From Stage Manager to Songwriting Success: Chris Jagger’s Financial Journey
Chris Jagger, the younger brother of rock legend Mick Jagger, has carved out his own significant career in the arts. With a discography spanning 13 albums and a global touring history, the 78-year-old singer-songwriter has also ventured into acting and journalism. His latest album, Mixing Up The Medicine, and his autobiography, Talking To Myself, both dropped in 2021, marking a productive period for the artist. Residing in Somerset with his wife of 42 years, Kari-Ann, Chris is a proud father to five sons and grandfather to 14 grandchildren. His life, much like his music, has been a tapestry woven with financial ups and downs, lessons learned, and strategic decisions.
Early Lessons: The Value of a Shilling
Chris’s formative years were shaped by his parents’ prudent approach to finances. His father, Joe, a former teacher who transitioned into sports education lecturing, instilled a strong sense of caution. “That it was hard to get and to be careful with it,” Chris recalls of his parents’ teachings. His father’s diligent habit of saving change in jam jars until they were full, ready for a trip to the bank, paints a vivid picture of their frugality. His mother, Eva, who was a hairdresser before becoming a homemaker after marriage, also contributed to this ethos. As children, both Chris and Mick received pocket money, which Chris admits he often spent on sweets – a classic childhood indulgence.
The First Pay Packet: A Taste of Independence
Leaving school, Chris’s first professional foray was as an assistant stage manager at the Hampstead Theatre Club in north-west London. This role provided him with his initial weekly wage of £9. It was an environment rich with artistic talent, where he even admits to having a youthful crush on actress Sarah Miles. Later in his career, Chris dabbled in acting, appearing in two films, The Stud and The Bitch, alongside Joan Collins in the late 1970s. However, his roles were so minor that he jokes, “blink and you miss me,” and he saw no royalties from these appearances. The most lucrative acting work came from advertisements, though one memorable experience involved a Lee Cooper jeans campaign where his physique wasn’t quite right for a crucial rear shot, necessitating a stand-in.
Navigating Lean Times: The Struggle to Make Ends Meet
The late 1970s proved to be a challenging period financially for Chris and his wife, Kari-Ann. A flooded flat in Paddington left them homeless and reliant on emergency accommodation. During this time, Chris took on a variety of jobs to keep the family afloat. He worked in building, decorated houses, and even drove a minicab. Evenings were often spent performing at the Zanzibar cocktail lounge in Covent Garden. “When you’ve got kids, you’ve got to find money whatever way you can,” he states, highlighting the fierce determination that comes with parenthood. He acknowledges the invaluable support he received from his father and, significantly, from his brother Mick, who kindly helped pay for his children’s school fees. This emphasis on education, he notes, was deeply ingrained from their father’s background.
A Financial High: The Success of 2021
The year 2021 marked a significant financial high for Chris Jagger. The release of his album Mixing Up The Medicine and his autobiography Talking To Myself by BMG brought in a substantial advance of approximately £70,000. He shared a copy of his book with Mick before its completion, jokingly warning him to read it to avoid any potential lawsuits. Mick did request a couple of minor changes, including a quip about his brother’s recycling habits – or lack thereof, except for Rolling Stones riffs. Chris humorously suggests his brother should also hurry with his own autobiography.
Spender or Saver? The Guitar Collection and Unexpected Purchases
When it comes to his spending habits, Chris identifies as a spender. However, he has made strategic investments in guitars, recognising that “really good or antique guitars always go up in value.” He currently owns around 15 guitars, with his most prized possession estimated to be worth as much as £10,000. His most extravagant purchase for pure enjoyment was a ram, bought for £250. This particular acquisition proved short-lived, as the animal became aggressive towards the grandchildren, necessitating its removal. He has since transitioned to keeping a dozen sheep as pets, breeding them from lambs.
The Biggest Money Mistake: A Missed Opportunity
Chris recounts a significant financial misstep from the 1970s. He had secured a £100,000 advance from David Geffen at Asylum Records for an album he was planning. His intention was to use this money to buy a house and establish a foothold on the property ladder. However, while he was touring America, his manager reportedly used the entire advance to cover the expenses of the tour. “That was quite a knock back,” Chris admits, noting that many musicians he knows have found greater financial success through property than through their musical careers.
The Best Money Decision: Securing a Home
Conversely, Chris’s best financial decision was finally entering the property market in 1980. He purchased a Victorian terraced house in Kilburn, north-west London, for £28,000. After living there for five years, the family moved to Muswell Hill, north London, to a double-fronted house that saw considerable appreciation in value.
Retirement and Future Priorities
Chris currently relies on a state pension. He previously had a life insurance policy, which he cashed in about 20 years ago when he was experiencing financial difficulties. Despite having studied A-level economics, he admits he isn’t naturally adept at financial planning or saving. The family’s property portfolio includes a four-bedroom farmhouse in Somerset, complete with a barn, cottage, and seven acres, which they acquired in 2000 for around £400,000.
His ultimate indulgence is travel, particularly anywhere accessible from Bristol Airport. His interest in travel writing is a passion he pursues. He often employs a playful anecdote when checking into hotels, where if his surname prompts a question about relation to Mick, he’ll initially confirm, then retract with a humorous, “Who do you want me to be?!”
Chris’s primary financial objective is to provide for his children and grandchildren. “To try to pass money on to my children and grandchildren, so it’ll help set them up a bit better,” he states. He embraces a frugal approach, seeing it as a positive trait that allows him to be a “good dad and grandad.”
