What Was Nat King Cole's Net Worth?
Nat King Cole was an American singer and pianist with a net worth equal to $27 million after adjusting for inflation at the time of his death in 1965. Originally, his net worth was reported to be $3.5 million. Unfortunately, due to poor estate planning and subsequent estate taxes, his family, including his 15-year-old daughter Natalie Cole, received only $1 million, which is equivalent to $7 million in today's dollars.
Nat King Cole's musical genres included vocal jazz, swing, and traditional pop. He was a pioneer, being one of the first African Americans to host a nationally televised show with "The Nat King Cole Show." During his illustrious career, spanning from his 1945 debut album "The King Cole Trio," Cole released 28 albums. His notable hits include "Straighten Up and Fly Right," "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", "The Christmas Song," "Nature Boy," "Mona Lisa," "Too Young," and "Unforgettable." He also appeared in films like "Citizen Kane," "Kiss Me Deadly," "The Scarlet Hour," and "St. Louis Blues." His single "Unforgettable" won seven Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Nat King Cole passed away on February 15, 1965, at the age of 45 due to lung cancer.
Early Life
Nat King Cole was born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. He had three brothers and one half-sister. The family moved to Chicago, Illinois, when Cole was four, where his father, Edward, became a Baptist minister, and his mother, Perlina, served as the church organist. Under his mother's guidance, Cole learned to play the organ by the age of four. By 12, he began formal piano lessons, delving into jazz, gospel, and classical music. He attended Wendell Phillips Academy High School and participated in Walter Dyett's music program at DuSable High School. Nat would often sneak out to listen to jazz legends like Louis Armstrong, Earl Hines, and Jimmie Noone perform at clubs.
Career
At age 15, Cole dropped out of high school to pursue music, forming a sextet with his brother Eddie and recording two singles for Decca in 1936. Moving to Los Angeles, he worked as a nightclub pianist before forming the King Cole Trio. Their first hit, "Sweet Lorraine," was released in 1940; it marked the beginning of Cole's singing career. The trio recorded several hits, including "That Ain't Right" in 1941, "All for You" in 1942, and more. The group also hosted "King Cole Trio Time," a groundbreaking 15-minute radio program.
In the mid-to-late 1940s, Cole transitioned to more pop-oriented material, achieving stardom with hits like "The Christmas Song," "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," and others. By the 1950s, he was one of the most popular performers globally. He hosted "The Nat King Cole Show" on NBC, a pioneering program that faced challenges due to lack of sponsorship linked to racial prejudice.
Cole continued to release hits through the 1950s and 1960s, like "Smile," "Pretend," and "A Blossom Fell." He received a Grammy in 1959 for "Midnight Flyer" and released three successful Spanish-language albums. Despite shifting musical tastes, he remained popular with hits such as "Ramblin' Rose," "Dear Lonely Hearts," and "That Sunday, That Summer." His final album, "L-O-V-E," was released in 1965, peaking at #4 on the "Billboard" Albums chart.
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Personal Life
Nat King Cole became a Freemason in January 1944, joining the Thomas Waller Lodge #49 in California and later the Scottish Rite Freemasonry, where he attained the rank of Master Mason.
Cole first married Nadine Robinson at 18; she was integral in forming the Nat King Trio and their move to Los Angeles. After divorcing in 1948, Cole married singer Maria Hawkins six days later. They had five children: Natalie, Carole, Nat Kelly, Casey, and Timolin. In 1964, he had an affair with Gunilla Hutton, but he reconciled with Maria before his death.
During his career, Cole faced racial discrimination but remained an active member of the NAACP and took part in the 1963 March on Washington. In 1964, Cole was diagnosed with lung cancer. He worked until his health deteriorated, eventually passing away on February 15, 1965. His funeral was held at St. James' Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, attended by 400 people with thousands more outside.
