Jimmy Cliff Net Worth

July 2024 · 15 minute read

James Chambers net worth is
$10 Million

James Chambers Wiki Biography

Born James Chambers on the 1st April 1948 in Somerton District, St James, Jamaica, he is a musician, singer and actor, best known to the world by his hit songs “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”, “Many Rivers to Cross”, and “The Harder They Come”, among many others. Jimmy’s career started in the early ‘60s.

Have you ever wondered how rich Jimmy Cliff is, as of early 2017? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Cliff’s net worth is as high as $10 million, an amount earned largely through his successful career in music. He was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 2010, and received the Jamaican Order of Merit honor in 2003, thanks to his contribution to music and Jamaican culture.

Jimmy Cliff Net Worth $10 Million

Jimmy took an interest in music while still in primary school; he began writing songs, and while in high school, he took his first steps towards professionalism, looking for a producer to record his songs. Although unsuccessful, he didn’t surrendered and performed in several local bars and talent contests, until his single “Hurricane Hattie” struck a chord with the public when Jimmy was only 14 years old. Little by little his career began to develop, and with hits “King of Kings”, “Miss Jamaica”, “Dearest Beverly” and “”Pride and Passion”, made a name for himself in Jamaica.

However, it wasn’t until the late ‘60s that Jimmy broke onto the world stage, debuting with the album “Hard Road to Travel”, since when he has released 30 studio albums, which spawned hits that made Jimmy popular around the world. In 1969 out came his third album “Jimmy Cliff”, which featured the hit “Wonderful World, Beautiful People”, and during the ‘70s, Jimmy released such albums as “Another Cycle” (1971), “The Harder They Come” (1972), and “Give Thankx” (1978), among others, which only increased his wealth.

Jimmy continued successfully in the ‘80s, with the albums “Give the People What They Want” (1981), “The Power and the Glory” (1983), “We Are the World” (1985), and “Cliff Hanger” (1985), for which he won a Grammy Award in the category Best Reggae Album, further increasing his wealth.

Nothing changed for Jimmy in the ‘90s as he still enjoyed fame, and made numerous live appearances across the world, including in Brazil and Nicaragua, while also releasing new material, such as the song “Hakuna Matata”, which is a collaboration with Lebo M. and was used on the soundtrack for the film “The Lion King”.

Since the start of the new millennium, Jimmy has released only four albums, which include the chart topping “Sacred Fire” (2011), and “Rebirth” (2012). He has toured continuously, making appearances in Switzerland, West Indies, Canada, USA, among other locations.

Apart from success as a musician, Jimmy is also an actor, and starred in the film “The Harder They Come” (1972) with Janet Bartley and Carl Bradshaw, and in the film “Club Paradise” (1986), with Robin Williams, Peter O’Toole and Rick Moranis in the lead roles.

Regarding his personal life, Jimmy has two children, son and daughter whose mother is described only as ‘a domestic labourer’, and lives in Jamaica.

He converted to Islam religion, and assumed the name of El Hadj Naïm Bachir, but now states that he is not a part of any religion, believing only in science.


