Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, leaves behind not only a legacy that helped define heavy metal, but also a $220 million fortune for his wife, Sharon Osbourne, and their children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack.
Inside Ozzy’s Fortune
Osbourne passed away at 76 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, which he had publicly fought since 2019, according to the BBC.
Fans are reeling from the loss, made all the more emotional by the timing — Osbourne had taken the stage for what would become his final performance just two weeks before his death on July 5, Rolling Stone reported. His passing was confirmed on July 22, Forbes noted.
Success didn’t spare Ozzy from financial troubles. Between 2023 and 2024, he reportedly racked up nearly $5 million in unpaid taxes, according to Radar Online. That wasn’t his first run-in with the IRS—back in 2011, he was hit with a $1.7 million lien for unpaid taxes from 2008 and 2009, NBC News reported. As tax pressures mounted and safety concerns in Los Angeles grew, the family ultimately chose to relocate back to the U.K. in 2022.
The rockstar, known as the “Prince of Darkness,” is credited with pioneering heavy metal as the genre emerged in the late 1960s and 1970s, a time when the rock scene, especially in the U.K., was more cheerful and lighthearted.
Osbourne, along with the musicians who eventually formed Black Sabbath in 1969, experimented with darker, heavier sounds and horror-inspired themes.
The cult band eventually exploded in popularity, captivating those drawn to its horror-inspired themes, with the commercial success of their debut album, “Black Sabbath,” released in February 1970.
Hated by critics but embraced by fans, Black Sabbath’s debut reached No. 8 on the U.K. Albums Chart and No. 23 on the U.S. Billboard 200, remaining on the charts for over a year.
The debut LP was certified platinum in both the U.S. and U.K. The band was building its reputation and setting the standard for what heavy metal was meant to sound like for an enthusiastic and growing fan base.
By the time the band’s second album, “Paranoid,” dropped on Sept. 18, 1970, word of mouth had circulated widely. “Paranoid” outsold “Black Sabbath,” becoming the band’s most recognizable and best-selling album. Estimated to have sold more than 20 million units, including compilations and reissues, songs like “War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” and “Paranoid” still hold strong popularity today. Since 1995, “Paranoid” has earned platinum four times, according to RIAA.
Fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 due to substance abuse, Osbourne launched a hugely successful solo career with his debut album, “Blizzard of Ozz,” according to the BBC.
Released in 1980, the album went on to sell more than 5 million copies in the U.S. alone and more than 13 million globally, earning him millions in sales and royalties.
Featuring timeless hits like “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” the record cemented his status as a solo heavy metal icon.
With 13 solo studio albums and a namesake fan festival, Ozzfest, which drew about 5 million fans over its run and generated more than $100 million, the Birmingham, England, rocker proved himself to be a true music mogul.
He was the first heavy metal star to generate over $50 million in merchandise sales beyond his albums, with one of his top-selling products being his autobiography, “I Am Ozzy,” (2009), according to the Mirror UK.
As the music industry shifted from hard rock to softer sounds in the digital era, Osbourne was among the musicians who pivoted to reality TV, starring in MTV’s “The Osbournes” (2002–2005) and the History Channel’s “Ozzy & Jack’s World Detour” (2016–2018).
