What is Adam Horovitz's Net Worth?
Adam Horovitz, known as Ad-Rock or King Ad-Rock, is a prominent American musician, rapper, producer, and actor. He has an impressive net worth of $100 million, largely drawn from his influential role in the pioneering hip-hop group, the Beastie Boys.
Early Life
Adam Keefe Horovitz was born on October 31, 1966, in New York City to playwright Israel Horovitz and Doris Keefe. Raised secular on Park Avenue, Manhattan, alongside his sister Rachel Horovitz, Adam's upbringing in a culturally rich environment greatly influenced his artistic endeavors.
Career
Horovitz’s musical journey began with the punk rock band The Young and the Useless. His pivotal career move came in 1982 when he replaced John Berry as the guitarist for the Beastie Boys at just 16 years old. Adam played a crucial role in transitioning the band's sound from hardcore punk to the hip-hop genre.
The Beastie Boys' early work included the humorous track “Cooky Puss,” featuring prank calls to an ice cream shop. Their collaboration with Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons, Def Jam cofounders, was a significant turning point.
In 1985, Adam and his bandmates Mike Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Yauch (MCA) toured with pop icon Madonna. Despite initial setbacks, their debut album “Licensed to Ill” in 1986 was a phenomenal success, becoming the first rap album to top the Billboard 200. It produced six hit singles, including the anthem “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!).”
Shifting record labels to Capitol Records, they released their second album, “Paul's Boutique,” in 1989, which showcased their artistic maturity and peaked at number 14 on the US Album Charts. The single “Hey Ladies” reached the Top 40, demonstrating their evolving musical prowess.
Their subsequent album, “Check Your Head” (1992), recorded at their own G-Son studio, achieved double Platinum status and reached number 10 on the Billboard 200. The popular singles “Pass the Mic” and “So What'cha Want” further cemented their reputation.
“Ill Communication” (1994) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. The hit single “Sabotage” and its accompanying music video directed by Spike Jonze received extensive MTV play. Later albums included “Hello Nasty” (1998), “To the 5 Boroughs” (2004), “The Mix-Up” (2007), and “Hot Sauce Committee Part Two” (2011).
In 2012, Horovitz and his fellow Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond the Beastie Boys, Adam remixes tracks under the alias 41 Small Stars and plays bass in The Tender Moments, the backing band for comedian Bridget Everett.
Adam's acting career includes roles in films like “Lost Angels” (1989) and “While We're Young” (2014), showcasing his versatile talent. He worked on the soundtrack for the 2014 documentary “No No” about pitcher Dock Ellis and featured in the 2020 documentaries “Have a Good Trip” and the Spike Jonze-directed “Beastie Boys Story.”
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Personal Life
In the late 1980s, Horovitz dated actress Molly Ringwald after meeting on the set of “The Pick-up Artist.” He was married to actress Ione Skye from 1992 to 1999. Since 1997, he has been with riot grrrl artist Kathleen Hanna, marrying her in 2006. Horovitz featured prominently in the 2013 documentary “The Punk Singer” about Hanna’s life.
Health-wise, Horovitz started wearing a medical alert bracelet after experiencing a tonic-clonic seizure in 2003. He is also an avid softball player, running a friendly league for over 15 years with Hanna.
In 2016, he collaborated with the vegan shoe brand Keep to design a sneaker benefitting Planned Parenthood.
Real Estate
In 2017, Horovitz and Hanna purchased a $1.73 million Craftsman-style house in South Pasadena, California. The 2,400 square foot home features three bedrooms and 1.5 baths, sitting on a quarter-acre of land. It exemplifies the architectural style popular from the early 1900s to the 1930s and is situated about 10 miles from downtown L.A.