Full NameJimmy Cliff
Net Worth$10 Million
Date Of BirthApril 1, 1948
Place Of BirthSomerton District, St. James, Jamaica
Height5' 5" (1.65 m)
ProfessionMusician
NationalityJamaican
ChildrenSayeed Chambers, Odessa Chambers
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/jimmycliffmusic
MySpacehttps://myspace.com/jimmycliff
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0166580/
Allmusichttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-cliff-mn0000295276
AwardsGrammy Award for Best Reggae Album, Grammy Hall of Fame
AlbumsFollow My Mind, Rebirth, Best of Jimmy Cliff, The Power and the Glory, Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Greats, Cliff Hanger, In Concert: The Best of Jimmy Cliff, Another Cycle, Club Paradise, Special, Struggling Man
NominationsSoul Train Music Award for Best Caribbean Performance (CENTRICTV.com)
MoviesThe Harder They Come, Club Paradise, One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute, Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don, A Reggae Session, A Night of Reggae Rhythm, Rebel Salute 2005: Back to the Foundation
#Quote
1I've abused myself a lot over the years. But my voice is still intact - really, it's better.
2Someone like Katy Perry - I like her writing because I listen to music as a songwriter. I like a lot of her songs - like, 'Firework' is a song that I think I could write.
3I used to do a little acting in school. It was my first love, and I really thought I would be doing it as a career. I really wanted to complete that part of my ambition.
4When I lived in the U.K., I recorded a lot of ska and rock-steady styles of Jamaican music. But people there weren't accepting it. So I began using a faster reggae beat.
5I grew up in the church and had always questioned what they were telling me.
6With acting, you have to become someone else. That's the fun part of it for me - to step outside of yourself and become a character. I guess being Jimmy Cliff is a little bit of a character, too.
7There are goals that I had set out for myself as an artist. I have accomplished some of them - becoming accepted all over the world - however, other parts of my goals have not been completed.
8I regret I didn't ever learn how to fly a plane. I had the opportunity when I started to make some money, and I regret I didn't really take the time out and put the effort in and do that.
9People might say, 'Jimmy Cliff, you've done a lot, achieved a lot. What more can you want?'
10Basically, I'm motivated to write about sociopolitical issues as well as relationships. I think those themes have stayed with me throughout my life.
11It's important for me to go back into the ghetto, where I'm from. I still get my oxygen from there. I don't live in the ghetto anymore, but every time I go back, I'm still seeing the same things that I lived.
12I wanted to travel the world - I don't how that idea got in my head, but I really wanted to see the world... towns, cities, countries, I wanted to see them all.
13My most important relationships were with my father and grandmother.
14I have a career, which is important, but my family is the priority. First family, and then career. It's a delicate balance.
15In hindsight, I see the great value of family and how it moulded my life and kept me together. So now family means everything to me.
16I have not become the artist I believe I am. I want to become a stadium act. I'm not done at all.
17If you go out to Hollywood you'll find a lot of fantastic plastic people there in the business and a lot of people in life generally. They find it so hard to be themselves that they have to be plastic.
18I visit studios. Just to get the feel, the smell, and see what other people are doing. Not only listening to the radio, but going to studios, greeting musicians and artists, just getting a vibe.
19The first thing I wanted to be was an actor, even before I wanted to be a singer, before I discovered I could sing.
20I'm the kind of person who likes to hang out and observe what's going on in the streets, or in certain places. I used to do that a lot. But having to become an international superstar, I can't do that comfortably! But it's all positive, you know.
21I grew up twelve miles outside of Montego Bay. In my early teens, I went to Kingston. It was like a different planet for me. In the country, people are kind. In the city, people are hard an' cold, like the concrete and steel.
22The music that I represent and helped to create and establish was born in Jamaica.
23I would love to see no more ghettos, but the things is, there's no diplomacy in the ghetto. They want to tell you something, they tell you straight! An upper class, more educated person - they find a diplomatic way to tell you the thing. I love it when you just come heart to heart. That's the way I knew it coming up, so that's the way I like it.
24Christian values were important at home. Cleanliness. Don't steal. Don't lie. Those were the rules, and they were strictly enforced. Especially the stealing and lying. When you broke the rules, you got a beating. I always broke the rules a lot.
25It was one of my dreams as a child, growing up in my little village with my cousins. We used to walk together, and I used to say, when you look at the world map, 'This town is there, that town is there, that river is there.' I used to say, 'One day, I'm going to travel these places.'
26People in the Hall of Fame tend to clap their hands and say, 'OK, I've done it all,' but for me, it was a new beginning.
27If I could change one thing about myself... I would try to control my generosity.
28My records were becoming hits in South Africa, they were songs they were using to fight the Apartheid system. I didn't have clear knowledge of the embargo but if I had I still would have gone because it was what my singing was about. I was not going to Sun City to earn money, I was going to Soweto to sing to the people who had been using my music for freedom. I don't regret it. Before we went on we could feel tension in the air because all races were there, like something is going to erupt tonight but the moment I sang, people felt joy and happiness, because music brings all peoples together.
29I met Paul Simon and he said to me that he and Bob Dylan sat up for a whole night together listening to my albums one after another. That made me proud.
#Fact
1Charted with "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" to #25 on Billboard's Top 40 in 1969.
2Bob Dylan called Cliff's single "Vietnam" the best protest song he had ever heard.
3Jamaican reggae musician.

