The Red Rocker’s Riches: Sammy Hagar Net Worth

When you think of rock stars who made it big, most earned millions from album sales and tours. Sammy Hagar did that too. But the Van Halen frontman did something different. He turned a Mexican bar into a tequila empire worth nearly $100 million.

Sammy Hagar’s net worth stands at $150 million, a figure that surprises many fans who only know him from his music career. This article breaks down how The Red Rocker built his fortune, from his Van Halen days to his spirit brands that changed the celebrity alcohol industry forever.

What You’ll Learn:

• How Hagar’s business ventures earned more than his entire music career
• The $95 million tequila deal that made him a mogul
• His current partnerships with Guy Fieri and Rick Springfield
• Real estate holdings and luxury car collection

Quick Answer: Sammy Hagar’s Net Worth

Sammy Hagar has a net worth of $150 million as of 2025. While his music career with Van Halen and as a solo artist laid the foundation, the bulk of his wealth came from selling his Cabo Wabo tequila company for a combined $95 million in two separate transactions in 2007 and 2009.

From Poverty to Rock Stardom

Samuel Roy Hagar was born in Salinas, California on October 13, 1947. His family struggled financially. Shortly after his birth, they moved to Fontana in Southern California for his father’s job at a steel mill.

Music became his escape. At 14, Hagar started his first band, the Fabulous Castilles. He worked regular jobs while chasing his dream, picking fruit and delivering newspapers.

His breakthrough came in the early 1970s with the band Montrose. He wrote his first hit, “Bad Motor Scooter,” with them before launching a successful solo career in the mid-1970s.

The Van Halen Years

In 1985, Hagar replaced David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s lead singer. This changed everything.

Chart-Topping Success

Van Halen’s first album with Hagar, 5150, was the band’s first No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The three studio albums that followed—OU812, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and Balance—also topped the charts.

The new version of the band achieved combined global sales of over 23 million. The albums produced nine number-one rock hits and earned massive royalties.

While David Lee Roth’s era sold 57 million albums worldwide compared to Hagar’s 27 million, Hagar achieved his numbers with just four albums versus Roth’s seven.

The Real Earnings Story

Hagar revealed that his tequila company was “making a ton of money, more than I was making in Van Halen, ever”. This statement shocked many fans who assumed rock royalties were his main income source.

His Van Halen tenure lasted from 1985 to 1996, with a brief reunion from 2003 to 2005. Despite tensions that eventually led to his departure, those years established him as a rock legend.

The Cabo Wabo Empire

Here’s where sammy hagar net worth truly exploded.

From Bar to Brand

In the 1980s, Hagar bought a bar in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He named it Cabo Wabo. In the late 1990s, he started selling his own tequila brand under the same name.

What started as bottles for bar customers became a phenomenon. The tequila captured authentic Mexican flavor and rode the premium spirits wave.

The Record-Breaking Deal

In 2007, Hagar sold 80% of the Cabo Wabo tequila company to Gruppo Campari for $80 million. Two years later, he sold the remaining 20% for an additional $15 million.

When the first offer came in at about $60 million for the whole company, Hagar thought about keeping it since it was so profitable, but when asked how much it would take, he named his price and they simply said “Okay”.

The company was majority-owned by Hagar, which means he personally took home around $95 million from the deals. This sale became a turning point in celebrity spirits, proving musicians could build legitimate businesses beyond merchandise.

What He Did With the Money

Hagar revealed he already had everything he wanted—a house in Hawaii, a house in Mexico, his main residence in California, and five Ferraris. So when the money came in, he gave millions of dollars to his family, gave all his band members big bonuses, and started a foundation to help kids.

Current Business Ventures

Hagar didn’t retire after selling Cabo Wabo. He built new brands.

Santo Spirits with Guy Fieri

In 2019, Hagar joined forces with celebrity chef Guy Fieri to launch Santo Tequila Blanco. Santo Spirits’ portfolio includes a Blanco, Reposado, Añejo and a 110-proof Blanco Tequila, along with Mezquila—the world’s first tequila and mezcal blend.

In fall 2023, Santo underwent complete repackaging that received “Best in Class” recognition at the TLMI Awards and helped drive a 42% increase in orders.

All Santo products are additive-free and made using traditional methods at El Viejito Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.

