Murray Cook’s net worth stems from his extensive music career. He is an Australian musician and actor. He is one of the founding members of the popular children’s music group, The Wiggles, which he performed with from 1991 to 2012. Currently, he performs with Murray and The Movers band (The Soul Movers). He is also a member of the Australian pub rock band, Bang Shang a Lang. 

Murray Cook net worth 

Murray Cook net worth is $20 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. His financial success is mostly attributed to his time recording, performing and touring with The Wiggles for two decades. According to the Australian Financial Review, Murray Cook owns 24% of The Wiggles. This ownership interest represents a major source of his wealth, alongside income generated during his decades with the group. 

Other additional income sources point to his solo career and performing with other bands, namely, Murray and The Movers, and Bang Shang a Lang. 

Career highlights 

The Wiggles

Murray Cook is best known as the original Red Wiggle and a co-founder of The Wiggles. He studied early childhood education at Macquarie University, where he met Anthony Field and Greg Page, and the three went on to establish The Wiggles in 1991.  

Before the group became successful, he worked as a preschool teacher for about two years. His background in education helped shape The Wiggles’ focus on combining music, movement and learning for young children.  

As a member of The Wiggles, he performed as a guitarist, vocalist and songwriter while wearing the group’s distinctive red skivvy. He was regarded as the analytical member of the original group and often helped mediate decisions.  

He also created the famous finger-wagging dance move used by The Wiggles after taking inspiration from ten-pin bowlers. His contributions helped the group develop into a global children’s entertainment phenomenon.  

The Wiggles grew rapidly during the 1990s, expanding from small preschool performances, shopping centres appearances and busking to major Australian tours and eventually international markets.  

He was part of the original quartet that helped establish the group’s distinctive combination of music, colourful characters, movement and early-childhood education.  

Their success accelerated in the United States in the late 1990s and early 2000s, eventually leading to performances at major venues including Madison Square Garden and television exposure through Disney. 

At their peak in the mid-2000s, The Wiggles were generating about A$45 million in annual revenue, supported by recordings, DVDs, touring, television, merchandise and licensing. 

The Wiggles have sold more than 30 million albums and DVDs and eight million books, accumulated billions of music streams and YouTube views, won 15 ARIA Awards for Best Children’s Album.  

Murray Cook retired from regular performing with The Wiggles in 2012 alongside Greg Page and Jeff Fatt, with Simon Pryce taking over his red-shirted role. Despite that, he remained involved in the group’s creative and production work and served as tour manager in 2013. 

He has periodically reunited with the original Wiggles, including appearances in charity performances and reunion tours. 

Post-The Wiggles 

His departure did not end his music career. He continued performing with Bang Shang a Lang, a Sydney pub-rock band he had joined in the 1980s, and later worked with other Australian music projects.  

He also played lead guitar on The Proposition’s 2015 album Edge of the Dancefloor and participated in the production of Sons of Sun, a play about American record producer Sam Phillips.  

Murray and The Movers band (The Soul Movers) 

A major part of Murray Cook’s post-Wiggles career has been his work with The Soul Movers, which he joined after meeting vocalist Lizzie Mack.  

Beginning in 2015, he co-wrote songs with Mack and made the band his primary creative outlet. The Soul Movers released Testify in 2017 and Bona Fide in 2019, with the latter recorded at historic American studios including Sun Studio and FAME Studios.  

He has continued performing and recording with the group, later taking on a leadership role as the band evolved into Murray and The Movers.  

Bang Shang a Lang band 

Before joining the Wiggles, Murray Cook was a guitarist with the Sydney pub-rock band Bang Shang a Lang, which he joined in 1986.  

Its current members include Murray Cook (guitar and vocals), Mark Mulligan (guitar and lead vocals), Bruce Carter (drummer) and Clyde Bramley (bass). 

He remained connected to Bang Shang a Lang after co-founding The Wiggles in 1991, periodically performing with the band whenever his demanding Wiggles schedule allowed. In 2006, they released Unreal, Orange Peel!, an 11-track album featuring four original songs and seven covers.  

Recognitions with The Wiggles 

• ARIA Hall of Fame (2011) 
• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to the arts, particularly children’s entertainment, and to the community as benefactors and supporters of a range of charities (2010) 
• APRA Music Awards International Achievement Award (2007) 
• ARIA Music Awards Outstanding Achievement Award (2003) 

Summary of Murray Cook net worth 

Overall, Murray Cook’s career and wealth are closely tied to his role as an original founder and shareholder of The Wiggles, one of Australia’s most successful children’s entertainment franchises. His wealth has therefore been built primarily through The Wiggles’ business ownership, music and entertainment revenues, touring, recordings, licensing and related commercial activities, supplemented by his continuing work as a musician. His continuing earnings also come from his work as a guitarist, songwriter and performer with bands including The Soul Movers and Bang Shang a Lang.  

Featured image: Murray Cook on Instagram