What is Morten Harket's net worth?
Morten Harket is a Norwegian musician who has a net worth of $80 million. Morten Harket is a Norwegian singer and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist of the synth-pop band a-ha. With his soaring falsetto and striking stage presence, Harket helped catapult the group to global stardom in the 1980s with hits like "Take On Me," "The Sun Always Shines on T.V.," and "Hunting High and Low." His distinctive voice and charisma became the band's signature, driving their early success and sustaining their longevity through multiple reunions and reinventions.
A-ha has sold over 100 million records worldwide, including more than 55 million albums, making them one of the most successful Scandinavian acts of all time. Their debut album "Hunting High and Low" alone has sold over 10 million copies. Outside of a-ha, Harket has pursued a solo career that showcases his broader artistic range. He remains an enduring figure in both Norwegian and international pop culture, known not only for his music but also for his activism, introspection, and resilience in the face of health challenges.
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Morten Harket was born on September 14, 1959, in Kongsberg, Norway, and grew up in the town of Asker. His father was a chief physician, and his mother was an economics teacher. Harket developed a passion for music early in life, influenced by bands like Queen, Jimi Hendrix, and Uriah Heep. As a teenager, he began singing and eventually fronted a blues band called Souldier Blue.
He briefly studied theology before deciding to pursue music full time. In 1982, he teamed up with guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen to form a-ha, setting the stage for one of the most successful pop careers to emerge from Scandinavia.
A-ha
A-ha's debut album, "Hunting High and Low," was released in 1985 and became a global phenomenon. The lead single "Take On Me" and its groundbreaking rotoscope-animated video rocketed the band to international fame, topping charts in multiple countries. Harket's extraordinary vocal range—particularly his falsetto—became a-ha's trademark and a defining element of their sound.
The band followed up with a string of successful albums, including "Scoundrel Days" (1986), "Stay on These Roads" (1988), and "East of the Sun, West of the Moon" (1990). Though their mainstream popularity waned in the U.S. by the early 1990s, a-ha retained a passionate following in Europe and Latin America.
Solo Ventures and Creative Evolution
After a-ha's initial hiatus in 1994, Harket embarked on a solo career that allowed him to explore a broader artistic palette. He released several solo albums in both English and Norwegian, including "Wild Seed" (1995), "Vogts Villa" (1996), and "Letter from Egypt" (2008). His solo work explored more introspective and experimental themes than his pop-oriented band efforts.
Harket also collaborated with other artists and participated in humanitarian causes, aligning himself with organizations focused on environmental protection and human rights.
A-ha Reunions and Continued Success
A-ha reunited several times over the years, starting with a performance at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in 1998. Their comeback album "Minor Earth Major Sky" (2000) was a commercial success in Europe and led to a series of subsequent releases, including "Analogue" (2005), "Foot of the Mountain" (2009), and "Cast in Steel" (2015). Their MTV Unplugged performance in 2017 further highlighted Harket's enduring vocal talent and emotional depth.
The band's legacy has only grown with time, supported by sold-out tours and anniversary reissues that attract new generations of fans.
(Mauricio Santana/Getty Images)
Health and Parkinson's Diagnosis
In 2025, Morten Harket publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a progressive neurological disorder. He shared the news on a-ha's website, explaining that vocal difficulties had made singing increasingly challenging. "The problems with my voice are one of many grounds for uncertainty about my creative future," he said. "I don't feel like singing, and for me that's a sign."
Despite the diagnosis, Harket expressed acceptance and a philosophical outlook, quoting his 94-year-old father: "I use whatever works." He underwent neurosurgery in 2024 at the Mayo Clinic to implant deep brain stimulation devices, which significantly alleviated some of his symptoms. Still, he acknowledged the difficulty of balancing treatment with the complexities of daily life and performance.
Harket emphasized that while he may never regain full technical vocal control, he was working on new songs that revealed a different dimension of his artistry. "I really like the idea of just going for it, as a Parkinson's patient and an artist, with something completely outside the box," he said.
He reassured fans with a heartfelt message: "Don't worry about me. Find out who you want to be… care for the environment while it is still possible to do so. Spend your energy and effort addressing real problems, and know that I am being taken care of."
Artistic Voice and Personal Philosophy
Morten Harket's voice remains one of the most recognizable in pop music, capable of spanning nearly five octaves. His falsetto in "Take On Me" became one of the defining vocal moments of the 1980s. He is also known for his poetic sensibility, often drawing on existential themes and a deep reverence for nature in his lyrics.
Away from the stage, Harket leads a relatively private life. He has five children and has been linked to several partners over the years. Though he has expressed gratitude for the opportunities fame has brought, he has often described singing as a duty rather than an identity. "I've got other passions too," he once said. "I have other things that are just as big a part of me, that are just as necessary and true."