Steven Van Zandt net worth is estimated to be around $80 million as of 2024. Steven Van Zandt is an American musician, actor, and producer born on November 22, 1950. He plays guitar and mandolin in Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
Van Zandt has also acted in popular TV shows. He played Silvio Dante in “The Sopranos” from 1999 to 2007 and Frank Tagliano in “Lilyhammer” from 2012 to 2014. His band is Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, which has been around since the 1980s.
In 2014, Steven Van Zandt was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the E Street Band. He has written songs and produced music, and his work has been covered by famous artists like Bruce Springsteen, Meat Loaf, and Pearl Jam.
Steven Van Zandt in Brief
| Full Name | Steven Lento Van Zandt |
| Date of Birth | November 22, 1950 |
| Place of Birth | Winthrop, Massachusetts, USA |
| Occupation | Musician, Actor, Producer |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Spouse | Maureen Van Zandt |
| Net Worth | $80 million |
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What is Steven Van Zandt Net Worth in 2024?
Steven Van Zandt is an American musician, actor, and producer with a net worth of $80 Million as of 2024, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Steven Van Zandt’s main source of net worth comes from his music and acting career.
He is best known as a guitarist for Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, which brought him fame and wealth through tours, albums, and royalties. He also acted in popular TV shows, most notably “The Sopranos,” where he played Silvio Dante.
Besides performing, he has produced and written music for other artists, further boosting his income. Van Zandt also runs his own radio show and has a record label, adding to his earnings over the years.
Steven Van Zandt Early life
Steven Van Zandt, born on November 22, 1950, in Winthrop, Massachusetts, is a well-known musician and actor. He grew up in Watertown, Massachusetts, and later moved to Middletown Township, New Jersey. His family has Italian roots, with grandparents from Calabria and Naples.
Steven’s mother married William Brewster Van Zandt when he was seven, and he took his stepfather’s last name. He has a half-brother named Billy Van Zandt and a half-sister named Kathi, who is a writer.
Steven Van Zandt discovered his love for music early on. He learned to play the guitar and was inspired by bands like “The Beatles” and “The Rolling Stones.” He once called the Beatles’ performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 “The Big Bang of Rock n’ Roll.” At 13, George Harrison was his favorite Beatle, and he later became friends with Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
In 1964, he formed his first band, the “Whirlwinds.” He later joined other groups like the “Mates” and the “Shadows.” Bands from the British Invasion, such as the “Dave Clark Five,” also influenced him, along with Ravi Shankar and Indian culture.
Steven went to Middletown High School but was expelled for refusing to cut his long hair. He returned to school in 1968 to please his mother. During his teenage years, he had a serious car accident that left scars on his head. To hide them, he started wearing hats and large bandanas, which became his signature style.
Steven Van Zandt Career
Steven Van Zandt grew up in the Jersey Shore music scene and became friends with Bruce Springsteen before the E Street Band was formed. They met at the Hullabaloo Club in Middletown, New Jersey, where Van Zandt performed “Happy Together” with the Shadows. Later, they played in bands like Steel Mill and the Bruce Springsteen Band.
In the early 1970s, Van Zandt worked in road construction for two years before returning to music. In 1973, he toured with The Dovells, ending the tour in Miami on December 31, 1974, with Dick Clark’s Good Old Rock ‘n’ Roll Show at the Deauville Star Theater.
Van Zandt earned the nickname “Miami Steve” because he wore Hawaiian shirts after coming back to New Jersey, as he disliked the cold winters.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Steven Van Zandt co-founded Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and also started The Miami Horns, which got their name from his nickname. He helped create the rhythm and blues style of music that the band played. Van Zandt produced the first three albums for Southside Johnny and wrote most of the songs, helping the band succeed.
Role in Music
Steven Van Zandt started his career writing for Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, while also touring with the E Street Band. He joined the E Street Band in 1975 after helping with the horns on “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and the guitar part in “Born to Run.” Van Zandt became a key concert player, doing much of the lead guitar work, as seen in the “Born to Run” tour and its DVD release. However, in 1984, he left the band after achieving success but returned in 1999. After his return, he played more rhythm guitar since Nils Lofgren took over as lead.
