savannah Daydreamin' Radio Hour on Sirius/XM.

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Savannah, Sarah, and Cameron Buffett
Source: Getty Images

Thirteen years after Savannah's burst onto the scene, Sarah Delaney Buffett was born in 1992. Like her sister and dad, Sarah dabbled in the entertainment field but she really shown brightly during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, Sarah and Jimmy started a YouTube series called "Songs You Don't Know by Heart." Each episode focused on Sarah asking her dad about a lesser-known song which was followed by a performance of it. It helped Sarah and Jimmy connect with each other and his fans.

Jimmy and Jane adopted their son Cameron in 1994. Unlike his family, Cameron prefers to live a more quiet life out of the spotlight though his Instagram tells the story of a lifelong adventure-seeker. Cameron is also married and the couple appears to be incredibly devoted to a gorgeous dog.

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