Nick Hexum Net Worth

What Is Nick Hexum's Net Worth?

Nick Hexum is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $15 million. Hexum is best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of 311, the Omaha-born alternative rock band whose music blends rock, reggae, rap, funk, punk, and dub. He has also served as one of the group's primary songwriters and rhythm guitarists throughout its multi-decade career.

After building a grassroots following through independent cassette releases and relentless touring, 311 achieved mainstream success with its 1995 self-titled album. The triple-platinum record produced the alternative-rock hits "Down" and "All Mixed Up," establishing the group as one of the most distinctive bands of the 1990s. Later favorites included "Amber," "Beautiful Disaster," "Come Original," "Love Song," and "Creatures (For a While)."

311 has sold more than 10 million records in the United States, released more than a dozen studio albums, and maintained the same core lineup since the early 1990s. The band's dedicated fan base supports recurring events such as 311 Day and the 311 Caribbean Cruise. Outside the group, Hexum has released jazz, electronic, and Americana-influenced projects, co-founded the artist-services company SKP, and invested in the professional soccer club Union Omaha.

Early Life

Nicholas Lofton Hexum was born on April 12, 1970, in Madison, Wisconsin. His father, Dr. Terry Hexum, became a pharmacology professor and cardiovascular and neuroscience researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Nick was raised primarily in Omaha, Nebraska, where he attended Westside High School.

Hexum became involved in school music programs and played in the Westside Jazz Band, where he met future 311 drummer Chad Sexton. He also performed in early rock groups with guitarist Tim Mahoney.

After high school, Hexum spent time pursuing music in Los Angeles and briefly lived in Germany. He returned to Omaha after Sexton invited him to join a group that also included bassist Aaron "P-Nut" Wills and guitarist Jim Watson. The band adopted the name 311 and played what it considers its first official concert in June 1990.

Formation of 311

During its earliest years, 311 operated without a major record company. Hexum served as the band's manager and distributor, helping organize shows and circulate its music. He used money from a student loan to finance professional recording sessions.

The group released the independent projects "Dammit!," "Unity," and "Hydroponic" through Hexum's What Have You Records. Tim Mahoney replaced Watson on guitar, while Doug "SA" Martinez joined as a second vocalist and turntablist. That lineup—Hexum, Martinez, Mahoney, Sexton, and Wills—remained intact for decades.

In 1992, the musicians moved from Omaha to Los Angeles and pursued a national record deal. They eventually signed with Capricorn Records and released their major-label debut, "Music," in 1993. "Grassroots" followed in 1994 and expanded the band's audience through touring and word of mouth.

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Mainstream Breakthrough

311 achieved its commercial breakthrough with the 1995 album "311," commonly known as the "Blue Album." The record reached the upper portion of the Billboard 200 and eventually sold more than three million copies in the United States.

"Down" topped Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart, while "All Mixed Up" became another major alternative-radio hit. Hexum's melodic singing, rapping, and guitar work contrasted with Martinez's more aggressive vocal delivery, creating the two-frontman sound that became central to 311's identity.

The band followed with "Transistor" in 1997, "Soundsystem" in 1999, and "From Chaos" in 2001. "From Chaos" included "Amber," one of 311's most enduring and widely recognized songs. The group also scored hits with "Come Original," "You Wouldn't Believe," and "I'll Be Here Awhile."

311's later albums included "Evolver," "Don't Tread on Me," "Uplifter," "Universal Pulse," "Stereolithic," "Mosaic," and "Voyager." In 2024, the band released its 14th studio album, "Full Bloom."

311 Day and Touring

Touring has been a central part of 311's business and longevity. The group built its initial following by performing constantly and continued playing extensive headlining tours long after its commercial peak.

In 2000, the band established 311 Day, a concert celebration held around March 11 in recognition of the numerical date 3/11. The events developed into marathon performances in which the group plays dozens of songs, deep album cuts, rarities, and covers for fans traveling from around the world.

The band later expanded the concept with the 311 Caribbean Cruise, combining live performances with a multiday fan vacation. These recurring events helped 311 maintain a strong direct relationship with its audience even as the broader music industry shifted away from album sales.

Solo Music and Other Projects

Hexum formed the Nick Hexum Quintet to explore jazz, funk, and soul influences that did not fit naturally within 311. The group released "My Shadow Pages" in 2013.

He later collaborated with electronic musician George Clanton on the 2020 album "George Clanton & Nick Hexum." The project combined Hexum's melodic songwriting with Clanton's vaporwave and electronic production.

In 2025, Hexum released the Americana-oriented solo album "Phases of Hope and Hollow," assembled from a series of EPs. The music emphasized acoustic instruments, folk, country, and singer-songwriter influences. A deluxe edition followed in 2026.

Hexum and his wife, Nikki, also co-founded SKP, a music and technology company designed to provide artists with distribution, marketing, and other services while allowing them to retain control of their work. Nikki serves as the company's CEO, while Nick is its chief artist.

In 2023, Hexum became a minority owner of Union Omaha, a professional soccer club in USL League One.

Personal Life

Hexum dated Nicole Scherzinger from 2000 to 2004. The couple became engaged but did not marry.

Nick married Nikki on New Year's Eve in 2008. They have three daughters: Echo, Maxine, and Harlow. During Maxine's home birth in 2011, Hexum delivered the baby himself when the family's midwife did not arrive in time.

His brother Zack Hexum is also a musician and has collaborated with Nick on recordings and live performances. Another brother, Patrick, died following a struggle with opioid addiction.

Real Estate

In 1996, Hexum paid $647,000 for a four-bedroom home in the Hollywood Hills. He sold the property in 2012 for $1.5 million.

That same year, Nick and Nikki paid $1.975 million for a nearly 5,000-square-foot home in Topanga, California. The five-bedroom estate sits on approximately 10 acres and includes mountain views, equestrian features, and space for a home recording studio.

Hexum also formerly owned Melody Key, a six-acre private island in the Florida Keys. The off-grid property featured a multistory residence, swimming pool, solar power, and a desalination system. He listed the island for $10 million in 2006 and sold it in 2011.

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