Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum has opened up about how a $12,000 investment in Apple stock during the early 1990s ultimately turned him into a multi-millionaire.
The story is detailed in Bottum’s recently released memoir, ‘The Royal We’, which arrived this past November. According to Bottum, the investment was made using the first substantial paycheck he earned after touring with Faith No More — a decision that, based on Apple’s growth since then, could be worth well over $7 million today.
Speaking on ‘The Hustle: Music & Money’ podcast, Bottum explained that his interest in the stock market at the time was less about financial savvy and more about youthful provocation within San Francisco’s punk and counterculture scene.
“Part of the premise of who we were as kids and the buttons that we were pushing… was doing things that were considered outlandish or that rubbed people the wrong way. And one of those things, believe it or not, was watching the stock market — just ’cause it was so uncool.”
Bottum recalled being introduced to investing by his then-boyfriend, who helped him understand how to read market trends — something Bottum described as both fascinating and intentionally absurd within the context of punk culture at the time.
When his Faith No More touring compensation arrived, Bottum said he had no immediate need for the money.
“I made $12,000 after touring for probably a year and a half straight… I didn’t pay any rent, we were about to go back on the road, and I had no need for that money.”
Instead, he followed his partner’s advice and invested the entire sum in Apple stock — years before Steve Jobs returned to the company and long before products like the iPhone existed.
“I just bought that stock and let it sit. It was kind of like winning the lottery. Who would ever do that?”
Bottum acknowledged that including the story in his memoir raised questions among early readers, but said the motivation wasn’t bragging — rather, it reflected a recurring theme in his life of taking personal risks.
“I’ve been connected with absolute maniacal people my whole life… oftentimes it bites me in the ass, but there’s always a payoff. And yeah — in real, tangible terms — that boyfriend made me a millionaire.”
Addressing the assumption that financial security might dampen his creative drive, Bottum pushed back, emphasizing that music remains his primary focus.
“There’s not an urgency to make money, sure — that’s a luxury. But I make music every day.”
He cited recent and upcoming projects with Imperial Teen, Man On Man, and Crickets, making it clear that his artistic output hasn’t slowed despite his financial cushion.
“I don’t make music for money. I didn’t write this book for money. That’s not my motivation in what I do artistically.”
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I had no idea. Good for him
A similar thing happened to Duff McKagen. He bought in early on Starbucks and made a mint
I had heard he came from a family with money but I had no idea about this.