Lou Reed’s $30 Million Legacy
The legendary rocker left behind a massive estate when he died in 2013
June 30, 2014

When Lou Reed died in October 2013, the rocker left behind more than just his iconic music catalog. According to the New York Post, he also left a whopping $30 million fortune.
Robert Gotterer, the Velvet Underground frontman’s longtime manager, reported to Manhattan Surrogate’s Court last week that he has collected $20,379,169 since being appointed to oversee Reed’s estate in November.
And the $20 million-plus in “money and other property” doesn’t include the approximately $10 million in gifts Reed left to his wife, sister and mother in his will.
The Brooklyn-born writer, poet, and musician made millions off copyrights, and publishing ventures, and with the enduring popularity of songs like “Walk on the Wild Side” and the oft-covered “Pale Blue Eyes,” the royalties will likely continue rolling in.
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Stephanie Butnick is chief strategy officer of Tablet Magazine, co-founder of Tablet Studios, and a host of the Unorthodox podcast.