Charlie Watts Net Worth: Early Years, Career & More!

By Jaslin Last updated Nov 18, 2022

Charles Robert Watts, better known by his stage name Charlie Watts, is a renowned drummer known for his impressive abilities. The fact that he was an active member of the Rolling Stones was largely responsible for his meteoric climb to stardom.

After beginning his professional life as a graphic artist, he soon began testing out his luck as a drummer in the clubs of London. It was there that his life took an unexpected turn when he was presented with the opportunity to perform with the Rolling Stones.

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Charlie Watts Early Years

Charlie Watts was always interested in painting, and he showed artistic talent as a schoolboy not long after his birth in 1941. Watts, who was born and raised in London, was also a talented footballer and cricketer. When Watts was young, Britain was still rebuilding from the effects of World War II, particularly in the bombed-out ruins of London, where Watts resided in a pre-fabricated home like many of the city’s citizens.

Charlie Watts fell in love with jazz music at a young age, and it was this spark that pushed him down the path to a professional music career. He was lucky enough to get a drum set as a gift from his parents, and after many hours of practice, he enrolled in Harrow Art School.

Charlie Watts Career

Despite his talent as a drummer and his love of music, Charlie Watts chose graphic design as a professional route after graduating from art school. In his leisure time, he found time to play the drums for numerous bands.

Because of his involvement in the London music scene, he finally met Brian Jones, Mick Jagger, Ian Stewart, and Keith Richards. After spending his childhood fantasizing about a successful musical career, he joined The Rolling Stones in 1963.

With the publication of the smash single “Satisfaction” in 1965, Charlie Watts experienced his first taste of success as a member of his new band. “Satisfaction,” widely regarded as one of the best singles of all time, soon topped the US Billboard Hot 100 charts, establishing Watts and the rest of The Rolling Stones as a force to be reckoned with.

Watts was acknowledged as one of rock’s best drummers of all time after a string of other big songs such as “Paint It Black” and “Ruby Tuesday.” Watts is a member of the “Modern Drummer Hall of Fame,” and The Rolling Stones are members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

The band is still together and traveling in 2020, albeit Charlie Watts has subsequently pursued other musical chances outside of the band. Even though he is best recognized for his work in the rock genre, the drummer’s primary passion has always been jazz music.

Charlie Watts’s Personal Life

While Charlie Watts was known for leading a quieter, more restricted lifestyle than his bandmates, drugs, and alcohol became a concern during the 1980s. He has stated that his addiction to these substances had a significant impact on his home life, virtually causing a schism between him and his wife. His brush with addiction occurred during a self-described “mid-life crisis.”

Despite this, Charlie Watts made a concerted attempt to reject the traditional image of the rockstar that had emerged during his time in the spotlight. Charlie rarely spoke to the press, preferring privacy and a quiet lifestyle over popularity. While his comrades took full advantage of the sexual pleasures offered by so-called “groupies,” Watts stayed devoted to his wife, even isolating himself in an empty room when the band was invited to Hugh Hefner’s famed Playboy Mansion.

Charlie Watts met his wife, Shirley Ann Shepard, before achieving fame with The Rolling Stones, and they have been happily married since 1964. Four years later, the couple gave birth to their first and only child, a daughter called Serafina. Their daughter has one kid of her own, Charlie Watts’ lone granddaughter. Charlotte is the name of the girl.

While Charlie Watts likes to avoid media attention, his fashion sense makes him difficult to overlook. Watts has made an attempt to “look like a gentleman,” liking English suits and wearing them with confidence, influenced by his early love of jazz.

Publications such as Vanity Fair have named the drummer one of the world’s best-dressed men, and GQ has featured him as a style icon. His style has been described as “understated,” and this sophisticated aesthetic helps him stand out among other Rolling Stones members – somewhat paradoxical for a man who loves to keep out of the spotlight.

Charlie Watts’ Net Worth

Charlie Watts was a horseman, songwriter, and musician from England. At the time of his death, Charlie Watts had a net worth of $250 million dollars. Charlie Watts was best known as The Rolling Stones’ longtime drummer.

Watts, widely considered as one of the greatest drummers of all time, was also a versatile artist who worked as a composer and producer. In addition to rock music, Charlie was heavily involved in jazz music production, most notably as the drummer for The ABC&D of Boogie Woogie.