Steve Harwell Net Worth 2023: From Smash Mouth to Assets

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Early Life

Steve Harwell was born on January 9, 1967, in Santa Clara, California. Little is documented about his early years, but it is known that he attended Prospect High School in Saratoga, California. Harwell’s initial foray into the music scene was not with rock but rather as a rapper in a group named F.O.S. (Freedom of Speech). However, his musical direction shifted upon exposure to changing trends in the rap genre during the early 1990s.

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Career

In 1994, Harwell, along with Greg Camp, Kevin Coleman, and Paul De Lisle, formed the rock band Smash Mouth. The group’s inception can be traced back to Harwell and Camp’s collaboration in a local band named Fush Yu Mang. Their shared affinity for classic rock and pop music laid the foundation for what would become Smash Mouth’s distinctive sound. The band began its journey performing in local clubs and bars in the San Francisco Bay Area, quickly gaining a reputation for their energetic live shows.

Rise to Stardom with Smash Mouth

In 1997, just three years after its formation, Smash Mouth released their debut album, “Fush Yu Mang.” The album was met with significant acclaim, particularly for its standout single “Walkin’ on the Sun.” This track quickly climbed the charts, marking the band’s first taste of mainstream success.

The momentum continued into 1999 with the release of their second album, “Astro Lounge.” This album solidified Smash Mouth’s place in pop-rock history, producing the iconic hit “All Star.” The song not only reached the top 10 in the United States but also found renewed popularity when it was featured in the 2001 animated film “Shrek.”

Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Smash Mouth maintained a consistent presence on the charts. Their cover of The Monkees’ “I’m a Believer” in 2001, also featured in “Shrek,” further showcased their ability to bridge classic tunes with contemporary sounds.

While the band’s musical style evolved over the years, their core lineup saw changes, with Harwell remaining a constant as the lead vocalist. By the early 2010s, he was the only original member still with the band.

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Solo Ventures and Other Achievements

In 2006, he ventured into the world of reality television, becoming a featured cast member in the sixth season of VH1’s “The Surreal Life.”

Also, He made a cameo appearance in the 2001 comedy film “Rat Race,” further expanding his presence in popular culture. Besides this, he lent his voice to two songs, “Beside Myself” and “Everything Just Crazy,” for the 2013 South Korean-Chinese animated film “Pororo, The Racing Adventure.”

In 2016, Harwell took another step in his musical journey by releasing a solo album titled “Steve Harwell Sings the Hits.”

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Assets

In 1999, at the peak of Smash Mouth’s popularity, Harwell made a significant real estate purchase in Henderson, Nevada. He acquired a home for $600,000, a testament to his rising stature in the music world. A decade later, in 2009, he sold this property for $800,000, marking a notable appreciation in its value.

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Steve Harwell Net Worth

As of 2023, Steve Harwell’s net worth was estimated to be $2.5 million.

The table below provides a year-by-year breakdown of his estimated net worth from 2020 to 2023.

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Personal Life

Steve Harwell’s life outside of the spotlight was marked by both joy and tragedy. He was a father to a son named Presley, who tragically passed away at just six months old in July 2001 due to acute lymphocytic leukemia. This personal loss deeply affected Harwell and inspired the creation of a disease prevention fund in his son’s name.

Throughout his life, Harwell grappled with alcoholism, a challenge that became more public in his later years. His health struggles, including a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy in 2013, further complicated his ability to perform and eventually contributed to his retirement from the music scene.

Beyond the challenges, Harwell’s personal life saw him making significant moves. In 1999, he purchased a home in Henderson, Nevada, which he later sold in 2009. Following this, he relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, with aspirations in country music, before ultimately settling in Boise, Idaho, where he spent his final years.

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Challenges and Controversies

In August 2016, during a Smash Mouth concert in Urbana, Illinois, Harwell collapsed on stage, leading to an immediate hospitalization. This incident raised concerns among fans and the music community about his well-being.

In August 2020, amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, Smash Mouth performed at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota. Harwell’s remarks during the event, dismissing the severity of the pandemic with the statement “F*** that COVID shit,” drew criticism. The event was later identified as a superspreading event by the National Institutes of Health, further intensifying the scrutiny on the band and Harwell.

A year later, in October 2021, Harwell’s behavior during a performance at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York raised eyebrows. He appeared inebriated, directed threatening gestures at the audience, and made a gesture that some interpreted as a Nazi salute. This incident led to increased concerns about his health and well-being. Shortly after, Harwell announced his retirement from performing, citing ongoing health issues as the primary reason.

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Passing

In September 2023, the music world was shaken by the news that Harwell was in hospice care, with his manager revealing that he had only a “short time left.” The cause was liver failure, a condition that had been silently affecting him. Tragically, on September 4, 2023, Steve Harwell passed away at his home in Boise, Idaho. He was 56 years old.

Harwell’s passing was met with an outpouring of grief and tributes from fans, fellow musicians, and industry professionals. His manager, Robert Hayes, encapsulated the sentiments of many when he wrote: “Steve lived a 100% full-throttle life. Burning brightly across the universe before burning out.”