Art Garfunkel Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Art Garfunkel’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $95 million, Art Garfunkel is an American singer/songwriter. He is most recognized as one-half of the legendary folk-rock duo Simon & Garfunkel, performing alongside Paul Simon. Their collaboration commenced in the 1950s, when they took the stage as “Tom & Jerry” during high school. The 1960s saw the duo achieve international acclaim through hits such as “The Sound of Silence,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” and “Mrs. Robinson.”

Following the 1970 split of Simon & Garfunkel, Garfunkel embarked on a solo career, producing several successful albums including “Angel Clare” and “Breakaway.” He found success as well with tracks like “All I Know” and “I Only Have Eyes For You.”

In addition to his music career, Garfunkel delved into acting, featuring in movies like “Catch-22” and “Carnal Knowledge.” An enthusiastic reader and walker, he has undertaken extensive walking journeys throughout Japan and the United States. Throughout his career, Garfunkel has reunited with Simon for various performances and tours, earning a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and securing eight Grammy Awards. Despite facing vocal challenges in later years, he has persisted in performing and recording, solidifying his reputation as a revered figure in American popular music.

Early Life

Born on November 5, 1941, in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, Arthur Ira Garfunkel grew up in a household of Romanian Jews with two brothers. Some of his earliest experiences in music came from singing in his local synagogue. Interestingly, Art is related to Lou Pearlman, the late founder of the Backstreet Boys and NSYNC.

By first grade, Garfunkel delighted himself with goosebumps from melodies such as “Unchained Melody” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” At a young age, he utilized a wire recorder, a gift from his father, to capture his singing, then played it back to identify areas for improvement. During his bar mitzvah, he embraced the traditional role of a cantor, performing for four continuous hours during the ceremony.

A lung infection during his teenage years temporarily halted Art’s singing, leading him to focus on refining his basketball skills instead. His enthusiasm for basketball extends to this day. Garfunkel first met Paul Simon in sixth grade, and the two collaborated in a school rendition of “Alice in Wonderland.” According to Garfunkel, his singing during one talent show motivated Simon to pursue singing as well.

From the mid-1950s until the early 1960s, Simon and Garfunkel operated as the musical duo Tom & Jerry, drawing inspiration from The Everly Brothers. They performed with a two-part vocal harmony and frequently entertained at school dances. In 1957, their single “Hey Schoolgirl” climbed to #49 on the charts.

This period marked their initial significant disagreement when record label executive Sid Posen approached Paul Simon with a contract for two additional solo singles, which Simon did not disclose to Garfunkel, leaving Art feeling betrayed. Subsequently, after their collaboration as Tom & Jerry, the two parted ways.

Post high school, Garfunkel enrolled at Columbia University, majoring in architecture. During his college years, he was part of the tennis, skiing, fencing, and bowling teams. He also progressed his music career by becoming a member of an all-male a cappella group called the Columbia Kingsmen. In 1965, Art earned a B.A. in art history and later graduated with an M.A. in mathematics education in 1967.

Simon & Garfunkel

In 1963, after dropping out of Brooklyn School of Law, Art and Paul reunited. Although they had concerns about working together again, they made the decision to reform their duo. They also opted for a new name, moving away from Tom & Jerry to Simon & Garfunkel. At the time, they were apprehensive about the name sounding too much like a law firm, but ultimately proceeded.

Their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M,” was released through Columbia Records in 1964, but it was ignored by critics and audiences alike. This failure led to another breakup, with Art shifting his focus to his studies at Columbia University. Thankfully, in 1965, producer Tom Wilson re-released “The Sound of Silence” as a single, which quickly climbed the charts and gained significant popularity among university students.

After pursuing a solo career in the UK, Paul returned to the United States to reconnect with Art. They subsequently collaborated on four successful albums: “Sounds of Silence,” “Parsley Sage,” “Rosemary and Thyme,” “Bookends,” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” The latter became their most successful work, selling over 25 million copies and earning two Grammy Awards. Additionally, Simon & Garfunkel played a significant role in the soundtrack of the iconic 1967 film “The Graduate,” with the song “Mrs. Robinson” emerging as one of their standout tracks.

Solo Career

Eventually, personal differences led to another split between Art and Paul. Art received offers for acting roles in films like “Catch-22” and “Carnal Knowledge,” making Paul feel neglected. In 1970, they officially ended their partnership, with both pursuing solo careers while occasionally reuniting for concerts. Garfunkel’s debut solo album, “Angel Clare,” was released in 1973, achieving mixed reviews yet reaching #5 on the charts.

Following that was “Breakaway,” which included popular tracks such as “My Little Town” (written by Paul Simon) and “I Only Have Eyes For You.” However, Art’s career faced challenges in the subsequent years due to several unfortunate events. After the tragic suicide of his longtime girlfriend Laurie Bird in 1974, he struggled to find inspiration for creating music for many years. Following the disappointing reception of his album “Scissors Cut,” Garfunkel spiraled into depression and retreated from public life, exacerbated by the passing of his father during this time.

By the late ’90s, Garfunkel made a comeback with notable achievements and began writing his own songs for the first time. In 2009, after many years apart, Art and Paul resumed collaborating; however, their relationship soured once again when
“`Due to vocal cord paresis, Garfunkel had to withdraw from a highly profitable tour. Paul accused Art of being “dishonest” and “letting us all down.”

Personal Life

Art Garfunkel has experienced two marriages and is a father of two children. From 1972 to 1975, he was united in marriage with architect Linda Marie Grossman. In 1988, he tied the knot with Kim Cermak, a former model, and they have remained together since.