Carole King Net Worth

Carole King net worth is estimated at $100 million, earned through a prolific career as a songwriter, singer, and performer. King is widely regarded as one of the most commercially successful female songwriters in history, with a career spanning over six decades. She has released more than 20 solo albums, been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, and won multiple Grammy Awards.

Her music has left a lasting mark on pop culture, with over 400 songs written or co-written that have been recorded by more than 1,000 artists, including her own legendary catalog.

Carole King Net Worth: $100 Million
Date of Birth: February 9, 1942
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York City
Nationality: American
Career: songwriter, singer, and performer

Table of Contents

Early Life

Carole King was born Carol Joan Klein on February 9, 1942, in Manhattan, New York City. Her parents, Sidney and Eugenia Klein, were Jewish; her father worked as a firefighter, and her mother was a teacher.

King showed an early musical aptitude. She began playing piano at age three, and by age four, it was discovered she had perfect pitch. She received professional music lessons and advanced quickly in school, entering primary school ahead of schedule due to her intelligence in both math and language.

As a teenager, she attended James Madison High School, where she formed a band called the Co-Shines and made early demo recordings with her friend, Paul Simon. She later enrolled at Queens College, but dropped out to work as a secretary, focusing on her burgeoning music career.

Career Beginnings

King’s career took off in the 1960s when she collaborated with her first husband, Gerry Goffin. Together, they wrote her first #1 hit, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow”, performed by the Shirelles, when she was just 18 years old. The success of the song allowed King and Goffin to focus entirely on songwriting.

Throughout the 1960s, the pair wrote numerous hits for other artists, including:

“The Loco-Motion”
“It Might as Well Rain Until September”
“Up on the Roof”
“One Fine Day”
“Goin’ Back”

After her divorce from Goffin, King moved to Los Angeles and formed the City, releasing one album, Now That Everything’s Been Said, before the band disbanded in 1969. In 1970, King released her solo debut, Writer, which peaked at #84 on the Billboard 200.

Breakthrough with “Tapestry”

Carole King achieved global fame with her 1971 album, Tapestry, which became a cultural milestone. The album held the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 for 15 consecutive weeks and stayed on the charts for nearly six years.

Key singles included:

“(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”
“You’ve Got a Friend”
“It’s Too Late”

Tapestry won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums in music history.

Success in the 1970s and Beyond

Following Tapestry, King released several successful albums:

Music (1971) – Peaked at #1
Rhymes and Reasons – Certified Gold
Fantasy – Certified Gold
Wrap Around Joy (1974) – Reached #1

Later albums in the decade included Thoroughbred and Simple Things, the latter in collaboration with songwriter Rick Evers. While some releases received less commercial attention, King continued to produce music throughout the 1970s and beyond.

Later Career

In the 1980s and 1990s, King released albums such as One to One, Speeding Time, City Streets, and Colour of Your Dreams. She also recorded The Carnegie Hall Concert: June 18, 1971, a live performance of her iconic Tapestry material.

In the 2000s, King’s albums included:

Love Makes the World
The Living Room Tour
A Holiday Carole
The Legendary Demos

King contributed music to films such as The Care Bears Movie and Murphy’s Romance, and wrote songs for A League of Their Own and the TV series Gilmore Girls. She also toured internationally, collaborating with artists like James Taylor, Fergie, and Mary J. Blige, before announcing her retirement from active touring.

Personal Life and Activism

Carole King has been married four times:

Gerry Goffin (1959–1968) – Children: Louise and Sherry
Charles Larkey (1970–1976) – Children: Molly and Levi
Rick Evers (1977–1978) – Died of overdose
Rick Sorenson (1982–1989)

Beyond music, King is a dedicated environmental activist, supporting groups like the Alliance for the Wild Rockies and advocating for legislation such as the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act. She has also been involved in political activism, including campaigning for John Kerry during his presidential bid.

Carole King net worth is estimated to be $100 million.