Yes, Mary Austin continues to receive a substantial fortune from Freddie Mercury's estate, including royalties from Queen's music and the 2018 Bohemian Rhapsody film. She inherited 50% of his7 earnings (later increasing to 75% after his parents passed) and holds a 18.75% share of revenues from Queen Productions.
Freddie Mercury's royalties are primarily split between his closest confidante, Mary Austin, who received 50% and inherited his estate (including his mansion), and his parents and sister (25% each initially). After his parents passed, their share went to Mary, increasing her portion significantly, and the surviving band members (Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Deacon) also receive royalties as part of Queen's catalog, with recent sales affecting the overall structure.
Disney and Universal Music Group will permanently retain the rights to distribute Queen's records in North America, but the band's share of the royalties will now go to Sony Music. For the rest of the world, those rights are expected to transfer from current owners UMG to Sony Music in either 2026 or 2027.
Did Freddie Mercury leave any money to his parents and sister?
Meanwhile, his parents and his sister both received a 25 per cent share. Mary was also entrusted with his ashes – and instructed never to reveal where they would eventually be placed, which would create further rifts with Freddie's family.
Mary Austin fulfilled Freddie Mercury's dying wish by taking his ashes and secretly burying them in an undisclosed location, a secret she has guarded for decades and vowed to take to her grave, preventing his final resting place from becoming a tourist attraction like other famous figures. She kept his ashes in his bedroom for two years before carrying out the burial, creating a convincing cover story to keep her actions secret from staff and even his family.
Mary Austin Reveals Freddie Mercury’s Final Secret — The Truth He Hid About AIDS
How much royalties does Queen make?
Well, it still seems to be lasting: Queen Productions Ltd generated £38.92 million ($53.5m) from royalties in its last fiscal year (the 12 months to end of September 2021, aka FY 2021), according to newly-published UK annual accounts analyzed by MBW.
Ozzy has spoken fondly of Freddie, praising his extraordinary voice and flamboyant stage presence, calling him one of the greatest performers of all time.
The House of the Rising Sun is a traditional folk song (sometimes called Rising Sun Blues). Like many folk songs, it's unclear who the original author is, making the original song and lyrics not subject to copyright laws.
Yes, Mary Austin was present at Freddie Mercury's private funeral in November 1991, attending with his closest family and friends, and she was entrusted with his ashes as per his final wishes. She placed a wreath of yellow roses on his coffin, a significant gesture, and later revealed she scattered his ashes in an undisclosed location, keeping his final resting place a secret.
How much was Freddie Mercury's net worth when he died?
Freddie Mercury's net worth at his death in 1991 was around $30 million (USD), which equates to roughly $50-60 million today after inflation, with assets including real estate, art, and royalties, most of which went to his close friend Mary Austin. He left his London mansion and a significant portion of his estate to her, with the remainder going to his parents and sister.
Who got all of Freddie Mercury's money when he died?
Freddie Mercury left the bulk of his fortune, including his Kensington mansion and half his estate, to his closest friend, Mary Austin, who also received a significant portion of future royalties; his parents and sister each received 25% of the remaining assets, while his boyfriend Jim Hutton and staff also received substantial bequests, with the band members getting future album profits.
In 1991, Forbes estimated Michael Jackson's net worth at $230 million (equivalent to $531 million in 2024), making him the wealthiest musician and the second wealthiest entertainer, behind comedian Bill Cosby. According to some insiders, it is estimated that Jackson's estate is worth over $2 billion as of 2024.
While most famous singers have 3-4 octave ranges, the extraordinary singer with the Guinness World Record for the widest vocal range is Tim Storms, who boasts an incredible 10-octave range, primarily known for his incredibly low notes but mastering extremes. Other vocalists with exceptional ranges, though not 10 octaves, include Georgia Brown (8 octaves), Mariah Carey (5 octaves), and Minnie Riperton (4-7 octaves), with artists like Axl Rose also noted for expansive ranges.
It was there that Freddie first, very briefly, met Bowie - and even helped him with his on-stage set-up. As Bowie recalled, “I'm so fond of Freddie Mercury.
“He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods – a true legend. “He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly.
How much did Rami Malek get paid for Bohemian Rhapsody?
A lot of contracts in Hollywood are based on splitting the profits. E.g. Rami Malek's salary agreement for the film could have been "$5 million + 5% of the film's profits". Same goes for director, writer, other actors, production companies involved in the film's production.
Even though Deacon left the public eye in 1997 after Freddie Mercury passed away and released a final single called “No-One but You,” Queen's ongoing worldwide influence continues to generate significant royalties for Deacon.
