Billy Idol is an English rock musician, singer-songwriter, and actor with an estimated net worth of $60 million. He gained fame in the 1980s as the frontman of the punk rock band Generation X before launching a successful solo career. Idol is best known for hits like “Rebel Yell,” “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” “Dancing with Myself,” “Cradle of Love,” and his cover of “Mony Mony.”
- Billy Idol Net Worth: $60 Million
- Date of Birth: November 30, 1955
- Place of Birth: Stanmore
- Nationality: English
- Career: musician, singer-songwriter, and actor
Early Life
Billy Idol was born William Michael Albert Broad on November 30, 1955, in Stanmore. His parents, Joan and Bill, moved the family to New York when he was two. Idol spent part of his childhood in Patchogue and Rockville Centre, New York, before returning to England. He attended Worthing High School for Boys and briefly studied English at the University of Sussex, but dropped out to join the punk scene in London. Around this time, he adopted the stage name “Billy Idol,” inspired by a teacher’s note on his report card.
Music Career
In 1976, Idol joined the band Chelsea before forming Generation X with bassist Tony James. The band released three albums, including Generation X (1978), Valley of the Dolls (1979), and Kiss Me Deadly (1981), gaining a following in the UK punk scene.
Idol moved to New York City in 1981 and began his solo career. His debut solo album, Billy Idol (1982), included the hit “White Wedding.” His follow-up, Rebel Yell (1983), went double Platinum in the U.S. and produced chart-topping hits such as “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face.”
Idol released several more albums, including Whiplash Smile (1986), Charmed Life (1990), Cyberpunk (1993), Devil’s Playground (2005), Happy Holidays (2006), and Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014). He also recorded a live DVD, In Super Overdrive Live (2009), and collaborated with artists like Miley Cyrus in 2020.
Acting
Billy Idol has appeared in films such as “The Wedding Singer” (1998) and “The Doors” (2001), and voiced a character in “Heavy Metal 2000.” His 2014 memoir, Dancing with Myself, became a New York Times bestseller.
Personal Life
Idol has two children: Willem Wolf Broad (born 1988) and Bonnie Blue Broad (born 1989). He became a grandfather in 2020 when Bonnie’s daughter Poppy Rebel was born. Idol became a U.S. citizen in 2018, holding dual citizenship with the UK.
Despite facing a serious motorcycle accident in 1990 and a near-fatal drug overdose in 1994, Idol overcame his struggles and has remained active in music. He credits his children for inspiring him to turn his life around.
Awards
Billy Idol earned Grammy nominations for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for “Rebel Yell” (1985), “To Be a Lover” (1987), and “Cradle of Love” (1991). He won an ASCAP Film and Television Music Award for Cradle of Love and received 10 MTV Video Music Award nominations, winning Best Video from a Film for Cradle of Love. He was also nominated for a Brit Award for Best British Video.
Author: Andrew Walyaula
Andrew Walyaula is a seasoned multimedia journalist. Email: [email protected]
