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‘American Pie’ singer Don McLean has made $150 million in his career — here’s how he’s invested it
MarketWatch ^ | 03/26/2019 | Steve Kutz

Posted on 03/26/2019 8:26:14 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

McLean talks with MarketWatch about the only two stocks he owns, the meaning of ‘American Pie,’ and why he’s never had an assistant.

In 1971, Don McLean released the album “American Pie,” and the title song became one of the most famous — and successful — ever made. It came out at a time of major political and social upheaval in America, and captured a feeling of loss. The song runs for over eight minutes, and is No. 5 on the list of best songs of the 20th century. Now 73, McLean talked with MarketWatch about his most famous song, and a wide range of other topics, including money, stardom, and the music business today.

McLean says he’s made $150 million in his career, and that his degree in finance (from Iona College in 1968) and his smart business manager helped him make the money last — and grow. He looks to make 6% a year on his money, so he owns a lot of bonds, and only two stocks. McLean, who has been married twice and has two children, hates the idea of being in debt, and buys everything with cash — including the four homes he’s owned.

He’s curious about the markets and at one point in the interview said, “I want to ask you something. In a relatively short time, the stock market has gone from like 18000 to 25000. Don’t people think that’s a little strange? It’s shocking.” He then said: “When I grew up, gold was $35 an ounce and pegged to the dollar. Everything was slow and steady. Government bonds under President Carter, if you went out 30 years you could get like 20%! Do you remember that? Imagine getting 20%, locking that in for 30 years? I’d do that in a minute.”

(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Music/Entertainment; Society
KEYWORDS: americanpie; donmclean; investment; music
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To: SeekAndFind

I know when one interviewer asked him about the meaning of “American Pie” he said: “It means I never have to work again.”


21 posted on 03/26/2019 9:01:45 AM PDT by Boogieman
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To: DCBryan1
I can't believe I beat DFWGATOR to this:

LOL, I actually do have a real job, you know.

22 posted on 03/26/2019 9:04:56 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: SeekAndFind

It’s incredible that he is made so much money investing based on just one hit song. Hats off to him.


23 posted on 03/26/2019 9:06:25 AM PDT by plain talk
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To: SeekAndFind

He has young girlfriend, 25 year old Paris Dylan


24 posted on 03/26/2019 9:07:33 AM PDT by SMGFan
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To: SMGFan

Then he has my deepest sympathy.


25 posted on 03/26/2019 9:10:01 AM PDT by MHGinTN (A dispensation perspective is a powerful tool for discernment)
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To: Nothingburger
Vincent is the most lyrically well-constructed song ever written IMHO. Not a word nor a note wasted.


26 posted on 03/26/2019 9:10:44 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog
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To: SMGFan

There’s an investment for sure!


27 posted on 03/26/2019 9:11:19 AM PDT by b4its2late (A Liberal is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: SeekAndFind
I saw him in concert just last year, in a 300-seat bar in NYC. Here is American Pie from that night:

Don McLean - American Pie

28 posted on 03/26/2019 9:13:42 AM PDT by dead (Our next president is going to be sooooo boring.)
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To: SeekAndFind

“McLean says he’s made $150 million in his career”

If he started today he’d make about $150 bucks thanks to Google and Youtube commandeering copyrights when it comes to music which apparently Congress is perfectly fine with.


29 posted on 03/26/2019 9:16:19 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary walks free, equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
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To: MHGinTN

https://www.instagram.com/parisdylan550/


30 posted on 03/26/2019 9:16:45 AM PDT by SMGFan
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To: b4its2late

https://twitter.com/Paris5503


31 posted on 03/26/2019 9:18:03 AM PDT by SMGFan
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To: SeekAndFind

“When I grew up, gold was $35 an ounce and pegged to the dollar.

...

I think he’s referring to the Bretton Woods agreement which was a scam.


32 posted on 03/26/2019 9:24:39 AM PDT by Moonman62 (Facts are racist.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Don’s REAL genius was knowing that he had one good song in him and that the ride wouldn’t last forever.


33 posted on 03/26/2019 9:28:02 AM PDT by SJSAMPLE
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To: SeekAndFind

in 1970 I was about 20 yo, in the Navy, and living in Hawaii (NAS Barbers Point), and remember driving from the hangar to the golf course after work with that song turned up to 10 on my old Corvair’s radio. What a blast! Good times...


34 posted on 03/26/2019 9:29:40 AM PDT by Afterguard (Deplorable me!)
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To: Afterguard

And the 45 record I owned of it cost .99 cents.


35 posted on 03/26/2019 9:30:31 AM PDT by marajade (Skywalker)
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To: SeekAndFind
Sounds like he'll be doing Rosland Capital commercials next.


36 posted on 03/26/2019 9:30:31 AM PDT by Larry Lucido
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To: SeekAndFind

AT&T is paying a 5% dividend rate


37 posted on 03/26/2019 9:30:32 AM PDT by AppyPappy (How many fingers am I holding up, Winston?)
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To: Boogieman

I had heard that the levee in the song referred to the levee where civil rights workers Goodman, Cheney, & Schwerner were buried by the KKK.

`Them good old boys drinking whiskey and rye’ kind of cemented the imagery of the old South.


38 posted on 03/26/2019 9:31:58 AM PDT by elcid1970 (My gun safe is saying, "Room for one more, honey!")
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To: SeekAndFind
2 Interesting facts about Don McLean.

1) He was arrested in Maine in 2016 on Domestic Violence charges (you can Google it), and

2) Roberta Flack's hit "Killing Me Softly With His Song" was written after Ms. Flack saw one of his performances.

39 posted on 03/26/2019 9:36:35 AM PDT by paul in cape
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To: Afterguard

Barbers Point is where I wanted to go after AE-A school. Got a training squadron at Corpus Christi. If I had gotten BS I wouldn’t have cross rated to the Seabees.


40 posted on 03/26/2019 9:37:56 AM PDT by Terry Mross (I'm)
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