Tommy DeVito Net Worth

Tommy DeVito was an American musician, singer, and actor who had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 2020. Best known as a founding member of The Four Seasons, DeVito played lead guitar and contributed vocals to one of the most successful doo-wop and pop groups of the 1960s.

Although he achieved massive fame through hit songs such as “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man,” Tommy’s financial journey was far from smooth. Gambling problems and mounting debts reportedly forced him into financial hardship after leaving the band in 1970. However, his fortunes improved decades later thanks to the enormous success of the Broadway musical “Jersey Boys,” which revived interest in The Four Seasons and became one of the biggest paydays of his life.

DeVito died on September 21, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 92.

Early Life

Tommy DeVito was born Gaetano DeVito on June 19, 1928, in Belleville, New Jersey. He was the youngest of nine children born to Italian immigrant parents.

Music entered his life at an early age. By the time he was eight years old, Tommy had taught himself to play guitar using his brother’s instrument. At just 12, he was already performing in local taverns, displaying the charisma and talent that would eventually make him famous.

However, his childhood was also marked by trouble. DeVito frequently found himself in legal trouble over petty crimes and reportedly spent time in jail during his younger years. He dropped out of school after the eighth grade and began pursuing music full-time.

Early Career

In the early 1950s, Tommy formed a musical group called the Variety Trio with his brother Nick DeVito and friend Hank Majewski. The group went through several name changes and lineup adjustments over the years.

A major turning point came when Francis Castelluccio, later known as Frankie Valli, joined the act. The group eventually became known as The Four Lovers and signed a recording contract with RCA Victor in 1956.

The Four Lovers released multiple singles and an album, with their biggest early success coming from the song “You’re the Apple of My Eye.” The single gained enough popularity to land the group a coveted appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956.

Despite moderate success, the band struggled to achieve mainstream stardom, and members frequently rotated in and out.

Rise to Fame with The Four Seasons

The real breakthrough came in 1960, when Tommy DeVito and Frankie Valli teamed up with songwriter and musician Bob Gaudio and bassist Nick Massi to form The Four Seasons.

The group quickly exploded onto the music scene.

Their first No. 1 hit, “Sherry,” topped charts in 1962, followed by two more chart-topping singles:

• “Big Girls Don’t Cry”
• “Walk Like a Man”

The Four Seasons became one of the defining American pop acts of the decade, blending doo-wop harmonies with pop and rock influences.

Additional hits followed, including:

• “Rag Doll”
• “Dawn (Go Away)”
• “Let’s Hang On!”
• “Working My Way Back to You”

During Tommy’s years with the group, The Four Seasons became one of the most commercially successful bands in the United States.

However, changing musical tastes during the British Invasion, led by bands like The Beatles, created new challenges for American acts.

Why Tommy DeVito Left The Four Seasons

Tommy DeVito officially left The Four Seasons in 1970.

Several factors reportedly contributed to his departure. After years of nonstop touring, rehearsals, and performances, he had grown tired of the demanding lifestyle. More significantly, gambling debts had become a serious problem.

Upon leaving the band, Tommy sold his share of The Four Seasons’ intellectual property rights, including rights to the group’s name and touring business, to bandmates Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio.

That decision later became financially significant, as the group’s music and story continued generating revenue for decades.

“Jersey Boys” Became His Biggest Payday

While Tommy struggled financially after leaving the group, his fortunes improved dramatically in 2005 with the debut of “Jersey Boys.”

The Broadway musical told the story of The Four Seasons and chronicled the band’s rise, conflicts, and success.

The production became a massive hit, winning multiple Tony Awards and later inspiring a film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood.

Ironically, DeVito reportedly earned far more money from “Jersey Boys” than he ever made during his peak years as a recording artist, helping restore financial stability late in life.

Personal Life

Tommy DeVito married twice and had three children.

After leaving The Four Seasons, he relocated to Las Vegas, where several of his siblings lived. He briefly worked as a card dealer, but financial troubles persisted after gambling losses reportedly wiped out much of his wealth.

At one point, DeVito even cleaned houses to make ends meet.

Despite the ups and downs, he remained connected to his musical legacy and reunited publicly with former bandmates during the Broadway premiere of “Jersey Boys.”

Death

Tommy DeVito died on September 21, 2020, at the age of 92.

He passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada, from complications related to COVID-19.

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