What Is Ted Nugent's Net Worth?
Ted Nugent is an American rock musician who has a net worth of $5 million. Ted Nugent emerged as one of rock music's most flamboyant guitarists in the 1970s, known for his wild stage presence and hit songs like "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Stranglehold." Beginning his musical career in Detroit with The Amboy Dukes, he gained initial recognition with their psychedelic hit "Journey to the Center of the Mind."
After launching a successful solo career, Nugent established himself as a prominent figure in hard rock, releasing multiple platinum albums throughout the 1970s. His high-energy performances and aggressive guitar style earned him the nickname "Motor City Madman." Beyond music, Nugent became equally known for his outspoken advocacy of hunting, gun rights, and conservative political views.
In later years, Nugent's public persona increasingly centered on his political activism and controversial statements, often overshadowing his musical career. He served on the board of directors of the National Rifle Association and became a prominent media personality, appearing on various television shows and writing books about hunting and politics.
Early Life
Ted Nugent was born Theodore Anthony Nugent on December 13, 1948, in Redford, Michigan. He grew up mostly in Detroit and eventually attended high school in Illinois. The Nugents were a military family, but Ted himself never served. In multiple interviews, he colorfully described the lengths he went to avoid being drafted in the Vietnam War, but he later claimed these stories were fabricated for entertainment value.
Music Career
Nugent initially gained fame as the lead guitarist of a band called The Amboy Dukes. Today, the group is primarily known for its single "Journey to the Center of the Mind," which, as you might be able to guess from the title, is a psychedelic-themed song about drug use, a strong contrast to Nugent's anti-drug attitude throughout the rest of his career (he claimed later to have had no idea that the song was about drugs). Ted continued to tour and record albums with The Amboy Dukes until 1975 when he embarked on his solo career.
Nugent is notable for such '70s hits as "Stranglehold," "Cat Scratch Fever," "Wango Tango," and "Great White Buffalo" —songs that still get airplay today on classic rock radio stations around the country. Throughout the '70s, he cultivated a reputation as an electric guitar virtuoso, with albums like "Double Live Gonzo!" becoming revered recordings among guitar fans.
The 1980s saw Nugent continue to release solo albums, but towards the end of the decade, he linked up with the rock supergroup Damn Yankees along with Jack Blades of Night Ranger and Tommy Shaw of Styx. In 1995, he went back to solo work with the album "Spirit of the Wild," which earned him some of the best reviews of his career. During this period, Ted also presided over a series of archival releases from the prime of his ability, which helped contribute to his continued relevance through the end of the millennium.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Other Projects
Nugent has also starred in such reality shows as "Spirit of the Wild" (an outdoor television show named after one of his own popular songs of the same name), and in 2003, he was the host of a VH1 reality television show called "Surviving Nugent," on which city dwellers moved to his Michigan ranch and had to survive such backwoods activities as building an outhouse and skinning a boar. The success of the show spawned a four-part miniseries in 2004 called "Surviving Nugent: The Ted Commandments," during which time Ted injured himself with a chainsaw and received 44 stitches and a leg brace. In 2003, Nugent appeared on the VH1 reality series "Forever Wild," hosted by fellow rock musician Sebastian Bach. In 2005, he was the host of "Wanted: Ted or Alive," yet another reality competition featuring contestants vying for the chance to go hunting with Nugent. In 2006, he returned to VH1 for "SuperGroup" with Bach, Scott Ian of Anthrax, Biohazard bassist Evan Seinfeld, and Jason Bonham, son of the famous Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. His last reality show project was in 2009 when "Runnin' Wild … From Ted Nugent" aired on Country Music Television.
Nugent has also dabbled in movies and non-reality television throughout his time in the public eye. Way back in 1976, he could be seen in the documentary "Demon Lover Diary" about the making of the horror film "The Demon Lover," providing the crew with firearms that would be used in the film's production. In 1986, he portrayed a bad guy in an episode of Michael Mann's popular cop series "Miami Vice," which also featured a song of Nugent's on the soundtrack. In 2001, he returned to TV with a cameo on the sitcom "That '70s Show," on which he played himself, something he also did on the animated series "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" in 2004. Other Ted cameos include "The Simpsons," "Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy," the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar," and the film "Beer for My Horses," based on the Toby Keith song of the same name.
Nugent is the author of several books, including "Blood Trails: The Truth About Bowhunting," "God, Guns, & Rock 'n' Roll," "Kill It & Grill It," and "Ted, White, and Blue: The Nugent Manifesto."
Personal Life
Ted has been married twice and has eight children. Nugent is no stranger to controversy. Known for his onstage vulgarity and outspoken stance on the right to bear arms and hunting, he continues to remain relevant in many arenas. He is on the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He's attracted criticism from his fellow musicians as well as former fans for his views on guns, animal rights (or, from his point of view, their lack of rights), and has expressed an interest in running for office. He's also faced allegations of sexual misconduct, which he has denied.
Real Estate
Ted Nugent is linked to at least two real estate properties: His main residence in the city of Concord in his home state of Michigan (complete with a guitar-shaped pool) and another property located in Waco, Texas.
