What Was Little Richard's Net Worth When He Died?

Little Richard spoke with People in 1984 regarding the bad contract he'd signed as a new recording artist in 1955, noting, "I was a dumb Black kid and my mama had 12 kids and my daddy was dead. I wanted to help them, so I took whatever was offered. Rock 'n' roll was an exit for me." The article also describes an incident in which Little Richard was arrested on account of his flamboyant appearance and long hair as well as the practice of club owners paying him for performances with guns on the table beside them, presumably so he wouldn't complain about being underpaid. It also notes the influence his style and delivery had on future rock 'n' roll icons like the Beatles' Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger, both of whom saw his shows when he toured England. People also notes the "spontaneous" integration that took place at his shows, where both Black and white audiences would jump out of their seats and dance despite being seated in sections segregated by race.

In 1984, Little Richard filed a $115 lawsuit in federal court against Specialty Records, ATV Music Corporation, and Venice Music, alleging that he hadn't been paid any royalties since 1955 (via UPI). Per the court documents, Richards' 1955 contract with Specialty agreed to pay him 50 percent of royalties in exchange for ownership of the songs. He had first sued the company in 1959 and settled for $11,000 after agreeing to waive his right to royalties.

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