Ace Frehley Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ace Frehley’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $1 million, Ace Frehley is an American rock musician. Known as “The Spaceman,” he is most recognized as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Kiss. His time with the band spanned from 1973 to 1982 before he successfully launched a solo career, although he returned for several reunion tours with Kiss later on.

Today, Ace Frehley is revered as one of the greatest metal guitarists ever. In addition to his exceptional guitar skills, he has taken on lead vocal roles for Kiss and other bands and gained fame for his theatrical stage performances, which include playing an electric guitar designed to emit smoke. Furthermore, he has customized guitars that can shoot rockets and shoot flashing lights synchronized to the song’s rhythm.

Early Life

Born as Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27, 1951, in The Bronx, New York City, he grew up in a musical family with two siblings. Receiving an electric guitar as a Christmas gift peaked his interest in music, prompting him to teach himself how to play. Influences from rock legends like Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, and Led Zeppelin played a significant role during his teenage years.

During high school, Frehley gained the nickname “Ace” from his friends, who were impressed by his ability to date almost any girl he desired and assist them in finding dates as well. Despite performing well in arts, he ultimately dropped out of high school to join a street gang in New York City.

Career

Frehley acknowledges that joining Kiss likely changed his life for the better as he was spiraling downwards at that time. However, Kiss was not his first band; he had previously played in groups like The Four Roses, Honey, and The Magic People. His success with Cathedral led him to drop out of high school, although he returned later to earn his diploma whilst working various odd jobs, such as mail, furniture, and liquor delivery.

A pivotal moment occurred in the early 1970s when he auditioned for what would become Kiss. Despite initial concerns about his image, his guitar skills impressed Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and Paul Stanley, who welcomed him into the band. By 1973, they established themselves as Kiss, with Frehley taking on the role of lead guitarist and also contributing to the development of the band’s lightning-bolt logo.

The band made an early decision to create distinct stage personas, each adorned with makeup and costumes. Ace chose the name “The Spaceman,” influenced by his passion for science fiction. Despite the burgeoning potential of Kiss, Frehley found it challenging to make ends meet initially and resorted to driving a cab part-time. Fortunately, by year’s end, the band’s manager provided its members with a $50 weekly salary, enabling him to leave the cab driver job.

In 1974, Kiss released its self-titled debut album, in which Frehley composed two tracks, including “Cold Gin.” At that time, feeling unsure of his singing abilities, he left most of the vocal responsibilities to Gene Simmons until 1977, when he sang “Shock Me” from the album “Love Gun.” Even though he didn’t always sing, he contributed significantly in songwriting for the group.

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In 1978, each member of Kiss launched their own self-titled solo album, with Ace’s being the most successful in terms of sales. His single, “New York Groove,” climbed into the Top 20 charts of the United States. After gaining confidence in his songwriting, Frehley became increasingly involved in the creative direction of Kiss over the subsequent years, contributing several songs to the albums “Dynasty” and “Unmasked.”

However, internal conflicts within the band began to surface. Peter Criss, with whom Ace had a closer bond compared to the other “straight edge” members of Kiss, was voted out in 1980. As a result, Ace found himself in the minority during group decision-making processes. Over the following years, he started to distance himself from the band’s music, beginning with his dismissal of the group’s concept album project (“Music From ‘The Elder'”). By 1982, Frehley had entirely departed from the band.

Following his exit from Kiss, Ace retained a 25% share in the Kiss partnership, which continued until 1985, allowing him to receive a quarter of the profits from the albums “Lick It Up” and “Animalize,” even though he had no input in their creation. He then founded “Frehley’s Comet,” signing a contract with Megaforce Records and releasing a self-titled album in 1987. The record achieved significant chart success, selling nearly 500,000 copies.

Despite receiving positive reviews, the band struggled to make a substantial impact in the mainstream rock scene. Ace chose to release albums under his name, such as “Trouble Walkin’.” In 1996, he reunited with Kiss for a tour and had a limited role in their new album, “Psycho Circus.” He toured again with Kiss in 2001 and once more in 2018.

Real Estate

In February 2013, after failing to pay mortgage payments amounting to $735,000, a bank in Yorktown, New York, foreclosed on Ace’s home. He also neglected to pay property taxes on the 3-acre property for two years, reportedly incurring additional interest, late fees, and other charges.