Jimmy Buffett: $275 Million Estate, Margaritaville Stake & The True Parrothead Legacy

Hi, I’m Jennifer Marshall. I’ve spent nine years writing simple, fun stories about people’s lives. I love making big stories easy to understand. Jimmy Buffett’s life was full of music, business, and happy fans. Today, I’ll share his $275 million estate, his Margaritaville business, and the Parrothead fans who keep his spirit alive. Let’s explore his world with clear, easy words and true facts.

Jimmy Buffett’s Happy Life

Jimmy Buffett was born on December 25, 1946, in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He grew up near the ocean, which made him love the sea. As a young man, he played guitar and sang about beaches and adventures. His music mixed country, rock, and island sounds. People called it “tropical rock.”

Jimmy started singing in Nashville, but he moved to Key West, Florida. There, he wrote songs that felt like a vacation. His big song, “Margaritaville,” came out in 1977. It’s about relaxing with a drink after a tough day. The song reached number eight on music charts and sold millions. Jimmy also wrote books, like Tales from Margaritaville, which sold well. He acted in movies and TV shows too.

Jimmy always smiled. He loved flying planes and sailing boats. He lived in Florida, New York, and California. In 2020, he got sick with skin cancer but kept singing until May 2023. He died on September 1, 2023, at 76, in Sag Harbor, New York. Fans were sad but celebrated his joyful life.

When Jimmy died, he had $1 billion from music, tours, books, and businesses. His will put most of it into a $275 million trust to keep things private for his family. The trust has homes, planes, and his share in companies.

Jimmy’s Family: Love and Togetherness

Family was very important to Jimmy. His love story shows he was a dreamer and a caring dad.

Jimmy married Margie Washichek in 1969. They met in college. Margie was a kind beauty queen from Alabama. But Jimmy’s music kept him away, and they divorced in 1972 after three years. It was hard, but it sent him to Key West. That’s where he found his true path. Margie stayed private after, but she was part of his early life.

In 1976, Jimmy met Jane Slagsvol at a bar in Key West called the Chart Room. Jane was a student from the University of South Carolina. She was full of life. They fell in love fast. Jane left school to be with Jimmy, and they married in 1977, when “Margaritaville” became a hit. Their love lasted 46 years.

Jane helped Jimmy a lot. She made his Coral Reefer Band look great on stage. They had three kids: Savannah Jane, born in 1979, Sarah Delaney, born in 1992, and adopted son Cameron Marley in 1994. Savannah hosts a radio show on SiriusXM’s Radio Margaritaville. She travels and tells stories like Jimmy. Sarah makes films and worked with Jimmy on videos during COVID-19. Cameron works in entertainment. The family lived in fun places like New York City, Malibu, and Aspen. They went on tours together.

Jane stayed with Jimmy during his cancer fight. After he died, she called him her “love” and said he was full of joy. Jane now manages the $275 million trust. Each child got $2 million right away. After Jane, the trust will go to the kids, grandkids, or charities Jimmy liked.

Jimmy’s family was strong and private. His love for Jane and their kids was as big as his music.

Margaritaville: A Song That Became a Big Business

The song “Margaritaville” started in 1976. Jimmy was in Austin, Texas, and lost his flip-flop on a beach. He felt sad after a breakup, so he wrote about relaxing with a margarita. Fans loved the song’s chill vibe. It grew into a huge business.

In 1985, Jimmy started Margaritaville Holdings. He opened a T-shirt shop in Key West. In 1987, he built the first Margaritaville cafe. It had snacks, drinks, and Jimmy’s music. People loved it. A bigger cafe opened in 1999 at Universal Studios in Orlando. Now, Margaritaville has 30 restaurants and bars, 20 hotels, vacation clubs, casinos, cruise ships, and stores. They sell tequila, margarita mixes, and beach items. The business makes $1 to $2 billion a year.

Jimmy owned 28% of Margaritaville, worth about $85 million in his estate. Jane helped start it. She once woke Jimmy for an important meeting. In 2014, they sold a small part to the Raine Group to grow more. Jimmy was the chairman and made sure every place felt like a beach party.

Jimmy also started Cheeseburger in Paradise restaurants, named after another song. They closed, but the brand lives on. His homes, worth $140 million, included places in Beverly Hills, Palm Beach, and St. Barts. Planes and boats added to his wealth.

Margaritaville shows Jimmy’s smart side. He turned fun into money with his songs and fans.

The $275 Million Estate: What’s Inside

Jimmy’s total wealth was $1 billion, but his will put most into a $275 million trust. This keeps things private for his family. He wrote the will 30 years ago and updated it in 2017 and 2023. Jane gets to use the money during her life. She’s the executor, with business partner John L. Cohlan as backup.

The trust has:

• Homes worth $34.5 million, like houses in New York and California.
• Planes through Strange Bird Inc., worth $15 million.
• Music gear worth $2 million.
• Cars and vehicles worth $5 million.
• Other investments worth $12 million.
• A music catalog worth $50 million, kept separate.
• An $85 million stake in Margaritaville.

Each child got $2 million when Jimmy died. After Jane, the trust goes to the kids, grandkids, or charities. But there’s a problem. In June 2025, Jane and co-trustee Richard Mozenter, Jimmy’s old accountant, started a court fight. Jane says Mozenter hides money details and charges $1.7 million a year. Mozenter says Jimmy thought Jane needed help managing. This shows trusts need people who work well together.

The trust keeps most things private. Jimmy planned it like his songs—simple and smart.

Parrotheads: Fans Who Keep Jimmy’s Spirit Alive

Jimmy’s fans, called Parrotheads, are his biggest legacy. The name started in 1985 at an Ohio concert. Fans wore parrot hats and Hawaiian shirts. Jimmy said they were like Grateful Dead fans but tropical.

Parrotheads are all ages, but many are older. There are over 200 clubs in the US, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, and Australia. They have beach parties, concerts, and help charities. Parrot Heads in Paradise is a non-profit group. They call it “party with a purpose.” Clubs raise money for clean water, animals, and schools. After Jimmy died, a Nashville club held festivals with his songs and gave to charities.

The big event is Meeting of the Minds in Key West, after Halloween. About 5,000 fans come for music and fun. In 2023, they helped Jimmy’s Singing for Change charity. Young fans, called “parakeets,” keep the vibe going. Bands like Parrothead Paradise play Jimmy’s songs and make shows feel like the beach.

Jimmy loved his fans. He sent kids to sea camp and thanked Parrotheads for their love. After his death, fans held tributes from Florida to California. One fan said, “Jimmy made life fun, but he cared a lot.” Parrotheads show his music was about friends and good times.

Jimmy’s Forever Mark

Jimmy’s last album, Equal Strain on All Parts, came out in November 2023. It has songs with Paul McCartney and Emmylou Harris. He wrote it while sick, full of hope. He gave to charities quietly, like Singing for Change, which helped after storms. He saved a bridge in his hometown.

Margaritaville keeps growing. New resorts, like one in Newport by 2026, are coming. Cruises and stores carry his name. Fans wear his shirts and drink margaritas to feel his vibe.

Jimmy taught us to laugh, give, and enjoy life. His $275 million estate helps his family. His Margaritaville stake keeps the fun going. Parrotheads share his joy. Like his song “Come Monday” says, love and music make life great. Fins up, Jimmy!

Disclaimer This story about Jimmy Buffett is for information and learning only. Money amounts, estate details, and business facts are based on news and public reports. Some numbers are estimates and may change. This is not legal, financial, or investment advice. We do our best to be correct, but we cannot promise everything is 100% exact. All names, songs, and brands belong to their owners.