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Alles nur Tarnung1996writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
The Long Kiss Goodnight1996performer: "Many Rivers To Cross" / writer: "Many Rivers To Cross"
Children of the Revolution1996performer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" / writer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People"
Nothing Personal1995performer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" / writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
Rude1995performer: "Many Rivers to Cross" / writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
Roommates1995writer: "MANY RIVERS TO CROSS"
Jason's Lyric1994writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
Cool Runnings1993performer: "I Can See Clearly Now"
Cool as Ice1991writer: "Sitting in Limbo" - as Cliff
Marked for Death1990performer: "No Justice", "John Crow", "Rebel In Me" / writer: "No Justice", "John Crow", "Rebel In Me"
Lost Angels1989writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
Scandal1989writer: "Miss Jamaica" - uncredited
Iron Eagle II1988writer: "Trapped"
Cocktail1988performer: "Shelter Of Your Love" / producer: "Shelter Of Your Love" / writer: "Shelter Of Your Love"
Something Wild1986performer: "You Don't Have to Cry"
Sitting in Limbo1986performer: "Sitting In Limbo", "Struggling Man", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", "Many Rivers To Cross", "Sooner Or Later" / writer: "Sitting In Limbo", "Struggling Man", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", "Many Rivers To Cross", "Sooner Or Later"
Club Paradise1986performer: "Club Paradise", "American Plan", "Brightest Star", "The Lion Awakes", "Third World People", "You Cant Keep A Good Man Down", "Seven-Day Weekend", "Island In The Sun" / writer: "Club Paradise", "American Plan", "Brightest Star", "The Lion Awakes", "Third World People", "You Cant Keep A Good Man Down", "Seven-Day Weekend"
Miami ViceTV Series writer - 2 episodes, 1985 - 1986 performer - 1 episode, 1986
Jimmy Cliff: Hot Shot1985Video short performer: "Hot Shot" / writer: "Hot Shot"
DTV: Rock, Rhythm & Blues1984Video performer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People", "You Can Get It If You Really Want" / writer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People", "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
D.C. Cab1983performer: "Vietnam"
Saturday Night Live1981TV Series performer - 1 episode
If Mother Could See Me Now1974performer: "Sitting Here in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come", "Many Rivers to Cross" - uncredited / writer: "Sitting Here in Limbo", "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "The Harder They Come", "Many Rivers to Cross" - uncredited
The Harder They Come1972performer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Many Rivers To Cross", "The Harder They Come", "Sitting Here In Limbo" / writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want", "Many Rivers To Cross", "The Harder They Come", "Sitting Here In Limbo"
Goliath2016TV Series writer - 1 episode
Champion of Champions2015TV Series performer - 1 episode
Parenthood2015TV Series performer - 1 episode
Waterloo Road2014TV Series performer - 1 episode
WilfredTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
Independent LensTV Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.TV Mini-Series documentary performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
The X Factor2013TV Series writer - 1 episode
Rush2013/Iperformer: "Many Rivers to Cross" / writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
Death in ParadiseTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2013 writer - 1 episode, 2013
Muscle Shoals2013Documentary performer: "Sitting Here in Limbo" / writer: "Sitting Here in Limbo"
Warm Bodies2013performer: "Sitting in Limbo" / writer: "Sitting in Limbo"
The Voice2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Voice UK2012TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Pirates! Band of Misfits2012writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
Hawaii Five-0TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2012 writer - 1 episode, 2012
EastEnders2011TV Series performer - 1 episode
Falling SkiesTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2011 writer - 1 episode, 2011
Case départ2011performer: "Many Rivers to Cross" / writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
Ruisrock - 40 vuotta rockia ja rakkautta2011TV Movie documentary performer: "The Harder They Come" / writer: "The Harder They Come"
Les neiges du Kilimandjaro2011writer: "Many Rivers to Cross"
This Is England '86TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
Made in Dagenham2010writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" - as Cliff
Late Show with David LettermanTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2010 writer - 1 episode, 2010
Animal Kingdom2010performer: "Sitting in Limbo" / writer: "Sitting in Limbo"
Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief2010TV Movie documentary writer: "Many Rivers To Cross"
Der Mann auf der Brücke2009TV Movie writer: "You can get it"
Fool's Gold2008/Iwriter: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
Secret Diary of a Call GirlTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2007 writer - 1 episode, 2007
Griffin & Phoenix2006performer: "I Can See Clearly Now"
This Is England2006writer: "Let's Dance"
Big Love2006TV Series performer - 1 episode
Mission: Impossible III2006performer: "Come into My Life" / writer: "Come into My Life"
Into the Blue2005performer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" / writer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People"
In Her Shoes2005performer: "Sitting in Limbo" 1970 / writer: "Sitting in Limbo" 1970
Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live2005TV Special documentary performer: "The Harder They Come" / writer: "The Harder They Come"
Runt2005performer: "Sitting in Limbo", "The Harder They Come", "Bongo Man", "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" / writer: "Sitting in Limbo", "The Harder They Come", "Bongo Man", "Wonderful World, Beautiful People"
Hitch2005/Iperformer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" 1970 / writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" 1970
Blackpool2004TV Series writer - 1 episode
Peace One Day2004Documentary performer: "Peace One Day", "I Can See Clearly Now" / writer: "Peace One Day"
Something's Gotta Give2003performer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" / writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
One Tree HillTV Series performer - 1 episode, 2003 writer - 1 episode, 2003
Anita & Me2002performer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful people" / writer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful people" - as J. Cliff
Love, Honor and Obey2000writer: "The Harder They Come"
The Muse1999performer: "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" / writer: "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah"
The Match1999writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want"
East Is East1999performer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" 1970 / writer: "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" 1970
Speed 2: Cruise Control1997performer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" / writer: "You Can Get It If You Really Want" - as James E. Chambers
Acústico MTV: Titãs1997TV Movie performer: "Querem Meu Sangue" / writer: "Querem Meu Sangue"

