Alfred Matthew Yankovic Net Worth, Wiki Biography, Married, Family

Alfred Matthew Yankovic has a net worth of ten million dollars.

Wikimedia Commons has a biography of Alfred Matthew Yankovic.

Weird Al Yankovic is the stage name of Alfred Matthew Yankovic, who is better known by his stage name. He is a well-known entertainer in the United States. Weird Al Yankovic is a singer, musician, songwriter, record producer, director, humorist, and actor, among other things. All of these endeavors are critical in building Weird Al Yankovic’s net worth, which is currently estimated at $10 million dollars. In addition, Weird has boosted his net worth by creating children’s books. Al Yankovic’s net worth has grown significantly as a result of his three Grammy Awards. On October 23, 1959, in Downey, California, United States, Alfred Matthew Yankovic was born.

• Cressida Bonas

 

Al Yankovic’s Weird $10 million in net worth

At the age of six, Al Yankovic began learning to play the accordion. At the age of 16, he graduated from high school as the top student of the year. He graduated from university with a degree in architecture, but he soon recognized that he wanted to pursue a career as a comedian or singer. Al Yankovic was the host of a campus radio show where he earned the moniker “Weird Al.”

• Daniel Bryan

 

Weird Al Yankovic began his career as a parody musician in 1976, and thus began his net worth. More than 12 million records have been sold since the start of his career, bringing Weird Al’s net worth up to a respectable level. So far, Yankovic has fourteen studio albums, ten compilation albums, two EPs, 47 singles, eleven video albums, and 54 music videos under his belt. ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’ (1983), ‘Alapalooza’ (1993), and ‘Straight Outta Lynwood’ (1994) were all certified gold (2006). The albums ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic in 3-D’ (1984), ‘Dare to Be Stupid’ (1985), ‘Even Worse’ (1988), ‘Off the Deep End’ (1992), ‘Bad Hair Day’ (1996), and ‘Running with Scissors’ (1997) all gained platinum certification (1999). The most successful album was ‘Mandatory Fun’ (2014), which reached number one on the US charts.

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Yankovic’s net worth has grown as a result of his eleven Grammy Award nominations, three of which he won. Weird Al directed his own music videos as well as those for other artists such as Blues Explosion, The Black Crowes, The Presidents of the United States of America, and others. Weird Al has performed on television and the big screen in addition to being a superb parodist and musician. He appeared in Bill Fishman’s ‘Tapeheads’ (1988), David Zuker’s ‘The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!’ (1988) and ‘The Naked Gun 212: The Smell of Fear’ (1991), Peter Segal’s ‘Naked Gun 331: The Final Insult’ (1994), Rick Frieberg’s ‘Spy Hard’ (1996), and Rob Zombie’s ‘Halloween Weird Al Yankovic was cast in the lead role in Jay Levey’s film ‘UHF’ (1989). Weird Al Yankovic’s net worth is projected to rise in the near future as a result of his popularity. In 2001, Weird Al married his current wife Suzanne Krajewski. They have a daughter together.

