As one of the most talked-about figures, Miles Davis has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.

What Was Miles Davis' Net Worth?

Miles Davis was an American musician, bandleader, and composer who had a net worth of $19 million at the time of his death. During his career Miles Davis released dozens albums through the labels Prestige, Blue Note, Columbia, and Warner Bros. Miles also recorded albums as a sideman for Charlie Parker, Billy Eckstine, Charles Mingus, Sarah Vaughan,Sonny Rollins,Leonard Bernstein, Rene Urteger, Cannonball Adderley, Betty Davis,Chaka Khan,Quincy Jones,Dizzy Gillespie,Chick Corea, andLouis Armstrong.

Davis' 1959 album "Kind of Blue" was certified 5x Platinum and sold more than four million copies in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives recognized and commemorated the album's 50th anniversary. Davis published the book "Miles: The Autobiography" in 1989, and he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as "one of the key figures in the history of jazz."

Miles passed away in September 1991 at the age of 65.

Estate Value and Inheritance

Though it has been reported that Miles was worth just $1 million at the time of his death, that information is often misinterpreted. According to his last will and testament, as filed by his heirs in 1991, Davis' estate was "valued at more than $1 million." Many publications have since reported this as Miles being worth $1 million at the time of his death.

New York does not require exact figures when the estate is valued at more than $1 million. According to our research, Davis' liquid assets and the present-day value (in 1991) of his future royalty stream, was $10 million. That's the same as around $19 million today.

According to his will, Miles left 20% of his estate to his daughter Cheryl, 40% to his son Erin, 10% to his nephew Vincent and 15% apiece to his brother Vernon and sister Dorothy. For reasons unknown, he cut out two sons; Gregory and Miles IV. He also cut out his half-brother, Joseph, and his three ex-wives, including actressCicely Tyson.

Ultimately, Miles Davis's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.