Van Zandt became known for his stage presence, often interacting with the audience and sharing vocals with Bruce Springsteen on songs like “Glory Days,” “Two Hearts,” and “Prove It All Night.” He was even featured in their 2009 Super Bowl performance, sharing lead vocals and playing guitar in “Glory Days.”
Songwriting and Producing
Aside from performing, Van Zandt worked behind the scenes as a songwriter and producer. He wrote Southside Johnny’s hit “I Don’t Want to Go Home” and co-produced Bruce Springsteen’s albums “The River” and “Born in the U.S.A.” He produced records for Gary U.S. Bonds and others, including albums for Nigerian star Majek Fashek and punk band Demolition 23. Van Zandt also contributed songs to movies like “Home Alone 2,” with “All Alone on Christmas.” He worked with artists like Meat Loaf and Nancy Sinatra, leaving his mark on various music styles.
Solo Artist
During the summer of 1981, Van Zandt was offered a record deal by EMI-America after his success with the E Street Band and other acts. He then formed Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. The band performed their first live show at the Peppermint Lounge in 1982. Van Zandt’s debut album, Men Without Women, received praise, even being named one of the top ten albums of the year by TIME magazine.
He released four more solo albums, each addressing political themes, such as individual rights, the state, and religion. His second album, Voice of America, performed best on the U.S. charts but wasn’t a huge hit commercially. However, this marked a shift in his music to a more political focus. One of his popular songs from this album was “Solidarity.”
Van Zandt left the E Street Band in 1984, before Born in the U.S.A. was released, but rejoined them in 1999. In 1985, he founded Artists United Against Apartheid to protest the Sun City resort in South Africa. Several artists, including Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Bob Dylan, contributed to the protest song “Sun City.”
In 1987, he released Freedom – No Compromise, continuing his political messaging. His performances during U2’s Joshua Tree Tour were well-received in Europe but not in the U.S. He also played at the “Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute” in 1988. Van Zandt’s fourth album, Revolution, didn’t gain much attention, and another project, Nobody Loves and Leaves Alive, was never released.
In 1994, he recorded Born Again Savage, but it wasn’t released until 1999. Van Zandt contributed songs to movie soundtracks and toured with Bon Jovi. Some of his music appeared in TV shows like The Sopranos and Lilyhammer. He reformed the Disciples of Soul in 2016 for a special performance in London.
In 2017, Van Zandt began remastering and reissuing his albums. He released Soulfire, his first album of new material in years, and toured with the Disciples of Soul. His live album Soulfire Live! was released in 2018, featuring performances from both North America and Europe. He also recorded a song with Kurt Russell for the movie The Christmas Chronicles.
In 2019, Van Zandt released Summer of Sorcery, his first album of original material in 20 years. Although his tour for the album was cut short due to illness, he later released a box set of his early work, which includes rare live performances and outtakes. However, his Lost Boys album remains unreleased.
Steven Van Zandt Actor
Steven Van Zandt, mostly known for his music career, had no acting experience until 1999. He was in several bands and composed music before getting a chance to act. His first big acting role came in “The Sopranos,” where he played Silvio Dante, a mob consigliere and strip club owner.
Show creator David Chase saw Van Zandt at the 1997 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and liked his presence. Although Van Zandt originally auditioned for the lead role of Tony Soprano, HBO wanted an experienced actor, so Chase created the character Silvio just for him. His wife, Maureen, played his on-screen wife, Gabriella.
In 2004, Van Zandt narrated “Tussles in Brussels,” a concert DVD for The Hives. In 2010, he appeared as himself in the Norwegian soap “Hotel Cæsar” and was on the talk show “Skavlan.”
