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Tiny Tim Net Worth $3.5 Million

What was Tiny Tim’s net worth at the time of his death?

Tiny Tim (real name – Herbert Khaury) was an American musical archivist and ukulele-playing falsetto singer who had a net worth of $3.5 million at the time of his death. He is best known for his rendition of the song – “Tiptoe through the Tulips.”     

He was born on April 12, 1932, in New York, USA, and grew up in an old apartment building in Washington Heights in Manhattan.

His father, Butros Khaury, was a textile worker from Beirut, present-day Lebanon, while his mother Tillie was a garment worker who immigrated from Brest-Litovsk in 1914.

At age 6, Khaury began learning the guitar, and at 11, Herbert started learning the violin.

An unhappy student, Herbert dropped out of high school and learned how to play the ukulele and the guitar.

His first performances took place in the early ’50s. In the same time period, Khaury sang at amateur nights. In his words:

“When things were really bad I sang at amateur nights. Night after night in the ’50s I traveled all over New York City.”

Tim went on to say:

tiny tim net worth when he died

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”The promoter had 10 acts and the winner each night would get five dollars, second place would get three dollars and third place would get two dollars.”

At some point, Herbert landed a job as a messenger at the NY office of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, where Khaury became even more intrigued by the entertainment industry.

His parents tried to dissuade him from pursuing a career in music, but he was really committed.

In 1959, to perform at Hubert’s Museum and Live Flea Circus in Times Square, NYC, Khaury used the name ”Larry Love, the Singing Canary.”

In the 1960s, Herbert often appeared around the Harvard University campus, singing old Tin Pan Alley tunes.

In 1964, he appeared in Jack Smith’s Normal Love (an experimental film project that shows the adventures of an ensemble of dressed monsters).

tiny tims wifes name

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In 1968, Tim appeared in You Are What You Eat, an American documentary that attempted to capture the essence of the Haight-Ashbury scene as well as the 1960s flower power hippie era.

After appearing in You Are What You Eat, Khaury made an appearance on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.

In 1968, Tim released his first album called ”God Bless Tiny Tim.”

The album had an orchestrated version of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”

The NY Times called the album:

“one of the most dazzling albums of programmed entertainment to come along since the Beatles introduced the new genre of pop with Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

In the same year, his version of “Tip Toe Through The Tulips” became a hit song. 

In August 1969, Herbert released an album of children’s songs titled – “For All My Little Friends.”

In 1976, he was published by Playboy Press, a biography by Harry Stein.

tiny tim height

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In 1979, Herbert made a return to ”The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” for his performance of Rod Stewart’s hit “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.”

In the late ’80s, Khaury moved to Australia for several years. After, he returned to the United States to live in Des Moines.

In 1993, Herbert appeared in a skit with Jerry Lawler on “King’s Court.”

Wife

On December 17, 1969, Tiny Tim married Vicki Budinger.

Tiny Tim and wife Vicki Budinger

Tiny Tim & Vicki Budinger – @Getty

His wedding to Vicki Budinger was broadcast nationwide on ”The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

More than 45 million people tuned in to watch their wedding, which was broadcast live.

During an interview, he said:

”I met Miss Vicki on June 3rd, 1969, ten minutes after twelve in Wanamaker’s.”

Herbert continued:

”She had on a gray dress above her knees. She was seventeen years old. I fell in love with her immediately.”

Their marriage didn’t last. They divorced after eight years. He declared:

”I married Miss Vicki on The Tonight Show in 1969, when she was seventeen, and she left me in 1974.”

On June 26, 1984, Khaury got married to Jan Alweiss. They also divorced.

Tiny Tim with his wife Jan Alweiss

Tiny Tim & Jan Alweiss – © Guliver / Getty Images

On August 18, 1995, he married Susan Marie Gardner (“Miss Sue”).

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She has been a fan of Tim’s since she was 12.

Tiny Tim and his spouse Susan Marie Gardner

Tiny Tim & Susan Marie Gardner – © Guliver / Getty Images

Children

On May 15, 1970, his wife Vicki gave birth to a stillborn son.

He was buried in the Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

On May 10, 1971, his daughter Tulip Victoria was born.

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Death & Cause of Death

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In September 1996, while performing at a ukulele festival in Massachusetts, Khaury suffered a heart attack.

After getting out of the hospital, he resumed his concert schedule.

On November 30, while performing “Tip-Toe Through the Tulips” in Minneapolis, Tim suffered another heart attack.

He died an hour later.

Herbert was 64 years old.

His last words were

“No, I’m not.”

Khaury was responding to the question, “Are you feeling alright?”

Tim was buried with both a single tulip and a ukulele in his coffin. His mausoleum crypt lists both his stage and legal names.

Biographies on his life include:

  • Eternal Troubadour: The Improbable Life of Tiny Tim (2016) by Justin Martell;
  • Tiny Tim (1976) by Harry Stein.

Some posthumous albums of Herber include:

  • I’ve Never Seen a Straight Banana: Rare Moments Vol. 1 (2009);
  • Tiny Tim Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2000).

He also received a star on the outside mural of the Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue.

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Height

where is tiny tim today

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Tim was 6′ 1″ (1.85 m) tall.

Songs

Some of his best-known songs are:

  • Tip Toe;
  • Stay down here where you belong;
  • Santa Claus has got the aids this year;
  • Fill your heart;
  • On the old Porch;
  • Great balls of fire;
  • Earth angel;
  • I got you Babe;
  • Living in the sunlight;
  • Tip Toe Thru Tulips.

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Trivia

how tall is tiny tim

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When asked about his real name, Khaury responded:

”Herbert B. Correy. I’ve had many managers so I’ve had many names. I always believed in being different. I was Larry Love and Gary Dover.”

Tim continued:

tiny net worth

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”My new manager at the time (George King) called me Tiny Tim because I did a number of amateur night appearances. It created an illusion because people would expect a midget. I’m actually 6’1.”

During a 1968 interview on The Tonight Show, Khaury said about his capacity to sing in an upper register:

“I was listening to the radio and singing along; as I was singing I said ‘Gee, it’s strange. I can go up high as well.'”

Net Worth

So, how much was Tiny Tim worth? Tim earned most of his wealth from selling his albums. For instance, his album “God Bless Tiny Tim” sold more than 200,000 copies. Therefore, at the time of his death, Tiny Tim had an estimated net worth of $3.5 million (the sum is calculated to the current inflation).

In addition, Herbert appeared in several movies and sold tickets to his concerts.

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References

https://www.nytimes.com/iny-tim-singer-dies-at-64
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1141521
https://www.indiewire.com/2011/03/when-elizabeth-taylor-met-tiny-tim-237497/

Homer

Tuesday 30th of January 2024

Why didn't he pay spousal support to Miss Vicki and his daughter?

Milt

Wednesday 1st of July 2020

Susan, I can believe your story. I knew his original manager-the man who originally recorded him and started him off on his career etc.

Julia

Saturday 4th of July 2020

It is not true, there both buried at the woodlawn cemetery, i also seen a picture of their headstone and it looks quite expensive in fact.

Susan

Saturday 30th of May 2020

Interesting story. One thing a story does not mention, both of “Tiny Tim’s” parents are buried on Hart Island. This is New York’s largest Potters Field. Everyone buried there was either indigent or their bodies were not claimed by their families. I find this so sad. He let his parents be buried in a mass grave with no headstone, no memorial.