Art Garfunkel, the legendary American singer, songwriter, and actor, is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the iconic folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel.
His career, spanning several decades, has led him to become one of the most influential figures in popular music. As of 2024, Art Garfunkel’s net worth is estimated at $95 million.
This substantial fortune is the result of a combination of his musical career, acting roles, touring, and other ventures.
Below is a detailed breakdown of how Art Garfunkel amassed such wealth and continues to maintain his high net worth despite ups and downs in his personal and professional life.
Early Career and Breakthrough with Simon & Garfunkel
Art Garfunkel’s musical career began in the mid-1950s when he met Paul Simon while attending elementary school in Queens, New York.
The two began performing together, first as Tom & Jerry, a duo inspired by the Everly Brothers.
Though their early work garnered only modest success, the release of their 1957 single “Hey Schoolgirl” reached #49 on the Billboard charts.
The pair parted ways after some creative differences, but their reunion in the early 1960s would become the foundation for their immense success as Simon & Garfunkel.
In 1964, Simon & Garfunkel released their debut album, Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M., which initially didn’t gain much attention.
However, the pivotal moment in their career came when their song “The Sound of Silence” was re-released as a single in 1965 and soared to the top of the charts. This marked the beginning of their meteoric rise to fame.
Over the next several years, Simon & Garfunkel would release multiple successful albums, including Sounds of Silence (1966), Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966), Bookends (1968), and Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970).
These albums included classic songs like “Mrs. Robinson,” “The Boxer,” “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy),” and the title track “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
The success of these albums helped them achieve global fame, and Simon & Garfunkel’s wealth skyrocketed during this time.
By the time Bridge Over Troubled Water was released in 1970, Simon & Garfunkel had become one of the most successful musical acts in history. Bridge Over Troubled Water became one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling over 25 million copies worldwide.
The album’s title track, “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” became an anthem and remains one of the most recognizable songs in popular music history.
The success of Simon & Garfunkel’s catalog continues to generate significant royalties, contributing to Garfunkel’s wealth even decades after the duo disbanded.
Breakup and Solo Career
Despite their success, Simon & Garfunkel broke up in 1970, primarily due to personal and professional differences. Following the split, Art Garfunkel turned to a solo career.
His debut solo album, Angel Clare (1973), was a commercial success, peaking at #5 on the Billboard charts.
The album included hits like “All I Know,” which helped Garfunkel further establish himself as a solo artist.
Garfunkel’s success continued with his second album, Breakaway (1975), which included the popular single “I Only Have Eyes for You,” a cover of the 1930s classic song. The success of these albums further added to his wealth.
While Garfunkel’s solo career didn’t achieve the same level of success as his work with Simon & Garfunkel, it still earned him significant income through album sales, radio play, and touring.
However, his career slowed considerably in the 1970s and 1980s due to personal tragedies and health issues.
The death of his longtime girlfriend Laurie Bird in 1974, combined with the passing of his father in the 1980s, deeply affected Garfunkel and led to a period of professional withdrawal.
During this time, he focused on acting and other personal pursuits rather than music, but his wealth was still bolstered by the continuing royalties from his previous albums and his involvement in film.
Acting Career and Wealth Expansion
Though best known for his music, Art Garfunkel also ventured into acting. He appeared in several films during the 1970s and 1980s, including Catch-22 (1970), Carnal Knowledge (1971), and The Last Tycoon (1976).
While Garfunkel was not a regular in Hollywood, his performances in these films were generally well-received.
His acting career did not rival his musical success, but it still allowed him to earn a substantial amount of money.
As an actor, Garfunkel enjoyed a mix of supporting and leading roles, and his film career helped expand his wealth, though it never became his primary source of income.
Late Career and Reunions
In the 1990s, Garfunkel began to resurface in the public eye, both musically and personally. Although he had withdrawn from the limelight for much of the 1980s, he began to return to music, starting to write and record new material.
Garfunkel’s solo albums in the 1990s, such as Up ‘Til Now (1993), were well-received by his loyal fans, and his voice continued to be a major draw for concertgoers.
Despite the occasional solo success, Garfunkel’s most significant source of income in the late 1990s and 2000s came from his reunions with Paul Simon.
The two occasionally performed together, and in 2003, they embarked on a major reunion tour.
These tours were highly profitable, with ticket sales bringing in millions of dollars for both Garfunkel and Simon.
The tours allowed Garfunkel to re-enter the public consciousness and provided a significant financial boost.
However, the partnership between Simon and Garfunkel was not without its problems.
Their relationship became strained once again in the late 2000s when Garfunkel had to withdraw from a planned reunion tour due to vocal cord paresis, a condition that affected his singing voice.
This caused tension between the two, with Simon publicly expressing disappointment with Garfunkel for not being “honest” about his vocal condition. Despite this setback, Garfunkel has continued to perform and record new music on his own.
How Art Garfunkel Made His Wealth?
Art Garfunkel’s wealth stems from multiple sources, with the bulk of his fortune coming from his work with Simon & Garfunkel.
The duo’s immense commercial success, particularly from albums like Bridge Over Troubled Water and the continued popularity of their music, has ensured that Garfunkel continues to earn royalties from their songs.
Even after decades of their breakup, Simon & Garfunkel’s music remains a staple in pop culture, generating continuous revenue through streaming, radio play, and licensing for movies and TV shows.
In addition to album sales and royalties, Garfunkel also earned money through extensive touring, both as a solo artist and with Simon.
His live performances have been a key source of income, with large-scale tours in the 1990s and 2000s contributing significantly to his fortune.
Although Garfunkel’s acting career was not as lucrative as his music career, his roles in films such as Catch-22 and Carnal Knowledge helped increase his overall wealth.
Additionally, Garfunkel has enjoyed income from other ventures, such as his book royalties.
He published a memoir in 2017 titled What Is It All but Luminous, which received positive reviews and contributed to his wealth.
Garfunkel is also known for his intellectual pursuits, including his love of literature, and his books on poetry and essays have contributed to his income stream.
Art Garfunkel’s Net Worth Today
As of 2024, Art Garfunkel’s net worth is estimated to be $95 million. This wealth continues to be supported by the enduring popularity of Simon & Garfunkel, with the duo’s music still reaching new generations of fans through streaming platforms and reissues.
Live performances, royalties, and his acting career all play significant roles in maintaining his wealth, even though Garfunkel’s output has slowed in recent years. Moreover, his legacy as one of the greatest voices in pop music ensures that Garfunkel will continue to earn income for years to come.
Garfunkel’s wealth is a testament to his lasting impact on the music industry, where he remains a beloved figure.
Despite personal setbacks and challenges throughout his career, Art Garfunkel’s contribution to music, his artistry, and his ability to adapt and continue performing have solidified his position as a wealthy and influential figure in the entertainment world.
