George Alan O’Dowd was born on 14 June 1961, in Bexley, Kent England of Irish descent. As Boy George, he is a British singer probably best known through his rise to prominence as the vocalist of the popular band Culture Club in the early 1980s..
So just how rich is Boy George? Sources have estimated that the overall sum of Boy George’s net worth is as high as $35 million, which wealth Boy George has earned through his successful career as a singer, but in addition as a songwriter. Boy George is also known as a follower of the English New Romantic movement, and this involvement has also added somewhat to the total amount of George’s net worth.
Boy George Net Worth $35 Million
At the pushing of music executive Malcolm McLaren (previously the manager of the Sex Pistols), Boy George started his career in 1979 as Lieutenant Lush with the band Bow Wow Wow, co-singing with Annabella Lwin. However, he was not satisfied with this situation, and left to form his own band named Culture Club in 1982, together with bass player Mike Craig, drummer Jon Moss and guitar player Roy Hay. Culture Club has a rich discography which has increased Boy George’s net worth significantly, as it now contains twenty singles, five studio albums, ten compilation albums, three EPs, six video albums, eighteen music videos, three box sets and five promotional singles. The most successful were the first three albums of the band, with ‘Kissing to Be Clever’ released in 1982 being certified platinum in UK and US, three times platinum in Canada. ‘Colour by Numbers’ released in 1983 was certified three times platinum in UK, diamond in Canada, gold in France, four times platinum in US, and then ‘Waking Up with the House on Fire’ released in 1984 was certified platinum in UK and US, two times platinum in Canada, and gold in France. Together with the band Boy won a number of awards including Grammy Award, Brit Award, American Music Award and their song ‘Time (Clock of the Heart)’ is written into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame’s list.
From 1989 till 1992, Boy George sang in his foundation band named ‘Jesus Loves You’ which has also added to George’s net worth too. With this band Boy George has released one studio album and four singles.
In addition to these involvements, Boy George has also pursued a solo career, and it is worth mentioning that his own rich discography has added much to Boy George’s wealth, since as a solo performer he has released 46 singles, nine studio albums, five compilation albums, three EPs, seven DJ albums and a soundtrack. The most successful of his and band albums have been ‘Sold’, released in 1987 and certified silver in UK, and ‘At Worst… The Best of Boy George and Culture Club’ released in 1993, certified silver in UK, and gold in France.
Additionally Boy George starred in the London musical “Taboo”, based on the New Romantic scene of the early 1980s, which was a great success in London’s West End, and for which he was nominated for a Tony Award for the “Best Musical Score”. Boy George has also run his own fashion line for some years, called “B-Rude”, which has shown at fashion shows in London, New York and Moscow.
Two autobiographical books have been published Boy George: ‘Take It Like a Man’ co-written with Spencer Bright and ‘Straight’ co-written with Paul Gorman, and also memoirs of Boy’s mother have been published in a book ‘Cry Salty Tears’. No doubt that the books added to Boy George’s net worth too.
In his less-than private personal life, despite being a great singer Boy George has suffered from addiction to heroin and cocaine, and has been arrested for possession. He has ‘come out’ as a gay, but is generally careful to be discreet about this part of his life.