In 2011, Van Zandt co-wrote, produced, and starred in the series “Lilyhammer,” Netflix’s first original show. He played a mobster who entered witness protection in Norway. The show was a hit in Norway, with almost a million viewers for its premiere, and ran for three seasons.
In 2019, Van Zandt had a small role in the movie “The Irishman,” playing singer Jerry Vale. He lip-synced to Vale’s song “Al Di La.”
Throughout his acting career, Van Zandt was involved in a range of shows and movies, showcasing his growing interest in acting alongside his music career.
Steven Van Zandt Radio host and entrepreneur
Radio Host
Little Steven Van Zandt is a famous radio host and entrepreneur. Since 2002, he has been the host of “Little Steven’s Underground Garage,” a show that focuses on garage rock music from the 1950s to today. This popular show is now on over 200 radio stations in the U.S. and around the world, including Spain and Finland.
On October 20, 2011, he celebrated the 500th episode live at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City. Some special guests at the event were the band “Green Day,” actor “Steve Buscemi,” and singer “Debbie Harry” from the group “Blondie.”
Program Director
Van Zandt also works as a program director for two channels on Sirius Satellite Radio. One channel, “Underground Garage,” plays music similar to his radio show. The other channel, “Outlaw Country,” features a mix of traditional and modern country music. Notable hosts on these channels include “Joan Jett” and “Mojo Nixon.”
Record Label
He started his record label, Wicked Cool Records, in 2004. The first album released was “Fuzz for the Holidays” by Davie Allan and the Arrows. The label has since put out albums from various artists, including the Cocktail Slippers and volumes of “The Coolest Songs in the World.”
Education Initiatives
In 2007, Van Zandt founded the Rock and Roll Forever Foundation. This nonprofit helps schools with its TeachRock project, which creates fun lessons about music and social studies for kids.
Musical Contributions
In 2006, he directed a star-studded band for a special performance with “Hank Williams Jr.” for Monday Night Football. The lineup included music legends like “Little Richard” and “Joe Perry.”
Activism
After leaving the E Street Band in 1984, Van Zandt became an activist. He started “Artists United Against Apartheid” to raise awareness about racism in South Africa. In 1985, he helped create the album “Sun City,” featuring many famous artists. This project raised over $1 million to fight against apartheid.
Writing
In September 2021, he published a memoir titled “Unrequited Infatuations,” sharing his life and experiences.
Through music, radio, and activism, Little Steven Van Zandt has made a big impact in the world of entertainment and social change.
Steven Van Zandt Personal life
On December 31, 1982, musician Steven Van Zandt married actress Maureen Santoro in New York City. Maureen later acted as his wife on the TV show “The Sopranos.” Famous musician Bruce Springsteen was the best man at their wedding. Little Richard led the ceremony, and Percy Sledge sang “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
In 2024, Van Zandt and his brother were honored when the street where they grew up in Middletown, NJ, was named “Van Zandt Way.”
Steven Van Zandt Philanthropy
Steve Van Zandt is a famous musician and a kind person. He helps many groups, especially those that support kids and police officers.
Van Zandt is part of the Little Kids Rock organization, which teaches music to kids. In 2013, he received the “Big Man of the Year” award at their Right to Rock Benefit Event. This award shows how much he cares about helping children through music.
He and his wife, Maureen, also work with the Count Basie Theatre. They are special chairs for the theater’s capital campaign, a job they took on in 2015. This means they help raise money for the theater to support arts in the community.
Every year, Van Zandt hosts the “Policeman’s Ball.” This event raises money for police officers and their families. The money goes to the Detectives Endowment Association Widows and Children’s Fund and NYPD With Arms Wide Open. This foundation helps police officers who have kids with special needs.
Through his music and charity work, Steve Van Zandt makes a big difference in the lives of many children and families.
Steven Van Zandt Real Estate
In 2008, Steven bought a condo in New York City. He paid $6 million for it. The condo is located on West Fourth Street. Before it was a home, the building used to be a Methodist church. Now, it is a three-bedroom penthouse. The condo has a large living space of 3,500 square feet.
