This Is What Really Happened To Eddie Van Halen's Massive Estate
Eddie Van Halen was the co-founder and guitarist for the rock band Van Halen. Eddie founded the group in the early 1970s together with his brother Alex Van Halen, who played the drums. Vocalist David Lee Roth, along with bass player Michael Anthony, soon joined the band (via All Music). Through the years, some band members departed, and new members were added, including Sammy Hagar, Mark Stone, and Gary Cherone.
In 2000, Eddie Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue and throat cancer. He received treatments and underwent surgery where a third of his tongue was removed to get rid of cancer cells. Two years after his diagnosis, Eddie was declared cancer-free. In an interview with Billboard, Van Halen shared his assumption on how he got cancer. "I used metal picks — they're brass and copper — which I always held in my mouth, in the exact place where I got the tongue cancer," he said.
In 2020, Eddie Van Halen died at the age of 65. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2017 and was told that he had less than two months to live. Eddie sought treatment in Germany that may have prolonged his life a few more years. According to NME, Van Halen's cause of death was a stroke, but he also had other medical conditions, including a bone marrow disorder and pneumonia.
Eddie Van Halen's death
Wolfgang Van Halen, Eddie's son, announced his father's death on Twitter. In a message, he wrote, "He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I've shared with him on and off stage was a gift." Wolfgang was Eddie's son with ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli. They married in 1981, and although the couple separated in 2001, they remained close friends. Their divorce was finalized in 2007, according to Distractify.
Eddie Van Halen married his second wife, Janie Liszewski, in 2009, and they were together until his death. In a post on Instagram, Janie paid tribute to Eddie and expressed her grief over his loss. "Saying goodbye is the hardest thing I have ever had to do so instead I say so long, I will see you again soon in a place with no pain or sorrow," she wrote.
According to Deadline, Valerie, Wolfgang, Janie, and Eddie's brother Alex were present at Van Halen's side at the time of his death on October 6, 2020. Fellow musicians were quick to pay tribute to Van Halen by posting heartfelt messages on Twitter, including David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, Gene Simmons, Steven Tyler, and Kenny Chesney, among others (via Entertainment Weekly). They praised Eddie for his achievements in music, calling him "a true rocker," "a Guitar God," and "the Mozart of rock."
Van Halen's net worth
It's no secret that Eddie Van Halen amassed a fortune, and most of it was from his music. Eddie has been working since the '70s. Over the years, Van Halen released more than 10 studio albums, and that's not counting live albums and LPs. Based on the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), Van Halen is one of the best-selling bands in the United States, with 56 million units sold, as reported by The Music Network. On a worldwide scale, Van Halen reportedly sold 75 million units by 2007.
According to Wealthy Genius, Van Halen's first album "Van Halen," released in 1978, already contributed $10 million to Eddie's net worth. Sales of succeeding albums also added millions to his wealth. In addition, Eddie worked on collaborations throughout the years and even wrote musical scores for films. He also launched a business with his own line of guitars called EVH, which included guitar accessories as well.
With all the album sales, tours, streaming revenue, and royalties, Eddie Van Halen had a reported $100 million net worth before his death (via Celebrity Net Worth.) He also had plenty of real estate to his name. One of his most notable properties is the legendary 5150 Studios, located near his home (via CNN). At the time he had the studio built, he had to fib to local inspectors, telling them he was building a racquetball court because "home studios" weren't allowed in the area due to zoning laws (via Ultimate Classic Rock).
Eddie Van Halen's estate
Eddie Van Halen, like most celebrities who have a large net worth, most likely had a last will and testament prepared well before his passing. Since his death, no details regarding his inheritance have been officially announced, but his estate, most likely, was divided among his remaining family members. According to Rock Celebrities, his wife Janie, brother Alex, and son Wolfgang may have been the recipients of the wealth he left, and there's also a chance that his ex-wife Valerie may have been part of the division.
Wolfgang Van Halen, being Eddie's only child, may have inherited a chunk of Eddie's large estate. According to Full Celebs, Wolfgang may have inherited at least 10% of his father's wealth, which amounts to $10 million. Wolfgang also noted that he's recording music in 5150 Studios, so it's possible that is now his as well (via People). "Where we're sitting right now, this is where I'm gonna be recording all the music I will for the rest of my life," he said in an interview (via YouTube).
In addition, Wolfgang also played alongside his father as Van Halen's bassist for several years, so that possibly could have increased the inheritance he got when his father died.