Fact
1	Was the first guest editor of MAD Magazine.
2	He has had the same band since 1982.
3	He parodied the video sequence to Robert Palmer’s “Addicted To Love” for the “UHF” music video. 10 years after the release of “UHF”, Shania Twain parodied the same idea for her “Man, I Feel Like A Woman” video.
4	Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame in 2016.
5	While he had a Top 20 hit with “Eat It”, it wasn’t until 2006, with “White & Nerdy”, that he broke into the Top 10.
6	His fourteenth studio album “Mandatory Fun” debuted at number one on the US album charts on July 22, 2014, becoming the first number one album of his 31 year career, as well as the first comedy album to top the US charts since 1963.
7	Currently on tour in the US. [2008]
8	Preparing for an as yet unnamed tour kicking off June 19th in San Diego [March 2003]
9	His new album “Straight Outta Lynwood” is being released at the end of this month. The video of the first single from the album “Don’t Download This Song” (directed and animated by Bill Plympton) has been uploaded to MySpace by Al. [September 2006]
10	Preparing for the “Poodle Hat” tour. [April 2003]
11	Despite not requiring permission from artists/bands to parody their songs, he is required by law to pay royalties for any parodies that directly sample any lyrics, music, etc., from other songs. Because of the number of parodies he’s written, recorded and performed, Weird Al’s royalties are among the most complicated in the music industry.
12	His 1984 recording of “I Lost on Jeopardy” a parody of Greg Kihn’s 1983 #2 Pop hit, “Our Love’s In Jeopardy”, referenced the original “Jeopardy” with Art Fleming as host. The show ran from 1964-75 and was revived briefly during the 1978-79 season. A popular 1984 video of the song featured Al, his parents, Art Fleming, original announcer Don Pardo, Greg Kihn and Al’s mentor, the comedic novelty DJ, “Dr. Demento”. Interestingly, “Jeopardy”(1984), hosted by Alex Trebek, as we know it today, premiered in syndication, just 3 months after the records’s release. Initialy, many viewers , at first, had mistaken “Jeopardy”(1984) the quiz show, which initially aired after midnight in many markets, for the then popular music video. At least, for the first several minutes.
13	“Eat It” was his highest charting U.S. single on the Billboard Hot 100 for more than twenty years, until “White & Nerdy” broke into the Top 10.
14	After the incident with Coolio and “Amish Paradise”, Al acquires permission for his parodies directly from the artists, and not through intermediaries.
15	While he uses the original music in his parodies, it is not the original master track. He and his band take the original and transpose it by ear into a new key.
16	Recorded his first album at Cherokee Recording Studios in 1982. The album sold over 500,000 copies.
17	Is a longtime and devoted friend of the late George Harrison, whom he respected as a singer and songwriter. Yankovic wrote a parody of “Got My Mind Set on You”, called “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long”. Harrison even accepted his permission, therefore, it was released as a song off his album “Even Worse”.
18	Penned a parody of George Harrison’s “Taxman”, titled “PacMan”, with Barnes & Barnes, but it was never commercially released.
19	After doing a short polka parody of “Jocko Homo”, members of Devo ran into Al at a party and asked why they weren’t worthy of a full song parody. Al responded with the pastiche piece “Dare to Be Stupid”. Reportedly, the members of Devo were not impressed.
20	Shortly after the release of the album “Straight Outta Lynwood”, it was noted that Al’s trademark number 27 could be seen in the license plate on the car on the cover. Al revealed that the number 27 is actually a homage to his mother, who was born on Feburary 7, 1923 (or 2/7/23).
21	Another person who turned down Weird Al’s request for a parody was Yoko Ono. Al approached Paul McCartney about parodying The Beatles song “Free as a Bird” with “Gee I’m a Nerd”. McCartney turned the decision over to Ono, who told Al she didn’t feel comfortable with his parodying the song. “Gee I’m a Nerd” has since become a concert-only song (as have many Weird Al songs that never received a full blessing), and Al has said that if he knows beforehand that Ono will be in the audience, then, out of respect for her, they won’t play it.
22	Bill Mumy was a mutual friend of Al and his wife, and introduced them.
23	His paternal grandparents, Matt and Mary Yankovic, were Serbian immigrants. His maternal grandfather, Alfred Vivalda, was an Italian immigrant, and his maternal grandmother, Fairy Kidwell, was born in Kentucky, and had English ancestry.
24	Wrote a parody of James Blunt’s “You’re Beautiful” called “You’re Pitiful”. After Blunt’s record company, Atlantic Records, granted permission, Al recorded the song, but then permission was revoked. Although he abided by the decision (the song isn’t on his new album), Al responded by putting the song on his MySpace page for free download, and there’s a not-so-subtle snipe at Atlantic Records in the new video “White and Nerdy”.
25	When he requested permission to parody Dire Straits’ song “Money for Nothing”, authorization was granted — with the stipulation that Mark Knopfler (a fan of Weird Al) be allowed to play lead guitar on the song. Thus, “Money for Nothing/Beverly Hillbillies” (featured on the UHF (1989) soundtrack) is one of the few Yankovic songs in which Jim West *doesn’t* play lead guitar.
26	Contrary to popular belief, Yankovic is not under any explicit obligation to obtain permission from the composers of the songs he parodies — courts in the United States and other countries have consistently given great latitude to parody, almost always ruling that it is protected under the tenets of free expression and social critique (the exceptions are generally cases where the resulting work violates principles of good taste). However, out of respect for his peers in the entertainment industry, he has always asked permission, and (the Coolio controversy notwithstanding) has consistently abided by the artists’ wishes. While permission isn’t mandatory, he *is* obligated to pay royalties for any direct parodies.
27	After graduating college, he applied to work at McDonald’s, but was rejected for being overqualified.
