What is Danny Elfman’s Net Worth?
Danny Elfman, the American composer, singer, songwriter, and actor, has a net worth of $50 million. He is best known for his work as the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Oingo Boingo from 1979 to 1995. Elfman has also composed scores for over 100 feature films, including 16 directed by Tim Burton such as “Batman” and “Edward Scissorhands”.
Aside from film scoring, Elfman has also written music for television shows like “The Simpsons” and “Desperate Housewives”. In addition to his musical career, Elfman has appeared in several films and lent his voice to characters in Tim Burton’s movies such as “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”. He also served as an associate producer on “The Nightmare Before Christmas”.
Danny Elfman’s Three Notes in “The Simpsons” Theme Song
In 1998, Danny Elfman composed the theme song to “The Simpsons” and sang the first three notes of “The Simpsonnnnss” at the beginning of the tune. This small contribution has allowed Elfman to earn performance royalties for as long as “The Simpsons” airs, which is expected to be forever. In interviews, Elfman has revealed that these three notes have made him far more money than he earned for composing the entire theme song.
Danny Elfman’s Background
Danny Elfman was born on May 29, 1953, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in a Jewish household with his parents and brother Richard. Elfman spent a lot of time watching movies at a local cinema, where he was introduced to the scores of composers Franz Waxman and Bernard Herrmann. Although he was rejected from the school orchestra in elementary school, he became interested in music in high school after being introduced to jazz and Stravinsky by his classmates.
After graduating early, Elfman traveled around the world and played violin with the musical theater group Le Grand Magic Circus in France. He then spent 10 months traveling through Africa, where he contracted malaria three times. When he returned to L.A., his brother had formed a street troupe called The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo and made Elfman the musical director. Elfman also attended classes in the Indonesian music department at CalArts and performed there for a few years.
Danny Elfman’s Career Highlights
Danny Elfman started his career with The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo in the 1970s, then went on to become a successful composer for film and television. He scored over 25 films in the ’90s alone, including “Batman” and “Edward Scissorhands,” while also writing the score and songs for “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” Elfman received numerous Grammy nominations and wins for his film scores, including for “Batman” and “Men in Black.”
Elfman also composed theme music for various television projects, such as “The Simpsons,” “Desperate Housewives,” and “Batman: The Animated Series.” He has had many of his compositions performed onstage, including at Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. In 2020 and 2021, Elfman released several singles before dropping his album “Big Mess” in June 2021.
Danny Elfman’s Personal Life
Danny Elfman dated Kim Gordon during his teenage years and later married Geri Eisenmenger, with whom he had two daughters. After their divorce, he married Bridget Fonda and they have a son together. Elfman’s nephew is actor Bodhi Elfman. He became an atheist at a young age and is known to refer to himself as a “cynic-ologist.” Elfman supported Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election and scored a video about Joe Biden for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. His hearing was damaged during his time with Oingo Boingo, leading to his departure from the band. Elfman received an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts in 2007.
Danny Elfman’s Awards and Accolades
Danny Elfman has been recognized for his work in film and television with numerous awards and nominations. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, winning none, and has received three Primetime Emmy nominations, winning two. The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films has nominated him for 15 Saturn Awards, of which he has won six. Additionally, Elfman has won more than 40 BMI Film Music Awards, three Grammy Awards, and three Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. He has also received recognition from various other organizations, including the Online Film & Television Association, Fantasporto festival, and Hollywood Film Awards.
Danny Elfman’s Real Estate Ventures
Danny Elfman paid $2.13 million for a home in Hancock Park in 2000, which he and Bridget renovated for $3 million. In 2015, they acquired the neighboring house for $3.6 million and put the combined estate on the market for $14.6 million in 2020.
The larger home was listed for $8.8 million and the smaller for $5.8 million. They were sold separately, with the larger home selling at the asking price and the smaller at a discount of $4.2 million.
In 2021, Danny and Bridget purchased two side-by-side homes in Encino for a total of $8 million. The property spans 2.2 acres. Danny also owns a ranch in Santa Barbara that he acquired in the mid-1990s.
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