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Marilyn Manson has found huge success by portraying himself as a highly controversial artist. Everything about his persona and public image is strikingly different than any other artist of our time. The shock value that is packed into his live performances adds to his impressive ability to mesmerize his fans, and this is all before the rock and roll legend even belts out a single lyric or picks up an instrument. Marilyn Manson isn't just a musician; he's a bonified brand. Over the course of his long-running career, Manson has built an empire. He was once worth an astounding $25 million. Unfortunately, Money Inc. reports that a series of incidents unfolded that shone a spotlight on the dark side of Manson that existed behind closed doors, and almost immediately, his fortune began to disappear right before his eyes.
Marilyn Manson's Rise To Fame
Marilyn Manson's real name is Brian Warner, and he has always loved living on the edge. He claims to have smoked human bones and has produced some very lewd, risque acts while on the live stage in front of tens of thousands of fans. Even as a young child, he always had an affinity for all things that were slightly 'over the edge.' He once aspired to become a music journalist but then went on to put himself in the center of the stage instead.
The first band he belonged to was called Marilyn Manson and The Spooky Kids, and this is where the blending of Charles Manson and Marilyn Monroe began to form Marilyn Monroe's identity.
After releasing their first demo in 1990, the band saw a good deal of local success, and soon were signed by Trent Reznor, the lead singer from Nine Inch Nails. The band's identity was refined and revealed as simply 'Marilyn Manson,' and the young artist's career began to catapult straight to the top levels of music success.
Becoming A Shock Rock Legend
Marilyn Manson's image was dark, scary, and mysterious. He pushed the envelope much further than most other artists, and fans never really knew what to expect when he was on stage. He quickly became recognized as a shock rock artist that would border on the edge of crass behavior during his concerts, only to reel in his fans and have them scream his name and ask for more.
His mere image was controversial, his music was dark and dangerous and riddled with highly questionable content, and his presence always exuded a sense of something eerily unsettling.
Four of his albums were critically acclaimed by the pros but banned by parents across the globe. Portrait of An American Family, Smells Like Children, Antichrist Superstar, and Mechanical Animals were the first to get under the skin of his critics. Manson was blamed for influencing school massacres, suicides, and aggressive behavior in youth. The more of a burden he became on society, the more his ticket sales and music sales increased.
It wasn't long before this intrigue became part of the reason fans kept clamoring for more, and with the boom of his record sales and live concert ticket sales, Marilyn Manson quickly earned millions and earned his spot as a wildly successful artist with an impressive net worth of $25 million.
Allegations Of Heinous Crimes
There is a time in every artist's career where a pivotal change is visible, for one reason or another. Sadly for Manson, this came with a whole lot of negative press, and this time, it was too much for fans to handle.
Shocking allegations began to surface about the true nature of Marilyn Manson's personal conduct, leaving fans dismayed and completely put off. Evan Rachel Wood, Marilyn Manson's fiancee, was the first to blow the whistle on his abusive conduct towards her. Fans were stunned to hear her relay the details of horrifying, unimaginable abuse that she claims to have suffered at the hands of Manson. She spoke of heinous crimes and graphic sexual violence, all of which she said she endured during her time with Manson.
One by one, more women began to come forward.
Fans across the globe began looking beyond the makeup and seeing Manson in a whole new light. The Things reports that the more fans heard about Manson's real-life dark side, the less they wanted anything to do with the disgraced star.
The downfall of Marilyn Manson was a quick, downward spiral.
Manson's Career Crumbles
As a direct result of the growing list of abuse and assault charges that were being filed against him, Manson's most substantial financial supporters began pulling the plug on their contributions, promotions, and support. Nearly immediately, his net worth valuation shrank to 50% of what it once was, bringing Manson's net worth down to $12.5 million.
Manson's very own label, Loma Vista Recordings, cut ties with him, and his page was removed from Loma Vista's website. Losing this long-time supporter was a huge hit and a heavy blow to Manson's financial well-being. They refused to continue promoting his latest album, We Are Chaos, and as the most predominant benefactor in Manson's income stream for nearly seven years, the impact of their absence was immediately felt.
That loss was just the beginning, and it triggered a series of other organizations to abandon Manson as well. The list of big names that decided to turn their backs on Marilyn Manson includes American Gods, Creepshow, and Creative Arts Agency.
The minimal fortune that Marilyn Manson has managed to hold on to is expected to dry up quickly when he's forced to defend himself in court. Legal bills and lawyer fees are expected to absorb much of the money he has managed to hold on to, and the likelihood of making a comeback remains slim.
Sources: The Things, Insider, Money Inc.