What is Guy Fisher's net worth?
Guy Fisher is an American convicted racketeer and businessman who has a net worth of $10 thousand. At his peak, Guy Fisher was worth millions of dollars, earning enough money to purchase the world-famous Apollo Theater.
Guy Fisher rose to prominence as both a notorious drug kingpin and an unlikely cultural patron in 1970s Harlem. As a leading member of Nicky Barnes' "The Council" drug organization, Fisher achieved tremendous wealth through heroin distribution, becoming the first African American to own Harlem's historic Apollo Theater in 1977. At "The Council's" peak, the organization was bringing in $80 million per year.
His dual identity as both a major drug trafficker and a legitimate businessman made him a complex figure in Harlem's history, while his eventual downfall and transformation during his life sentence demonstrate a remarkable path of redemption.
Early Life and Criminal Beginnings
Born in July 1947 in the South Bronx, Fisher grew up in poverty and dropped out of school in the ninth grade. He began his criminal career with small-time drug dealing and eventually caught the attention of Nicky Barnes, who became his mentor and brought him into "The Council," an African American organized crime syndicate that controlled much of Harlem's heroin trade in the 1970s.
Apollo Theater
Fisher's business acumen helped him amass considerable wealth through the drug trade. In 1977, he made history by purchasing the Apollo Theater, bringing legitimate business credentials to his operation. Under his ownership, the Apollo continued to serve as a crucial venue for African American entertainment, though it was also allegedly used to launder drug money.
Downfall and Transformation
Fisher's empire crumbled in 1983 when Nicky Barnes, following his own conviction, became a government informant and testified against him. Fisher was convicted of drug trafficking charges and received a life sentence without parole. During his incarceration, he made a remarkable transformation, earning his high school equivalency, bachelor's and master's degrees, and even a doctorate. He became a published author, writing several novels and maintaining his innocence regarding some of the charges against him.
Guy was released from prison in October 2020 after serving nearly 40 years behind bars. Fisher was the subject of the documentary The Guy Fisher Story as well as an episode of the BET television series American Gangster.
