What is Kenny Chesney's Net Worth?
Kenny Chesney is a renowned American country music artist with a net worth of $180 million. Having released 19 studio albums and accumulated numerous awards, such as CMA Awards and Billboard Music Awards, Chesney’s success is unparalleled. With record sales surpassing 30 million and countless hit singles on various Billboard charts, Kenny has firmly established himself as a successful country crossover artist. Additionally, he co-directed and produced ESPN's football documentary "The Boys of Fall."
In years when he is touring, Kenny consistently ranks among the highest-paid entertainers globally. For instance, between June 2017 and June 2018, he earned an impressive $40 million.
Early Life
Kenneth Arnold Chesney was born on March 26, 1968, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Raised in Luttrell, his mother Karen was a hair stylist, and his father was an elementary school teacher. He has a younger sister named Jennifer. Chesney developed a love for music early on, teaching himself guitar after receiving one for Christmas. A football and baseball player at Gibbs High School, Kenny graduated in 1986. He then pursued a degree in advertising at East Tennessee State University, participating in the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and the ETSU Bluegrass Program. In 1989, he recorded a demo and sold 1,000 copies at Johnson City clubs. Following his graduation, he moved to Nashville, becoming the resident performer at The Surf, a local honky-tonk bar.
Career
Chesney's career took off in 1992 when he secured a songwriter's contract with Opryland Music Group after auditioning for Troy Tomlinson. In 1993, he signed with Capricorn Records and released his debut album, "In My Wildest Dreams," in 1994. Despite Capricorn closing its Nashville division, Kenny persisted and released "All I Need to Know" in 1995 under BNA Records. The album went gold, with singles like "Fall in Love" and "All I Need to Know" becoming Top 10 hits.
In 1996, Chesney's "Me and You" earned him the Academy of Country Music's New Male Vocalist of the Year award. This success was followed by 16 more studio albums, including the 4x platinum "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" (2002) and "When the Sun Goes Down" (2004). Many of his singles, such as "She's Got It All" and "The Boys of Fall," have topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
Chesney has collaborated with several renowned artists, including Jimmy Buffett, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Clint Black, Toby Keith, Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, P!NK, and Dave Matthews. Notably, he performed a cover of Hank Williams' "Hey Good Lookin" with Buffet and others for the 2004 album "License To Chill."
Despite a severe foot injury during an April 2008 concert, Chesney chose not to cancel any tour dates, showcasing his dedication by performing through the pain and ensuring a doctor was available at each concert thereafter.
Personal Life
Kenny Chesney married actress Renée Zellweger on May 9, 2005. However, the couple announced their annulment just four months later, citing fraud as the reason. Their union officially ended in December 2005.
In an incident in 2000, Chesney and Tim McGraw were arrested after a scuffle with police, although they were acquitted the following year. In 2017, Kenny founded the Love for Love City Foundation to aid Hurricane Irma victims, demonstrating his commitment to philanthropy. Though he was in Nashville during the hurricane, his Virgin Islands mansion served as a refuge for friends who survived the storm.
Awards and Honors
Kenny Chesney's illustrious career has earned him multiple awards, including a Billboard Music Award for Top Country Artist in 2006 and Top Country Collaboration and Top Country Tour awards in 2017. He was named Artist of the Year at the 2004 American Music Awards and won a People's Choice Award for Male Artist in 2007. The Academy of Country Music has honored him 8 times, including Entertainer of the Year for four consecutive years. Chesney has also received 8 Country Music Association Awards and 6 Grammy nominations.
Real Estate
In 2010, Chesney purchased an 11,143 square foot mansion on a 30-acre property in Franklin, Tennessee, for $9.25 million. He also bought an adjoining property for $755,000, totaling 56 acres. He listed the home for $14 million in August 2021 and sold it for $11.5 million in December 2021.
Kenny has owned several homes in St. John in the Virgin Islands, with one rumored to be his selling for $4.752 million in 2007.
