What was Don Cornelius’ Net Worth?
Don Cornelius, the American television host and producer, had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 2012. He was best known for creating and owning the dance/music franchise “Soul Train”, which he hosted from 1971 until 1993 and produced until he sold it in 2008.
On February 1, 2012, Cornelius was found with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 75 years old at the time.
Cornelius began his career in show business as an announcer, news reporter, and disc jockey on Chicago radio station WVON in 1966. He later joined Chicago television station WCIU-TV in 1967 and hosted a news program called “A Black’s View of the News”.
In 1970, Cornelius launched “Soul Train” on WCIU-TV as a daily local show. The program entered national syndication and moved to Los Angeles the following year. He sold the rights to “Soul Train” to a group of investors in 2008 for an undisclosed amount. Those investors later sold the franchise to BET in 2016.
Early Life and Career of Don Cornelius
Don Cornelius was born on September 27, 1936 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended DuSable High School and served in the Marines during the Korean War. After returning to the United States, he worked a number of jobs before becoming an officer with the Chicago Police Department. However, he quit his job and took a broadcasting course in 1966. He landed a job as an announcer, news reporter, and disc jockey on the Chicago radio station WVON.
Don Cornelius and the Creation of Soul Train
Don Cornelius joined WCIU-TV in 1967 and hosted a news program called “A Black’s View of the News.” He noticed the lack of television programs devoted to soul music and created “Soul Train” in 1970 to introduce the music of Black Americans to a larger audience. The program entered national syndication and moved to Los Angeles in 1971. Cornelius worked as the show’s writer, producer, and host, featuring all of the hottest acts of the time. “Soul Train” was instrumental in showcasing Black American culture, music, and dance to a wide audience and was universally appealing with a massive white audience and a huge following around the country.
Don Cornelius’ Work Outside of “Soul Train”
After leaving “Soul Train” in 1993, Cornelius sold the show to MadVision Entertainment in 2008. He had a small number of film roles, including playing a record producer in the 1988 film “Tapeheads” and appearing as a fictionalized version of himself in the 1987 film “The Return of Bruno.” In the latter, Cornelius hosts a show called “Bless My Soul,” inspired by “Soul Train.” Cornelius also appeared in an episode of “Unsung” in 2012, which was his final onscreen appearance before his death.
Don Cornelius’s Personal Life
Don Cornelius’s first wife was Delores Harrison. They had two sons together. He later married Russian supermodel Victoria Avila in 2001, but their marriage ended in divorce after Cornelius was charged with spousal abuse and placed on probation. Avila filed for divorce during this time.
In 2022, sexual assault allegations surfaced against Cornelius. Two Playboy bunnies accused him of assaulting them in the 1970s. Cornelius’s son called the allegations baseless and unbelievable.
Don Cornelius Death
Don Cornelius died on February 1, 2012, at the age of 75. Police responded to reports of a gunshot at his home and found him dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. An autopsy report revealed that Cornelius had been suffering from seizures for the last 15 years of his life, a complication from a brain operation he had in 1982. He had retired from hosting Soul Train due to the operation. His health had taken a sharp turn for the worst in the final six months of his life, leading him to commit suicide.
Don Cornelius’ Real Estate Holdings
Don Cornelius lived in a 4,000 square foot mountaintop mansion for much of his later years. The impressive mansion boasting endless views sold for $1.39 million a year after his death.
During his marriage to Victoria Avila, Don owned a separate mansion in LA. The mansion was given to Victoria as part of their divorce settlement.
Additionally, Victoria was the beneficiary of $300,000 worth of life insurance policies associated with Cornelius. He agreed to give her these policies and the aforementioned house in their divorce settlement.
