Chris Perez is an American guitarist and songwriter best known for his marriage to the late Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. He served as the lead guitarist of her band, Selena y Los Dinos, until her untimely death in 1995. With so much fame surrounding him, many have wondered how wealthy this iconic musician really is. If you are one of those who are curious about what Chris Perez net worth is or just want to know what kind of legacy Selena left behind with him, continue reading on!
Is Chris Perez rich?
Yes. Chris Perez is doing well financially. He has earned himself quite a fortune over the years since he became active in the music scene back in the 1980s. In addition to being a successful musician, he has also branched out to other ventures, such as writing books and launching a brand of hot sauce. It’s safe to say that Chris is far from living paycheck to paycheck. In fact, his wealth might be considered desirable by many people who are still trying to make it big in the entertainment industry or in life as a whole. But how much money does he actually have? Let’s find out what Chris Perez’s net worth is.
What is Chris Perez’s net worth?
According to various online reports, Chris Perez’s net worth is estimated to be around $1 million to $4 million as of April 2024. Below is a rundown of how he earned this massive amount of money through the years.
Chris Perez as a musician
The biggest portion of Chris Perez’s net worth comes from his earnings as a musician. He began his music career in 1980 when he joined the band Selena y Los Dinos. He played lead guitar on many of Selena’s hit songs from her album Dreaming of You which was released after she died in 1995. In addition to that, he wrote some of the songs from their debut album Ven Conmigo, such as Bidi Bidi Bom Bom and Como La Flor, which were both major hits for her solo career.
After Selena’s passing, Chris formed the Chris Pérez Band, which was signed with Hollywood Records. In 1999, they released their first album, Resurrection, which won a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album. The band disbanded after their second album, Una Noche Mas, was released in 2002. His other works include collaborations with Carlos Santana and other Latin recording artists including Pete Escovedo, David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, A.B Quintanilla III & Kumbia Kings, Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz, and much more.
As he continues to tour around the world playing shows with various bands, it is clear that he will remain one of the most influential figures in Latino music history for years to come. And with this success behind him, he has now ventured into new business opportunities like hot sauce making.
Chris Perez as an entrepreneur
The earnings of the Perez Pepper Sauce company also contribute to Chris Perez’s net worth. Founded by Chris and his friend John Gomez, Perez Pepper Sauce is a line of hot sauces and other condiments. First introduced to the market in 2019, the original Perez Pepper Sauce was created in honor of Selena as it contains some of her favorite flavors. The packaging even features photos of Chris and Selena together, along with quotes from both of them about their love for each other and the life experiences they shared while married. The recipe was crafted by top chefs who have worked alongside Chris over the years. The sauce has already won several awards for its high-quality taste.
Chris Perez’s net worth is also boosted by the sales of his book To Selena, With Love. Released in May 2016, the book tells the story of Chris’ relationship with the late singer Selena Quintanilla. The book details their private life together, her career, her music, and her lasting influence on Latin culture. It is an intimate and honest look at the time they shared together, and how their love story continues to inspire fans around the world.
Written by Chris Perez, this book gives a rare glimpse into Selena’s sincerity and vulnerability when falling in love, strength and conviction when fighting for that love, and absolute resilience when finding peace and normalcy with her family’s acceptance of the only man she called her husband.
Chris Perez has a huge social media following, so it is believed that he has also made some money from sponsorships and brand endorsements. As of April 2024, Chris has 1.3 million followers on Instagram, 1.1 million followers on Facebook, 41,400 followers on X (formerly Twitter), and 35,100 followers on TikTok.
Chris Perez’s personal life
Who is Chris Perez to Selena?
As mentioned above, Chris Perez and Selena were husband and wife until the latter met her untimely death in 1995. The two first met when he joined the Selena y Los Dinos. The two instantly connected and their relationship soon blossomed into romance.
Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father, tried to break them up due to his concern that Chris’ reputation could negatively impact Selena’s profession. Despite his warnings that he would disband the group, the pair disregarded them and continued their romance.
Abraham dismissed Chris from the band and ordered Selena to avoid seeing him. However, Chris defied his wishes and tied the knot with Selena in 1992. Sadly, their marriage came to a tragic end in March 1995 when Selena was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, her former friend and former manager of her boutiques.
How much money did Chris Perez get from Selena?
According to Looper, Chris Perez signed an agreement after his wife’s death, agreeing to receive no more than 25% of the net profits that Selena’s estate earns every year. Both parties agree that over the last 25 years, Chris had received roughly $3 million from the Selena estate. He, however, had questioned the amount.
Did Chris Perez ever remarry?
Yes, Chris Perez remarried after Selena’s death. He wed Vanessa Villanueva in 2001 and had two kids, a boy named Noah and a girl named Cassie. The pair had a lot of ups and downs in their relationship, which unfortunately ended in divorce in 2008.
Chris Perez’s age
Chris Perez, whose real full name is Christopher Gilbert Perez, was born on August 14th, 1969 in San Antonio, Texas. That makes him 54 years old as of April 2024.
Chris Perez’s parents
Chris Perez’s father is Gilbert Pérez, a computer programmer, while her mother is Carmen Medina. Chris’ parents divorced in 1974 when he was four years old. His mother remarried in 1978.
Chris Perez’s early life
Chris began playing the French horn in junior high. He also taught himself to play the electric guitar despite his mother’s disapproval due to the negative stereotypes associated with the rock-and-roll world at the time. His musical idols included Van Halen, Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, Kiss, the Scorpions, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, and in the 1990s, Ricky Martin. Carlos Santana’s guitar solos were also a major influence on his own playing.