Chester Bennington, Who Was $30M Rich Before Passing Away, Agreed to Give Away a Massive Chunk of His Linkin Park Royalties to Ex-Wife

In the world of music, only a few music bands leave a long-lasting legacy. In this American rock band, Linkin Park definitely stands the tallest. The group formed in 1996, created several memorable albums as well as live shows with its lead vocalist Chester Bennington in the forefront. But after his death in 2017, the rock band entered an indefinite period of hiatus.

Chester Bennington in a still from One More Light music video || Credits: YouTube

But even after his passing, fans have kept his legacy alive by listening to several of his hits. This works perfectly given that the $30 million-rich singer had, in the past, agreed to give a massive part of his Linkin Park royalties to his first wife, Samantha Olit.

Reason Why Chester Bennington Agreed to Give Away His Linkin Park Royalties to Ex-Wife

While Linkin Park was formed in 1996, it wasn’t until their groundbreaking album Hybrid Theory in 2000 that their music career skyrocketed. From this moment onwards, they were globally recognized, and in no time, they went on to release seven more well-acclaimed albums.

Further, along with their chart-topping hits, they were also quite famous for presenting electrifying live events, which were swamped with fans.

Chester Bennington in a still from Leave Out All The Rest music video || Credits: YouTube

But along with the band, its lead vocalist Chester Bennington left an indelible mark on music history. Aside from his rock band endeavors, the singer also collaborated with the likes of Jay-Z, Stone Temple Pilots, Dead by Sunrise, to name a few. Thus, given this, his estate benefits from several income sources.

After his passing in 2017, the details of his estate were disclosed for the first time in 2019, which revealed that the singer wanted all of his six children to have his support and love posthumously. Bennington had six kids from different relationships.

His firstborn, Jamie Bennington, was from his relationship with Elka Brand as well as he also adopted her child from a previous relationship. Further, his second child, Draven Bennington, was from his marriage with Samantha Olit (later Bennington).

His final marriage to Talinda Bennington brought three more children into the picture. But despite this, his estate wasn’t without its share of controversies. For instance, his first wife filed a claim for a share in his Linkin Park royalties and child support.

In the end, a decision was reached in this case, and it was determined that she would receive half of Bennington’s royalty payments. As part of the agreement, Samantha Olit also dropped her claim for child support.

After Chester Bennington’s Passing, Linkin Park Announces a New Lead Singer

Emily Armstrong in a still from Weatherman music video by Dead Sara || Credits: YouTube

After a seven-year hiatus, Linkin Park is making a major comeback with a new lineup and lead singer. During a live streaming event, the rock band introduced Emily Armstrong of Dead Sara as their new lead vocalist and Colin Brittain as their new drummer, replacing Rob Bourdon, who has left the band. Original members Mike Shinoda, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, and Brad Delson will also be returning.

Linkin Park also announced their upcoming album titled From Zero, set for release on November 15. This announcement marks the band’s first major release since Chester Bennington’s death in 2017.

Since then, the band has re-released several classic albums, including Hybrid Theory, Meteora, and Papercuts. However, this will be their first new album since One More Light.