What Is Herb Alpert’s Net Worth?

Herb Alpert, an American musician and music industry executive, has a net worth of $850 million. Best known as the trumpeter leading Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass band in the 1960s, he achieved immense success, outselling the Beatles in 1966 with over 13 million albums sold. Over his career, Alpert released 28 albums, with five reaching #1, 14 achieving Platinum status, and 15 going Gold.

Beyond his music career, Alpert amassed much of his fortune as the co-founder of A&M Records and Rondor Music alongside Jerry Moss. A&M Records played a crucial role in launching the careers of The Carpenters, Sting (following The Police’s breakup), Peter Frampton (with his legendary live album Frampton Comes Alive!), and artists like Cat Stevens and Sheryl Crow. Alpert himself also found success under the A&M banner.

In 1989, Herb and Jerry sold A&M to PolyGram for $500 million in cash. Nearly a decade later, they successfully sued PolyGram, securing an additional $200 million. In 2000, they sold Rondor Music to Universal Music for $400 million.

Early Life

Herb Alpert was born on March 31, 1935, in Los Angeles, California, and raised in Boyle Heights. His parents, Jewish immigrants from Ukraine and Romania, fostered his musical talent early on. He began trumpet lessons at eight and performed at dances as a teenager. After graduating from Fairfax High School in 1952, Alpert served in the Army, where he played the trumpet at ceremonies and considered a career in acting. Upon returning, he attended USC and was part of the USC Trojan Marching Band.

Alpert’s career began in 1957 as a songwriter for Keen Records. Working with musician Rob Weerts, he co-wrote several Top 20 hits, including Sam Cooke’s “(What A) Wonderful World.” In 1960, he briefly recorded as Dore Alpert under Dot Records, releasing “Tell It to the Birds” on Carnival Records.

His breakthrough came in the early 1960s when he conceived his signature Tijuana Brass sound after hearing a brass band in Tijuana, Mexico. Using overdubbing techniques, he created “The Lonely Bull,” which became a Top 10 hit in 1962. The success led to his debut album The Lonely Bull, which reached #6 on the Billboard Pop charts.

To meet the demand for live performances, Alpert assembled a full band in 1965, including John Pisano (guitar), Lou Pagani (piano), Nick Ceroli (drums), Pat Senatore (bass), and Tonni Kalash (trumpet). The Tijuana Brass quickly became one of the highest-paid acts of the era. Their album Whipped Cream and Other Delights was the #1 album of 1965, staying on the Billboard charts for over three years. That same year, Going Places was also released.

The Tijuana Brass disbanded in 1969 but reunited in 1971 and again in 1973 under the name Herb Alpert and the T.J.B. They released albums in 1974 and 1975 before touring. Alpert formed a third version of the Brass in 1984 for the Los Angeles Olympic Games, leading to the Bullish album and tour.

He remains the only musician to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 as both a vocalist and an instrumentalist.

A&M Records

In 1962, Alpert co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Over 25 years, A&M grew into the world’s largest independent record label, signing major artists like Janet Jackson, Sheryl Crow, The Police, and The Carpenters.

In 1989, Alpert and Moss sold A&M to PolyGram for $500 million but remained involved for five more years. After suing PolyGram in 1998, they won an additional $200 million payout.

Rondor Music

In 2000, Universal Music Group acquired Rondor Music for $400 million in Seagram stock. Seagram, which had earlier acquired MCA Inc. (including Universal Music Group), later merged into Vivendi Universal (now Vivendi SA), integrating Rondor’s assets into its media empire.

Personal Life & Philanthropy

His foundation supports youth arts education, environmental causes, and PBS programming.

Key philanthropic contributions include:

• 2012: $5 million grant to the Harlem School of the Arts, helping clear its debt and fund scholarships.
• 2013: The school’s building was renamed The Herb Alpert Center.
• 2016: $10.1 million donation to Los Angeles City College, providing music students with a tuition-free education.
• 2020: Additional $9.7 million gift to Harlem School of the Arts for facility upgrades.

Alpert married Sharon Mae Lubin in 1956, and they had two children before divorcing in 1971. In 1973, he married recording artist Lani Hall, with whom he has one daughter.