What Is Rivers Cuomo's Net Worth?
Rivers Cuomo is an American musician who has a net worth of $35 million. Rivers Cuomo is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and principal songwriter of the alternative rock band Weezer.
Today Weezer is made up of Patrick Wilson (drums, guitar, backing vocals), Brian Bell (guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), and Scott Shriner (bass, backing vocals, keyboards). Even though the line-up has changed four times since its formation, Cuomo is a constant member who has released 15 studio albums, nine EPs, and a DVD as a Weezer bandmate. The combo is said to have paved the "emo" era in the mid-2000s, primarily thanks to River's songwriting and vocal capabilities. Weezer's most successful songs include "Buddy Holly," "Undone – The Sweater Song," "Say It Ain't So," "Perfect Situation," "Island in the Sun," "Beverly Hills," "Pork and Beans," and "All My Favorite Songs." Aside from his work with the band, Cuomo has released three solo studio albums and has made several collaborations with other musicians that are still ongoing. Rivers is also known for his ever-evolving, quirky, and trend-setting fashion sense.
Early Years
Rivers Cuomo was born on June 13, 1970, in Manhattan, New York, to Beverly Schoenberger and Frank Cuomo. His mother is of German-English descent, and his father is of Italian descent. Cuomo has one known sibling, James Anthony Kitts (born Leaves Cuomo on August 31, 1971).
Rivers was raised at the Rochester Zen Center in Rochester, New York, until his father divorced his mother in 1975. Cuomo relocated with his mother to Yogaville, an ashram in Pomfret, Connecticut, and Beverly married Stephen Kitts shortly after.
In 1980, when Cuomo was around 10 years old, Yogaville moved to Virginia, and the (now) Kitts Family decided to stay in Connecticut. They moved to the Storrs Mansfield area, where Rivers and his brother attended Mansfield Middle School and E.O. Smith High School. At school, Cuomo was a member of the high school choir and drama club, performing in a school production of "Grease" as Johnny Casino.
While in high school, Rivers temporarily decided to go by the name "Peter Kitts." After he graduated, he reverted back to Rivers Cuomo.
Musical Influences and Early Career
Captivated by the sounds of heavy metal (Kiss, Van Halen, Quiet Riot) and hook-heavy punk-pop (the Pixies) from an early age, Rivers received his first guitar, a Stratocaster copy, as a gift from his mother on his 14th birthday. Cuomo then formed the band Fury and wrote his first song, "Fight For Your Right," a Kiss-style heavy metal anthem. Fury played their first show in September 1984.
One year after the formation of Fury, Cuomo rebranded as glam metal band Avant Garde out of a desire to play a heavier metal that more closely aligned with his style. He continued to lead Avant Garde throughout high school and is noted for having a profound impact on the band members.
In 1989, Rivers and Avant Garde moved to Los Angeles. While there, the band played a few big shows and eventually changed their name to Zoom to make themselves more marketable and focused.
While Rivers was attending the Guitar Institute at the time, he was not attending classes and did not graduate.
During this time, he wrote songs like "You Overpower Me," "Anything for You," and "Xmas in L.A.," a musical letter about being away from home for Christmas.
To work with his new songs, Cuomo formed a band called Fuzz with Patrick Wilson and Scottie Chapman. The band eventually dissolved and rebranded as 60 Wrong Sausages.
Rivers collaborated with Patrick Wilson, and they penned songs together such as "The Pop Screen" and "What's Goin' On?," while Cuomo wrote his own pieces such as "Sing to Me Slow" and "I Got So Many Problems." These early songs became the foundation of 60 Wrong Sausages. With 60 Wrong Sausages, Cuomo recorded the "Cholesterol" EP.
Rivers also helped Kevin Ridel record for his Christian rock band The Truth. Cuomo was mostly an engineer and performed backup vocals and guitar on songs such as "My Salvation," "Eyes of the Children" and "I Belong to God."
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Weezer
While attending Los Angeles Community College in 1992, Cuomo formed Weezer with drummer Patrick Wilson, bassist Matt Sharp, and guitarist Jason Cropper. The name "Weezer" was actually a nickname given to Cuomo by his father
In June 1993, Weezer signed a record deal with DGC, a subsidiary of Geffen Records.
In May 1994, Weezer released their self-titled debut album. This album would come to be known as the "Blue Album," thanks to the blue background on the album cover. Cropper left the band during the album recording and was replaced by Brian Bell. Produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars, the "Blue Album" was certified platinum on January 1, 1995, with sales of over one million. The album eventually sold more than 3 million copies in the US and 15 million worldwide.
In 1995, at the peak of Weezer's early success, Rivers made the unusual decision to enroll at Harvard University to study classical composition. He soon realized he actually did not enjoy contemporary classical music and missed touring/creating with Weezer. Cuomo dropped out of Harvard two semesters before graduation.
In September 1996, Weezer released their second album, "Pinkerton." This album would also eventually be certified platinum, but not until 20 years later.
Following "Pinkerton," Weezer went on a three-year hiatus. During his time off, Cuomo re-enrolled at Harvard. He would not officially complete his coursework until 2004.
Weezer later released the "Green Album" (2001), "Maladroit" (2002), "Make Believe" (2005), the "Red Album" (2008), "Raditude" (2009), "Hurley" (2010), "Death to False Metal" (2011), "Everything Will Be Alright in the End" (2014), the "White Album" (2016), "Pacific Daydream" (2017), the "Teal Album' (2019), the "Black Album" (2019), "OK Human" (2021), and "Van Weezer" (2021).
As of this writing, Weezer has sold 10 million albums in the United States and over 35 million worldwide.
Personal Life
Rivers married Kyoko Ito on June 18, 2006, on a Malibu beach. They met at one of Cuomo's solo shows in March 1997 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and their wedding was attended by every musician who has ever been a member of Weezer, with the exception of Mikey Welsh. The couple welcomed daughter Mia in 2007 and son Leo in 2011.
Rivers practices Vipassana meditation and has been an on-again, off-again vegetarian throughout his life.
