Eric Clapton, Net Worth Money and More
NET WORTH: $140 Million
PROFESSION: Musician
CHILDHOOD
Eric Patrick Clapton was born on 30 March 1945 in Surrey, England. His mom, Patricia Molly Clapton, had him when she was 16 years old. Edward Walter Fryer was his father, who was a Canadian soldier stationed in England during World War II. Fryer returned to his wife in Canada, before Eric was born. Patricia’s parents, Rose and Jack Clapp, stepped in as surrogate parents and raised Eric as their own as it was difficult for an unmarried 16-year-old to raise a child on her own. So, he grew up believing his mother was his sister. His grandparents remained his legal guardians until 1963. Eric’s mother eventually married and moved to Canada and Germany as her husband, Frank MacDonald, continued his military career. They had two girls and a boy.
Eric’s mother and grandmother, both enjoyed listening to the sounds of the big bands. When Clapton was nine years old, he came to know about who his real parents were. This affected him very deeply and proved to be a life shaping event for him.
MUSICAL VENTURES
In 1961, when he was 16, Eric was expelled from the Kingston College of Art for lack of progress as he had not submitted enough work due to the amount of time he dedicated listening to blues and playing guitar.
In 1962, he got a electric double cutaway Kay after hearing the electric blues of Freddie King, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, and others. Eric joined his first band, ‘The Roosters’ in early 1963. The band disbanded in August 1963.
Clapton became the most talked about guitar player on the R&B circuit and was soon recruited to become a member of The Yardbirds by Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith. He earned his nickname ‘Slowhand’ while with The Yardbirds. He recorded his first albums, Five Live Yardbirds, Sonny Boy Williamson and The Yardbirds. Clapton’s path in music was the blues, so he left The Yardbirds after they started going commercial with their music.
With John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, he established himself as a guitarist and earned another nickname, “God”. It came from an admirer’s graffiti on the wall of London’s Islington Tube Station that boldly proclaimed “Clapton is God.” Blues Breakers With Eric Clapton was recorded.
Eric teamed up with Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker to form the band Cream. Cream is considered one of the most influential rock groups of the modern era. Clapton was unique because he incorporated the emotion of the original performances into his own style of playing, thus expanding the vocabulary of blues guitar. The band was together for only two years. The band’s final performance was at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 26 November 1968.
In 1970, Eric formed Derek and the Dominos with Jim Gordon, Carl Radle and Bobby Whitlock. The Dominos recorded the album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The band drifted apart following an American tour and a failed attempt at recording a second album.
Eric was hit hard by the break up of The Dominos. He then sunk into three years of heroin addiction. He carved out a second career as the composer of film scores in the late 80s. His career reached new heights in 1992 with the release of Unplugged and the Grammy winning single, Tears in heaven. Clapton released an album From the Cradle in 1994. The album was his tribute to his musical heroes and contained versions of blues classics. In 1998, he released the album Pilgrim. In 2000, he recorded an album with legend B.B King, called Riding with the King which within three weeks of release, was certified gold. Other albums that he recorded and released were Reptile, Me and Mr. Johnson and Back Home. In 2005, Eric Clapton re-united with the members of his band Cream for re-union shows at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Eric has contributed to a number of artists’ albums over the years. He added guitar to While My Guitar Gently Weeps which is on the album The Beatles. He can be heard on albums by Elton John, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Ringo Starr, Plastic Ono Band, Steven Stills, Sting, and Roger Waters.
CLAPTON AND HIS LOVE FOR FERRARIS
In 2012, Clapton purchased a Ferrari SP 12 EC, based on the Ferrari 458 Italia chassis, whose bodywork is based on that of the Ferrari 512BB. The SP 12 EC cost him 3 million euros. Eric loves the original 512BB so much so that he has allegedly owned three of them already. For Eric, his obsession with Ferraris started from an early age, being a fan of the grand prix heyday of the 50s and 60s, but it wasn’t until George Harrison brought over his new 365 GTC to show off that he became a collector of them. Like the 512BBs, Eric has owned multiple 365s over the years.
Although, he had the longest and most enduring motoring relationship with his 1964 Ferrari 250 Lusso. Eric stated his favourite Ferrari is his 250 Lusso, but went on to say that he spends a lot of his time driving the 612 Scaglietti. Clapton also owns a Ferrari 599 GTB.
He was the first person in the UK to have a Ferrari Enzo. Clapton drove the Enzo all the way back home from Maranello.
Other cars that have been owned by Clapton include Ferrari Dino, Ferrari Daytona, Ferrari 557M, Ferrari 550M, Ferrari 360 Spyder, Porshce 911 Turbo, Porsche Cayenne Turbo, 1932 Ford Victoria Hot Rod and Ford Roadster.
FUN FACTS
He was a laborer who used to work at building sites, alongside his grandfather, who was a master bricklayer and plasterer, before turning into a full-time musician.
Clapton enjoys Mixed Martial Arts.
He is the only artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times: as a member of ‘The Yardbirds’ (1992); as a member of ‘Cream’ (1993); and as a solo performer (2000).
Clapton wrote the classic song Layla about his love for Pattie Boyd, who was then married to George Harrison. Eric married Pattie nine years later.
He was voted the 53rd Greatest Rock ‘n’ Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.
CLAPTON QUOTES
“I am, and always will be, a blues guitarist.”
“Given the choice between accomplishing something and just lying around, I’d rather lie around. No contest.”
“The blues are what I’ve turned to, what has given me inspiration and relief in all the trials of my life.”
“My dedication to my music has driven everyone away. I’ve had girlfriends, but I always end up on my own. I don’t particularly like it, but I don’t see a way ’round it.”
