What Is Matt Cameron's Net Worth?
Matt Cameron is an accomplished American musician with a net worth of $70 million. He is best recognized as the drummer for the iconic rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Beginning his career with Seattle-based bands Bam Bam and Skin Yard, Cameron joined Soundgarden in 1986. Soundgarden disbanded in 1997, after which Cameron was invited to tour with Pearl Jam in 1998 and subsequently became a permanent member.
Cameron reunited with Soundgarden in 2010 and also played with the supergroup Temple of the Dog. He was the drummer for side projects Hater and Wellwater Conspiracy, where he also served as the lead singer. Additionally, he has collaborated with notable artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, The Prodigy, The Smashing Pumpkins, Our Lady Peace, and Peter Frampton. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #52 on its 2016 "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time" list, and in 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam. Cameron has earned two Grammy Awards for his work with Soundgarden.
Early Life
Matt Cameron was born Matthew David Cameron on November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California. He developed a passion for drums early on and started playing in a cover band called Kiss when he was just 13. After a legal threat from the real Kiss band's management, Matt’s band changed its name. He attended Bonita Vista High School and performed the song "Puberty Love" in the 1978 film "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" under the pseudonym "Foo Cameron," a nickname stemming from his brother's mispronunciation of his name.
Soundgarden
Upon moving to Seattle in 1983, Matt Cameron played with bands Bam Bam and feeDBack before joining Skin Yard in 1985. In 1986, he became a member of Soundgarden. After signing with Sub Pop, Soundgarden released the EPs "Screaming Life" (1987) and "Fopp" (1988). The band’s lineup included Kim Thayil, Chris Cornell, and Hiro Yamamoto.
Their debut album, "Ultramega OK," on SST Records, earned a Grammy nomination. After signing with A&M Records, they released "Louder Than Love" in 1989. The 1991 album "Badmotorfinger" achieved 2x Platinum status in the U.S. and Platinum in Canada and New Zealand. "Superunknown" (1994) topped charts in multiple countries and went 6x Platinum in the U.S. The album produced iconic singles like "Spoonman," "The Day I Tried to Live," "Black Hole Sun," "My Wave," and "Fell on Black Days." Rolling Stone ranked "Superunknown" #9 on its "50 Greatest Grunge Albums" list in 2019.
Soundgarden's 1996 album "Down on the Upside" reached #1 in Australia and New Zealand and #2 on the Billboard 200 chart. The singles "Burden in My Hand" and "Blow Up the Outside World" topped the Mainstream Rock chart. Despite tensions leading to their breakup in 1997, the band reunited to release the 2012 album "King Animal." Cameron contributed music to several notable Soundgarden tracks, including "Drawing Flies," "Mailman," and "Rhinosaur."
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Pearl Jam
After Soundgarden's initial split, Matt Cameron joined Pearl Jam's tour in 1998 and soon became a permanent member. Alongside Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament, Cameron contributed to albums such as "Binaural" (2000), "Riot Act" (2002), "Pearl Jam" (2006), "Backspacer" (2009), "Lightning Bolt" (2013), and "Gigaton" (2020). These albums achieved high chart rankings worldwide, with several attaining Platinum status in Australia and Canada, and Gold in the U.S. Cameron wrote the lyrics and music for Pearl Jam songs like "Get Right," "In the Moonlight," and "Take the Long Way."
Other Groups
Matt Cameron has contributed to various other musical groups and projects. He played on albums for the Tone Dogs, Temple of the Dog, Hater, Harrybu McCage, and Ten Commandos, as well as multiple Wellwater Conspiracy albums. In 2017, he released his solo album "Cavedweller" and in 2020, formed Nighttime Boogie Association with Taylor Hawkins, Steven McDonald, and Buzz Osborne. In 2021, he formed the band 3rd Secret with Krist Novoselic, Kim Thayil, Jennifer Johnson, Bubba Dupree, and Jillian Raye, releasing a self-titled album in April 2022.
Personal Life
Matt Cameron married April Acevez on October 25, 1997. The couple has two children, daughter Josie and son Ray. In 2021, Cameron shared his favorite book, "Amerika" by Franz Kafka, in a "Far Out" article highlighting Pearl Jam's favorite books.
Awards and Nominations
Soundgarden received nine Grammy nominations and won Best Metal Performance for "Spoonman" and Best Hard Rock Performance for "Black Hole Sun" in 1995. The band was also nominated for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song among other categories. In 1994, Soundgarden won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video for "Black Hole Sun." Cameron received two Grammy nominations with Pearl Jam, for Best Hard Rock Performance for "Grievance" in 2001 and Best Rock Album for "Backspacer" in 2011.
Real Estate
In 2000, Matt Cameron purchased a 3,863 square foot home in Woodway, Washington for $1.175 million. The residence features five bedrooms and six bathrooms.
