Tommy Lee exploded onto the music scene in the 1980s as the drummer for the notorious rock band Mötley Crüe. With his energetic drumming style, tattooed body, and wild antics, Lee embodied the sex, drugs, and rock-and-roll lifestyle of the era’s hair metal bands. Though no longer with Mötley Crüe, Lee’s fame and fortune continue today. At 60 years old, Tommy Lee’s net worth sits around $70 million.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Tommy Lee was born Thomas Lee Bass on October 3, 1962, in Athens, Greece. His family moved to California when he was just a year old. As a teen, Lee embraced the California lifestyle – surfing, riding motorcycles, and staying out late against his strict parents’ wishes. He played the drums in high school and, by 18, had dropped out to pursue a music career.
An early band called Suite 19 gave Lee his first taste of success. The group scored some big gigs opening for artists like Y&T, Quiet Riot, and Motley Crue itself. Lee and Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx became friends and after running into each other at a party in 1981, they decided to form a band. That band would become the legendary Motley Crue.
Meteoric Rise with Motley Crue
Motley Crue exploded out of the Sunset Strip music scene in Los Angeles in the early 80s. Their sound was equal parts punk attitude and heavy metal swagger, blending aggressive musicianship with a glam aesthetic. 1983’s Shout at the Devil album established them as major players in the hair metal genre. Over the next decade, hits like “Girls, Girls, Girls”, “Dr. Feelgood” and “Kickstart My Heart” made Motley Crue global rockstars.
Lee was the perfect fit as the band’s drummer. Shirtless, covered in tattoos, with bleached blonde hair waving as he furiously pounded the drums, Lee had boundless energy and stole the spotlight. His drum solos were legendary for their length and one-handed showmanship. For all of Motley Crue’s success, however, the band was equally famous for their dangerous antics, including violence, addiction, and reckless behavior.
Lee himself had many brushes with death during the band’s heyday. He totaled a car while driving drunk and was once charged with spousal abuse after allegedly assaulting his wife at the time. Lee’s tell-all autobiography, Tommyland, details these events alongside stories of the massive amounts of drugs and alcohol consumed during Motley Crue’s tours over the years.
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Solo Work and Other Bands
Lee departed Motley Crue in 1999 to pursue solo work and other creative outlets. In 2002 he formed the rap-rock band Methods of Mayhem, releasing one album that went gold. He also worked with artists like Rob Zombie and participated in reality shows such as Tommy Lee Goes to College.
In 2004, Lee reunited with the original Motley Crue lineup for an extremely successful reunion tour. Though the relationship between band members has been rocky at times, the group has toured consistently over the last two decades. They completed a two-year farewell tour in 2015 before signing a legally binding Cessation of Touring Agreement preventing them from touring under the Motley Crue name again. Their music still lives on through streaming and radio airplay, however.
Personal Life, Spouses and Children
Over the years, Lee’s love life has generated nearly as many headlines as his music career. His first marriage was to Elaine Bergen in 1984. After divorcing Bergen a year later, he married actress Heather Locklear in 1986. The tumultuous relationship ended in 1993.
Lee then met actress and Playboy model Pamela Anderson. The two married in 1995 after knowing each other for just four days. Their volatile three-year marriage produced two sons but was filled with jealousy and legal issues. A sex tape from their honeymoon was also famously stolen and released online without consent.
Since splitting from Anderson, Lee has had several relationships with women, including Prince’s ex-wife, Mayte Garcia, and tattoo artist Sofia Toufa. As of 2022, the 60-year-old Lee is engaged to 31-year-old TikTok star Brittany Furlan. The couple tied the knot in 2019 after meeting online.
Lee maintains a close relationship with his two sons from his marriage to Anderson. Brandon Thomas Lee, 26, is an actor and model, while Dylan Jagger Lee, 24, is a musician like his dad. Both kids have gotten into legal trouble over the years but seem to be doing well now.
| Birth Date | October 3, 1962 |
| Birth name | Thomas Lee Bass |
| Nickname | T-Bone, Tommy |
| Profession | Actor and Composer |
| Father | David Lee Thomas Bass |
| Mother | Vassilikki ‘Boula’ Papadimitriou Bass |
| Height | 6′ 2½″ (1.89 m) |
| Spouses | Brittany Furlan (February 14, 2019 – present) Pamela Anderson (February 19, 1995 – February 28, 1998) (divorced, 2 children) Heather Locklear (May 10, 1986 – August 16, 1993) (divorced) Elaine Margaret Starchuk (November 1984 – February 1985) (divorced) |
| Children | Dylan Jagger Lee, Brandon Thomas Lee |
| Birthplace | Athens, Greece |
| Zodiac | Libra |
Tommy Lee Net Worth
After decades of rocking arena stages with Motley Crue and through work on other projects, Tommy Lee has amassed an impressive fortune. As of 2023, reliable sources estimate Tommy Lee’s net worth around $70 million.
Most of Lee’s wealth comes from the enormous success of Motley Crue in the 80s and 90s, alongside revenue from touring over the last 20 years. Tommy Lee has also earned money from book royalties, film and TV endeavors, and other business ventures, including a line of custom drum gear. With Motley Crue songs continuing to be played and a biopic of the band in development, Lee’s net worth will not fade away soon.
Interesting Facts About Tommy Lee
- Lee’s full back tattoo took over 100 hours to complete
- He once spent 6 months in jail for assaulting Pamela Anderson
- Lee claims he spent over $2 million on cars during Motley Crue’s heyday
- He auditioned for the lead guitar spot in Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band as a teenager
- Lee survived hypothermia, electrocution, and several car crashes during Motley Crue’s reckless touring over the years
At 60, Tommy Lee has packed enough antics, adventures, and drama into his life for someone twice his age. He helped shape the sound of a musical era and remains an influential figure in heavy metal. Retirement does not appear to be in the cards for Lee – when not causing tabloid headlines through his marriage, the legendary drummer is still rocking stages with or without Motley Crue. Love or hate him, there’s no denying Tommy Lee’s talents and his nearly 50-year history of success.
1. How old is Tommy Lee?
Tommy Lee is currently 60 years old. He was born on October 3, 1962, making him a Libra. Lee will turn 61 later this year.
2. how tall is Tommy Lee?
The heavily tattooed drummer is six feet two inches (1.88 meters) tall. He’s got two inches on the average height for American men.
3. is Tommy Lee still alive?
Yes, Tommy Lee is still very much alive and rocking. He continues touring as a solo act or with other projects. Lee also still generates plenty of headlines for his colorful love life.
4. Who are Tommy Lee’s children?
Tommy Lee has two sons – Brandon Thomas Lee and Dylan Jagger Lee. He had both kids with actress Pamela Anderson during their tumultuous marriage in the 1990s. Both Brandon and Dylan have dabbled in modeling and entertainment like their parents.
5. how many kids does Tommy Lee have
So far, Tommy Lee has two children – sons Brandon and Dylan with Pamela Anderson. Though the Motley Crue drummer has been married multiple times, Anderson is the only woman Lee has kids with at age 60.
