What was Chester Bennington's Net Worth?
Chester Bennington was an American musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who had a net worth of $30 million at the time of his death in 2017. He was best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park.
Early Life
Chester Charles Bennington was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 20, 1976. His mother worked as a nurse, and his father was a police detective specializing in child sexual abuse cases. Bennington's interest in music began at an early age, and he often cited the bands Depeche Mode and Stone Temple Pilots as his earliest sources of inspiration.
Bennington's parents divorced when he was eleven years old, and his father gained custody of him. He suffered from sexual abuse by an older male friend from age seven to thirteen. The combination of abuse and his parents' divorce profoundly affected him. He turned to writing poetry and songs for comfort. During high school, he faced bullying and began abusing alcohol and drugs. At seventeen, he moved in with his mother, who discovered his drug use and briefly confined him to the house.
Music Career
Bennington first sang with the band Sean Dowdell and His Friends, releasing a three-track cassette in 1993. Next, he and Dowdell formed Grey Daze, releasing two albums before Bennington left the band in 1998. Feeling frustrated, he considered leaving music. However, a chance audition with the future members of Linkin Park, then known as Xero, reignited his passion. Bennington quit his day job, moved to California, and successfully joined the band. Initially struggling to find a record deal, they eventually signed with Warner Bros. Records thanks to Jeff Blue's intervention.
Linkin Park released their debut album, "Hybrid Theory", on October 24, 2000. Bennington co-wrote the lyrics with Mike Shinoda. The album was a massive success, certified diamond by the RIAA in 2005. Their follow-up albums "Meteora" (2003) and "Minutes to Midnight" (2007) also reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Subsequent albums include "A Thousand Suns" (2010), "Living Things" (2012), "The Hunting Party" (2014), and "One More Light" (2017). Linkin Park has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and received numerous awards, including two Grammys, six American Music Awards, and four MTV Video Music Awards. After Bennington's death, the band went on hiatus but announced new music in April 2020.
Beyond Linkin Park, Bennington formed Dead by Sunrise in 2005. They debuted live in May 2008 and released their album "Out of Ashes" in 2009. From May 2013 to 2015, he also performed with the Stone Temple Pilots, replacing Scott Weiland. Their first single with Bennington, "Out of Time", debuted in May 2013. He left the band due to commitments with Linkin Park but parted amicably.
(Photo by Junko Kimura/Getty Images)
Personal Life and Death
Bennington married Samantha Marie Olit in 1996, but they divorced in 2005 amid the pressures of his music career. In 2006, he married former Playboy model Talinda Ann Bentley. They faced harassment from a cyberstalker before the culprit was convicted and jailed for two years.
Bennington battled drug and alcohol abuse, announcing he had quit drinking in 2011. He also had multiple health issues, injuring himself several times during performances. An avid tattoo enthusiast, he frequently promoted Club Tattoo in Tempe, Arizona, co-owned by his high school friend Sean Dowdell. A loyal sports fan, Bennington supported the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Arizona Coyotes.
Tragically, Bennington committed suicide on July 20, 2017, at age 41. He hung himself at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles. He is survived by six children from three relationships.
Estate Value
Bennington's surviving wife estimated the value of his music rights at $8.1 million, including $5 million in future royalties. This estimate excludes his bank accounts, stocks, properties, and other assets that constituted his net worth at the time of death.
