Swiss artist Dieter Meier earned millions off the royalties collected from his role in creating the quirky, catchy electropop track “Oh Yeah.”
From it’s most-recognizable use in the classic movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” the track has been licensed in another five other movies, as well as various TV shows, commercials, and videogames.
Most artists would have been thrilled to just live off these royalties for the rest of their lives, which alone would provide a more than comfortable lifestyle. But Meier instead leveraged the surprise earnings into an investment empire that now includes stakes in a Swiss railway company, currency, watchmaker, farm and grazing land in Argentina, sixe restaurants, a line of wines, and even various patents.
His net worth is now estimated at around $175 million.
It’s a great story that’s worth reading for both investors and artists alike.
‘Oh Yeah,’ the Song from ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,’ Is Catchy, Irritating and the Origin of an Investing Fortune (Wall Street Journal)
