Peter Yarrow Net Worth 2025: Peter Yarrow is an American folk singer, activist, and founding member of Peter, Paul and Mary who is worth $5 million in 2025, with his wealth primarily derived from his six-decade music career, songwriting royalties, and speaking engagements, including earnings from co-writing “Puff, the Magic Dragon” and founding the Operation Respect organization.
Key Facts
- Peter Yarrow is an American folk singer whose net worth is $5 million at the time of his 2025 death.
- Peter Yarrow is the co-founder of Peter, Paul and Mary, which is one of America’s most successful folk groups formed in 1961.
- Peter Yarrow is the co-writer of “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” which is a song that reached worldwide acclaim.
- Peter Yarrow is the founder of Operation Respect, which is an anti-bullying organization established in 2000.
- Peter Yarrow is a recipient of the Presidential Pardon from Jimmy Carter in 1981.
- Peter Yarrow is a graduate of Cornell University, where his degree is in psychology.
Table of Contents
Early Life and Background
Peter Yarrow was born on May 31, 1938, in Manhattan to educated Ukrainian Jewish immigrants. His mother Vera Wisebrode worked as a speech and drama teacher, while his father Bernard Yarrow served in the Office of Strategic Services and later became a vice president at Radio Free Europe. After his parents divorced when he was five, Yarrow developed his musical talents at New York’s High School of Music and Art before attending Cornell University, where he initially studied physics before switching to psychology.
Career and Musical Success
Yarrow’s musical journey began during his final year at Cornell, where he discovered his passion for performing folk music. After graduation in 1959, he became part of the Greenwich Village folk scene. The formation of Peter, Paul and Mary in 1961 marked the beginning of remarkable commercial success. The trio released multiple hit albums and singles, including “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” which Yarrow co-wrote. Their rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” sold over one million copies and became a civil rights anthem.
Financial Success and Earnings
Through his musical career spanning over six decades, Yarrow accumulated a net worth of $5 million. His income sources included:
- Record sales with Peter, Paul and Mary
- Solo performances and albums
- Songwriting royalties
- Television productions
- Speaking engagements
- Operation Respect organization work
Personal Life and Relationships
Yarrow’s personal life included his marriage to Mary Beth McCarthy in 1969, leading to Paul Stookey writing “Wedding Song (There Is Love)” for their ceremony. The couple had two children, Christopher and Bethany, before divorcing. They remarkably remarried in 2022 and remained together until Yarrow’s death. Throughout his life, Yarrow’s battle with alcoholism led him to seek treatment and maintain recovery.
Controversy and Legal Issues
In 1970, Yarrow faced serious legal troubles when he was convicted of taking “improper liberties” with a 14-year-old girl who sought his autograph. He served three months of a 1-3 year sentence and later received a presidential pardon from Jimmy Carter in 1981. The conviction continued to affect his public appearances and political fundraising events decades later.
Social Activism and Legacy
Yarrow’s dedication to social causes manifested primarily through Operation Respect, which he founded in 2000 to combat school bullying. He participated in numerous civil rights demonstrations, anti-war protests, and advocated for various social justice causes. His commitment to activism earned him several awards, including the Allard K. Lowenstein Award and the Tikkun Olam Award.
Final Years and Death
In his later years, Yarrow’s health declined as he battled bladder cancer for four years. He maintained his residence in New York City’s Upper West Side, where he ultimately passed away on January 7, 2025. His death marked the end of an era in American folk music, leaving behind a complex legacy of musical achievement, social activism, and personal controversy.
Properties and Assets
While specific details about Yarrow’s property holdings remain private, he maintained a primary residence in New York City and owned a vacation home in Telluride, Colorado. In 2005, his prized possession, a Larrivee acoustic guitar, was recovered through an FBI investigation after fans spotted it on eBay.
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