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Rude Boy: The Jamaican Don2003Wise Man
Club Paradise1986Ernest Reed
Jimmy Cliff: Hot Shot1985Video shortJimmy Cliff
The Harder They Come1972Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin

Composer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Moana and the Moa Hunters- Rebel in Me2005Short
Jimmy Cliff: Hot Shot1985Video short
Bongo Man1982Documentary
The Harder They Come1972

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Squidbillies2016TV Series main title theme performed by - 1 episode
Jimmy Cliff: Hot Shot1985Video short lyricist

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus!2010special thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Lennon or McCartney2014Documentary shortHimself
Independent Lens2014TV Series documentaryHimself
Access Hollywood Live2013TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Muscle Shoals2013DocumentaryHimself
Jimmy Cliff Live at the Ogden Theatre2012TV Movie documentary
Late Show with David Letterman1993-2012TV SeriesHimself / Himself - Musical Guest
Marley2012DocumentaryHimself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon2011TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
Tavis Smiley2011TV SeriesHimself
Glastonbury 20112011TV SeriesHimself
Toots and the Maytals Reggae Got Soul2011TV Movie documentaryHimself
Austin City Limits2010TV Series documentaryHimself - Musical guest
The Colbert Report2010TV SeriesHimself - Guest / Musical Guest
The 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony2010TV MovieHimself
Later... With Jools Holland2008TV SeriesHimself
Seitenblicke2008TV Series documentary
10 mai Africaphonie2008Documentary
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Opening Ceremonies2007TV MoviePerformer
Roots of Reggae: The Ernest Ranglin Story2006Video documentary shortHimself
Rebel Salute2005Video documentary
Reggae: The Story of Jamaican Music2002TV Series documentaryHimself
Top of the Pops 22002TV SeriesHimself
Never Mind the Buzzcocks2002TV SeriesHimself
MOBO Awards 20022002TV SpecialHimself
Top Ten2000TV Series documentaryHimself
One Love: The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute1999TV Movie documentaryHimself - Performer
Space Ghost Coast to Coast1997TV SeriesHimself
Acústico MTV: Titãs1997TV MovieHimself
Les enfants de la guerre1996TV MovieHimself
Si on chantait1995TV SeriesHimself
Taratata1995TV SeriesHimself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1995TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
Rock in Rio1991TV SeriesHimself
Marked for Death1990Himself
Late Night with David Letterman1985-1989TV SeriesHimself
A Reggae Session1988TV MovieHimself
The Day of Five Billion1987TV Movie documentaryHimself
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid1986Video documentaryHimself
Àngel Casas Show1986TV SeriesHimself
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City1985Video shortHimself (uncredited)
Champs-Elysées1984TV SeriesHimself
Bongo Man1982DocumentaryHimself
Caribbean Nights: The Bob Marley Story1982DocumentaryHimself
Saturday Night Live1976-1981TV SeriesHimself - Musical Guest
Grandes Nomes1980TV Series
Paul1978TV SeriesHimself
Beats of the Heart: Roots Rock Reggae1977TV Movie documentaryHimself
Roots Rock Reggae1977DocumentaryHimself
Rock Concert1975TV SeriesHimself
In Concert1974TV SeriesHimself
Disco1971TV Series
Top of the Pops1969-1970TV SeriesHimself
4-3-2-1 Hot and Sweet1969TV SeriesHimself - Musician
Lift Off1969TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Bouton Rouge1967TV Series documentary
Beat-Club1967TV SeriesHimself - Musician
Ready, Steady, Go!1965TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2015GrammyGrammy AwardsBest R&B Song

Known for movies


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