28	Wrote “Yoda” (a parody of The Kinks’ “Lola”) as far back as 1980, but couldn’t release it until 1985 with his 3rd album, “Dare to Be Stupid”, because Ray Davies considered the song too personal for parody. However, after the massive success of “Eat It”, Davies was convinced that Yankovic could successfully perform the parody while respecting the original.
29	[October 2005] His music video collection ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection (2003) went Platinum.
30	The Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977) movies have inspired two of Yankovic’s best-known and best-loved parodies: “Yoda”, taken from “Lola” and Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980); and “The Saga Begins”, taken from Don McLean’s “American Pie” and Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999).
31	Has released his own version of “Peter and the Wolf”; this is a collaboration with electronic-music-pioneer Wendy Carlos.
32	Was offered the opening spot for the European leg of Michael Jackson’s “Bad” tour. However, he was involved in the production of his movie UHF (1989) at the time, and respectfully declined.
33	During the height of his “Eat It” fame, he spoofed Michael Jackson’s Pepsi sponsorship by appearing briefly in a Diet Coke commercial. The spot showed a figure from the back, in a “Thriller”-style jacket, who then turned to reveal it was Al.
34	The contract that allows his records to be released by record companies outside the United States also grants permission for those companies to use other cover artwork. As a result, some truly bizarre covers have been produced, particularly in Japan and other non-English-speaking areas.
35	He used the money he earned from “My Bologna” to found his own short-lived record label, Placebo Records, which released his second record (an “EP” record with only four songs). Copies of the record are hot collector’s items.
36	His video for “Fat” was filmed in the same parking garage as Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, and included several of the same actors and dancers. The “fat suit” he wore (which weighed 40 pounds) caused him to lose weight, not only because it made him sweat profusely, but the sight of himself as being grotesquely obese made him want to eat less.
37	His album covers are frequently parodies as well: Michael Jackson’s album “Bad” was spoofed as “Even Worse” (Yankovic even hired the same photo, artwork and wardrobe team to replicate the cover precisely); Nirvana’s album “Nevermind” became “Off the Deep End” (with Al replicating the naked baby in the pool photo himself); and the Jurassic Park (1993) soundtrack was turned into “Alapalooza”.
38	When he asked Nirvana for permission to parody “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, their first question was, “Will it be about food?”. When Yankovic explained that “Smells Like Nirvana” would be about how nobody could understand their singing, they agreed that it sounded funny and granted permission.
39	His offical website, WeirdAl.com, is maintained by his long-time drummer, Jon Schwartz (a.k.a. “Bermuda” Schwartz).
40	Along with his trademark song parodies, most of his albums include a track in which Al and his band perform polka-style (but lyrically faithful) renditions of popular hits (he is an accordionist, after all). Most of these have been eclectic medleys of recent hits, although the “Hot Rocks Polka” (from the UHF (1989) soundtrack) was a collection of The Rolling Stones hits, and the album “Alapalooza” featured a complete polka version of Queen’s classic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, called “Bohemian Polka”.
41	Says his most frequent question by reporters is “Do you write any original songs?” The irony is that roughly half of his material (since his very first album) is original–sometimes parodying the *style* of an artist, but not based on any existing melody or lyrics.
42	Has directed music videos by other artists, notably “Only a Fool” by The Black Crowes, and “The River” by the boy-band Hanson (which was itself a parody of Titanic (1997)).
43	Another artist to have denied parody permission is Paul McCartney. Yankovic wrote a parody of “Live and Let Die” called “Chicken Pot Pie”, but McCartney (a staunch vegetarian) denied permission. As a result, Yankovic has never released the song, but has performed it in concert.
44	One of the few artists to consistently turn down Yankovic’s requests to do parodies has been Prince. Originally, Yankovic envisioned the centerpiece song “Beverly Hillbillies” in the movie UHF (1989) to be a parody of “Let’s Go Crazy” and reportedly also wanted to do parodies of “When Doves Cry” and “Purple Rain”. After years of asking, Yankovic tried a different tactic: he requested permission to parody one of Prince’s videos (but not the song itself); to his surprise, approval was granted. Thus, the video for Weird Al’s original song “UHF” includes a segment parodying Prince’s bathtub sequence in the video for “When Doves Cry”. Incidentally, Weird Al’s song “Amish Paradise” contains the lyric “So tonight we’re gonna party like it’s 1699”, a reference to Prince’s hit “1999”.
45	Said he knew he’d made it as a famous musician when he went to a party, saw Paul McCartney and before he could introduce himself to the former Beatle, McCartney recognized him and said, “Hey! It’s Weird Al!”
46	Is an only child.
47	As a rule, all parody ideas are his, with one exception: “Like a Surgeon” came about from a comment Madonna made asking when he was going to turn “Like a Virgin” into that parody.
48	Has been a vegetarian ever since 1992. A girlfriend at the time gave him the book “Diet for a New America”, and Yankovic said he felt it made some compelling arguments to be vegetarian. He currently eats no meat and tries also to avoid dairy and egg products.
49	Was the subject of a 1999 episode of VH-1’s Behind the Music (1997) documentary. Unlike other such celebrity documentaries in this series, his did not include any mention of alcoholism, drug abuse, divorce, gambling, religious cults or sexual escapades. Yankovic agreed to appear because, having created his own mock-biography in The Compleat Al (1985), he decided it would be fun to have someone do a serious biography on him.
50	Parents Nick Yankovic and Mary Yankovic were killed on April 9, 2004, when a closed fireplace-flue caused their home to fill with carbon monoxide.