Beach Bar Rum Partnership

Hagar partnered with rock icon Rick Springfield on Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum. The rum is distilled in Puerto Rico and comes in three varieties: Platinum Rum, Kola Spiced Rum, and Red Head Macadamia Nut Rum.

The two musicians first collaborated back in 1981 on the song “I’ve Done Everything for You” before reuniting decades later for this business venture.

Restaurant Holdings

Hagar’s restaurant ventures include Sammy’s Beach Bar and Grill locations at airports in Honolulu, Maui, Las Vegas, Cleveland, and Charlotte, as well as Cabo Wabo Cantinas in Cabo San Lucas and Las Vegas, and the Cabo Wabo Beach Club in Huntington Beach.

In 2024, Hagar opened Sammy’s Island at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, a tropical pool getaway featuring his signature spirits and live music.

Real Estate Portfolio

Sammy and his wife Kari’s primary residence has long been a home in Mill Valley, California, in Marin County north of San Francisco.

Lake Arrowhead Estate

Hagar has been trying to sell his Lake Arrowhead, California estate for a few years. The 6,557-square-foot house features three stories with eight bedrooms, eight and a half bathrooms, and a separate guesthouse built in 2009.

He originally purchased the property in 2009 for $2.3 million and listed it for sale at $5.25 million before reducing it to $3.9 million. The property is also available for rent at $30,000 per month.

Previous Holdings

He previously owned a home in Haiku, Hawaii, which he sold in 2018 for $3.1 million.

The Ferrari Collection

Sammy is a noted car enthusiast, especially of Ferraris. His collection includes:

• A custom-ordered $2.2 million white LaFerrari from 2015—out of 499 LaFerraris that exist in the world, his is the only one painted white
• The black 1982 Ferrari 512BB made famous in his “I Can’t Drive 55” music video
• Multiple other Ferrari models, E-Type Jaguars, Aston Martins, and American muscle cars

Music Career Earnings

While spirits dominate his wealth, music still contributes significantly.

Album Sales

Hagar has amassed 25 Platinum albums on sales surpassing 50 million worldwide. His hits include “I Can’t Drive 55,” “Right Now,” and “Why Can’t This Be Love.”

Recent Tours and Activities

In 2024, his Best of All Worlds tour became one of the year’s top-grossing rock runs in North America and Japan. He performs with Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Jason Bonham.

In April 2025, Hagar released his latest track, “Encore, Thank You, Goodnight,” inspired by a dream about his former bandmate, the late Eddie Van Halen.

Personal Life

Hagar married his first wife, Betsy Berardi, on November 3, 1968, and they had two sons together—Aaron (born in 1970) and Andrew (born in 1984)—before divorcing in 1994 after 26 years of marriage.

He married his current wife, Kari Hagar, on November 29, 1995, and together they have two daughters, Kama (born in April 1996) and Samantha (born in March 2001).

The Hagar Family Foundation, created in 2008, focuses on food relief and children’s causes.

How Sammy Hagar’s Net Worth Compares

FAQs

How did Sammy Hagar make most of his money?

He earned $95 million from selling Cabo Wabo tequila to Gruppo Campari in 2007 and 2009, far more than his music earnings.

Does Sammy Hagar still own tequila brands?

Yes. He currently owns Santo Spirits with Guy Fieri, launched in 2019, and Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum with Rick Springfield.

What is Sammy Hagar doing now?

He continues touring, released new music in 2025, and manages multiple spirit brands and restaurant locations.

How much did Van Halen pay Sammy Hagar?

Hagar stated his tequila company made more money than he ever made in Van Halen, though exact tour and album earnings weren’t disclosed publicly.

Is Sammy Hagar in the Rock Hall of Fame?

Yes, Hagar earned a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007 as part of Van Halen.

The Bottom Line

Sammy hagar net worth of $150 million proves you can be more than a musician. He started poor in Fontana, California. He worked steel mills and picked fruit. Then he became a rock star with Van Halen.

But he didn’t stop there. He bought a bar in Mexico. He created tequila that people loved. He sold it for nearly $100 million. Then he started again with new brands.

Today, he tours sold-out shows, partners with Guy Fieri and Rick Springfield, and runs restaurants from Las Vegas to Hawaii. He gave millions to family and charity. He started a foundation for kids who grew up like him.

The lesson? The biggest fortunes come from seeing opportunities others miss. Hagar saw tequila’s potential before the celebrity spirits boom. He built authentic brands that lasted. And he never stopped working, even after making more money than he could spend.