Ian David Karslake Watkins was born on 30 July 1977, in Methyr Tydfil, Wales, and is a musician, best known for being a founding member of the rock band Lostprophet – he was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the band. However, the band disbanded in 2013 after he was charged with criminal offences, but his endeavors have still put his net worth to where it is today.
How rich is Ian Watkins? As of mid-2017, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $500,000, mostly earned through success in the music industry. However, his criminal record and incarceration have hindered the growth of his wealth. Time will tell if he has any endeavors which will help with the future state of his net worth.
Ian Watkins Net Worth $500,000
Ian attended Hawthorn High School at Pontypridd, where he would meet future bandmate Mike Lewis. After matriculating, he went to the University of Wales, Newport to study graphic design, and graduated with first-class honors.
Watkins and Lewis friendship continued to grow over the years, especially thanks to their love of metal and rock music. They formed the thrash metal band Aftermath, and later when they were adults, they would see the band Lost Prophets headline the Fully Ponty festival. Watkins would meet another future bandmate Lee Gaze, and since Aftermath only made very few appearances, they then created a new band called Fleshbind, which focused on hardcore punk music. They then tried their hand playing music at several shows, but the band’s lifespan was short. He then formed the band Public Disturbance along with Lewis in 1995, and didn’t make their live debut until 1997, however, the two soon left to focus on the newly named Lostprophets.
With Ian’s leadership, the band released five studio albums, with two Top 10 hits in the UK with “Rooftops” and “Last Train Home”. They won several Kerrang! Awards as well as receiving numerous nominations, and as they became successful – selling around 3.5 million albums worldwide – Ian’s net worth increased significantly Ian also did various side projects including joining The Blackout in the song “It’s High Tide Baby”, and in 2009 remixing featured songs from bands such as the Killers, Young Guns, Tears for Fears, and Beyonce. The Lostprophets released their final album “Weapons” in 2012, and toured extensively prior to disbanding.
However, in 2012 Watkins was charged with possession and distribution of indecent images of children – the charges included possession of “extreme animal pornography” as well as conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a one year old girl. He pleaded guilty to attempted rape and sexual assault of a child under 13, and also to three counts of sexual assault involving children.
The South Wales Police discovered an encrypted drive on his laptop which contained his various abuses. Lostprophets soon disbanded after learning of Watkins case. In 2013, Watkins was listed as a sex offender and sentenced to 29 years in prison. He was later transferred to HM Prison Wakefield, then to HM Prisons Long Lartin in 2014, and later to Rye Hill.
For his personal life, no genuine romantic relationships are known. Ian partnered with Kidney Wales Foundation in 2008 to help his mother who needed a kidney transplant, with the fundraising concert featuring numerous bands. One of his prison transfers was also due to the fact that he needed to be closer to his mother after the kidney transplant.
