Summary
- Kurt Cobain's paintings have been auctioned for up to $200,000, adding to his multi-million dollar empire.
- Merchandise sales, including clothing and albums, contribute to Kurt Cobain's estate revenue.
- Kurt Cobain's memorabilia, such as personal belongings and guitars, have been sold for significant amounts.
Kurt Cobain is best known for his legendary time in the music industry with the rock band Nirvana. Unfortunately, Cobain's life ended at the height of his career, at just 27 years old in 1994, due to suicide. He is survived by his only daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, who is still alive today. Kurt Cobain had Frances Bean Cobain with his then wife Courtney Love, who was also a musician and public figure.
During Cobain's short life, he managed to produce not only music that made his fans want to represent it via merchandise, but also paintings that have carried on his legacy. Through these mediums, Cobain's estate has generated up to $450 million, according to CNBC.
Let's take a look at how exactly Kurt Cobain built this multi-million dollar empire.
Kurt Cobain's Paintings Are Auctioned For Up To $200,000
Before Kurt Cobain's music career took off, he dabbled quite a lot in another art form that has added to his empire, and this other art medium happened to be painting. According to MutualArt, Kurt Cobain's artwork has been offered at numerous auctions where the prices range from $12,500 USD to $281,250 USD.
Kurt Cobain's Available Paintings (view full list here):
- Painting of a house on fire - Published in "Cobain: Montage Of Heck"
- Painting of a house on a hill - Published in "Cobain: Unseen"
- Painting of a lighthouse (dated 1980) - Published in "Cobain: Unseen"
- Painting of a lighthouse (dated 1980) - Used for the front cover of Beverly Cobain's book When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide For Depressed Teens.
- Painting of a harbor (dated 1980)
- Painting of an Old Milwaukee beer can with two pretzels, set against a blue background (signed at lower right "Kurt 80")
- Painting based on the film King Kong
- Painting based on the film Creature from the Black Lagoon
- Painting based on the film Planet of the Apes
Kurt Cobain's public portfolio currently has 39 paintings.
| Kurt Cobain's Sold Paintings | Sold For |
|---|---|
| "Kurt 80" | |
| No Title (hand-drawn and colored pencil sketch made as a birthday card) | $9,560 |
| $281,250 |
It's unclear the total estimate Cobain's amateur paintings have contributed to his estate. However, it's clear that the contribution is quite a lot.
Kurt Cobain's Image Still Makes His Estate Money From Merchandise
Alongside Kurt Cobain's music that has contributed to his multi-million estate (which was left to his wife, Courtney Love, and his daughter, Frances Bean Cobain) is his merchandise on the online store, Kurt Cobain Shop. Merchandise profits to Cobain's estate also include whatever proceeds that come from his shared hold of Nirvana merchandise, whose retail prices range from $45 to $300 on Nirvana's trademarked shop. (Total revenue made from Nirvana merchandise and Kurt Cobain merchandise is not available.)
The average price for Nirvana's albums is $10 per album and $1 per single. Kurt Cobain and his band sold up to 350,000 albums in 2013 as well as 900,000 singles, according to CNBC.
As of now, the total revenue from merchandise sold is private. However, Kurt Cobain's website displays the prices of every piece of item that bears his name, face, and/or art.
Kurt Cobain's Merchandise Collection (view more here):
- Kurt Flowers Oversized Tee - $45.00
- Kurt Cobain Longsleeve Tee - $ 49.00
- Checkered Crewneck - $60.00
- Kurt Shows Tee - $45.00
- Spider Baby White Hoodie - $72.00
According to Global News, Kurt Cobain's clothing line was launched in 2019. Some of the proceeds are donated to the non-profit organization, the JED Foundation, whose mission is to help those struggling with mental health. However, the rest of the proceeds from the merchandise go directly into his $450 million estate.
Kurt Cobain's Estate Makes Money From His Memorabilia
In addition to the dollar signs associated with Kurt Cobain's paintings is his memorabilia, that is to say, the items he once owned that are now being sold.
Everything from pieces of his hair to a used paper plate, Kurt Cobain's estate is making bank from what once was Cobain's possessions.
| Kurt Cobain's Memorabilia | |
|---|---|
| Six strands of Kurt Cobain's hair (proceeds went to The Crew National Global Relief fund) | $14,145 |
| A used paper plate | $22,400 |
| Kurt Cobain's Blockbuster Video card (issued at a Los Angeles store) | $2,187.50 |
| Kurt Cobain's Cardiagan from MTV Unplugged | $334,000 |
| Kurt Cobain's 1969 Fender Mustang Competition Lake Placid Blue Finish Electric guitar used in The "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video | $4.5 million |
| Kurt Cobain's 1959 Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric guitar used on MTV Unplugged | $6.01 million |
How Much Did Kurt Cobain's Former House Sell For?
Kurt Cobain amassed up to $50 million to his name, according to Celebrity Net Worth, and this fortune was spent in a variety of ways. Like many successful musicians, Cobain purchased a home that, after his death, went on the market for up to $7.5 million.
Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love purchased their Seattle home back in 1994. According to KULR 8 News, the home was estimated to be $3 million at the time Cobain and Love bought it, but now the home is worth way more due to its previous inhabitants.
The home eventually sold in 1999 to an unknown buyer for $7.1 million. Even though the buyer remained anonymous, one thing is for sure: this was a gain for Kurt Cobain's estate.
