Maxx Morando has an estimated net worth of $3 million in 2026. The 26-year-old drummer earns through his work with indie rock band Liily, music production credits on Miley Cyrus’s albums, touring revenue, streaming royalties, and fashion design collaborations.
When Maxx Morando walked the red carpet at the Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere in December 2026, the spotlight wasn’t just on the ring sparkling on Miley Cyrus’s finger. People wanted to know about the man beside her. Who is this 26-year-old drummer? How much has he earned on his own?
The answer might surprise you. Morando built a $3 million net worth before most people finish graduate school. He did it through indie rock drumming, strategic production work, and smart career choices that started when he was just 17 years old. This isn’t a story about someone riding celebrity coattails. It’s about a musician who carved his own path in Los Angeles’s competitive music scene.
Maxx Morando’s Estimated Net Worth in 2026
Maxx Morando’s net worth sits at approximately $3 million in 2026, according to multiple entertainment outlets, including Reality Tea and Hollywood Life.
You’ll find estimates ranging from $1 million to $5 million across different sources. This variance is normal for private individuals who don’t disclose financial details publicly. The $3 million figure represents a middle ground based on his known income streams and career trajectory.
For context, Morando is 26 years old. Building a seven-figure net worth by your mid-twenties puts him ahead of most professionals in any field, not just music. The average net worth for Americans under 35 hovers around $76,000, according to Federal Reserve data. Morando has built 40 times that amount through consistent work in an industry where most musicians struggle to break even.
This wealth doesn’t come from family money or celebrity proximity. It’s the result of nine years of steady work since joining his first major band at 17.
How Maxx Morando Makes His Money
Morando’s primary income comes from drumming, specifically his work with two Los Angeles indie rock bands.
He joined The Regrettes in 2015 at age 17. The band gained traction quickly with their debut album “Feel Your Feelings Fool!” in 2017. They performed at major festivals, including Coachella and Lollapalooza, between 2015 and 2018. During this period, Morando earned from album sales, streaming royalties, touring, and merchandise revenue. Indie bands at this level typically earn $30,000 to $50,000 per band member annually during active touring years.
In 2019, Morando joined Liily, where he currently serves as drummer. The band has released multiple projects, including the EP “I Can Fool Anybody in This Town” and the album “TV or Not TV.” They’ve performed at Coachella, Bottlerock, and other major festivals. Festival appearances at this level pay between $10,000 and $50,000 per performance, depending on billing placement and audience size.
Touring with an indie rock band typically generates $40,000 to $80,000 per year for individual members when combining ticket sales, merchandise, and streaming income. Liily’s Spotify presence shows millions of plays across their catalog, which translates to modest but consistent streaming royalties.
Music Production and Royalties
Production work significantly boosted Morando’s earning potential starting in 2023.
He co-produced two tracks on Miley Cyrus’s “Endless Summer Vacation” album: “Handstand” and “Violet Chemistry.” This album reached number three on the Billboard 200 and eventually won a Grammy nomination. Producer credits on major label releases typically earn 3% to 5% of royalties, plus upfront fees ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 per track, depending on the artist’s stature.
The difference between performer and producer royalties matters here. As a drummer, Morando would earn mechanical royalties split among band members. As a producer, he earns a percentage of the master recording royalties, which generates substantially higher income. For an album that sold hundreds of thousands of copies and generated millions of streams, these production credits likely earned Morando $200,000 to $500,000 in combined advances and royalties.
In 2025, he received another production credit on Cyrus’s follow-up album “Something Beautiful,” which adds to his ongoing royalty stream.
Fashion Design Collaborations
Morando’s creative work extends beyond music into fashion design.
In 2021, Cyrus revealed during a Vogue interview that Morando collaborated with designer Shane Kastl on one of her Music Midtown Festival outfits. The custom piece featured cartoon characters Morando designed, integrated into sustainable fashion construction. Cyrus specifically praised the collaboration as an example of fashion’s future.
Celebrity fashion collaborations at this level typically pay $10,000 to $50,000 per piece, depending on complexity and exclusivity. While fashion design represents a smaller portion of Morando’s income compared to music, it demonstrates his ability to generate revenue across multiple creative disciplines. These collaborations also increase his visibility in fashion circles, potentially opening doors to brand partnerships or future design projects.
Early Career and Musical Background
Morando was born in 1998 in Los Angeles, California. He started playing drums at age 8, showing early aptitude for rhythm and percussion.
His formal training came through the School of Rock in Hollywood. This institution connects young musicians with peers and provides performance opportunities beyond typical music lessons. Many successful musicians credit School of Rock with accelerating their development by emphasizing real-world playing over pure theory.
At 17, Morando joined The Regrettes, an all-female punk rock band fronted by Lydia Night. This was his first major break into the professional music scene. The band’s sound blended punk energy with pop sensibilities, attracting attention from both indie rock fans and mainstream music publications. Morando spent three years touring nationally with The Regrettes, learning the business side of music while developing his performance skills.
He left The Regrettes in 2018 and joined Liily in 2019. This transition marked a shift toward more experimental alternative rock. Liily’s sound incorporates elements of garage rock, punk, and psychedelic music. The band has cultivated a dedicated following in Los Angeles’s indie scene and expanded nationally through festival performances.
Morando plays multiple instruments beyond drums, including guitar. This versatility makes him valuable in studio settings and increases his production capabilities.
The Miley Cyrus Connection
Morando and Cyrus began dating in 2021 after being introduced through mutual friends in the music industry.
Their relationship remained relatively private until 2022, when they started appearing together at public events. In 2024, they shared a kiss at the Grammy Awards, confirming their relationship to the public. By 2025, they walked the Oscars red carpet together.
The engagement announcement came in December 2025 at the Avatar: Fire and Ash premiere in Los Angeles, where Cyrus wore an engagement ring that sparked immediate media attention.
Dating a global superstar inevitably increased Morando’s public profile. His Instagram following grew substantially, and media outlets began covering his career more extensively. However, the relationship also opened professional doors. The production credits on Cyrus’s albums came after they started dating, suggesting she trusts his musical judgment and creative input.
Cyrus’s net worth stands at approximately $160 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This creates a substantial wealth gap between the couple, but Morando has consistently maintained his own career trajectory rather than relying on his partner’s resources. He continues touring with Liily, pursuing independent production projects, and building his reputation based on talent rather than association.
What $3 Million Means for His Lifestyle
Three million dollars sounds impressive, but it’s important to understand what this actually represents for a working musician in Los Angeles.
Morando doesn’t live the luxury lifestyle associated with A-list celebrities. Reports suggest he maintains a relatively modest, private life focused on creative work rather than conspicuous consumption. Unlike Cyrus, who owns multiple properties and maintains a high-profile lifestyle, Morando’s wealth is likely tied up in practical assets like music equipment, studio gear, and modest real estate investments.
Professional-grade drum kits cost $10,000 to $30,000. Home studio equipment runs another $50,000 to $100,000 for serious production work. These are business investments that enable him to continue earning, not luxury purchases.
The $3 million figure also includes future earning potential from royalties. Production credits generate passive income for years or even decades after initial release. Morando’s work on Cyrus’s albums will continue paying as long as those songs are streamed, downloaded, or licensed for commercial use.
Compared to Cyrus’s $160 million, Maxx Morando Net Worth is modest. But for a 26-year-old musician who’s been working professionally for nine years, $3 million represents exceptional success and financial security most artists never achieve.
Future Earning Potential
Morando’s career trajectory suggests his net worth will grow substantially over the next five to ten years.
Liily continues actively creating music. New releases in 2025 and 2026 will generate additional touring opportunities, streaming income, and festival bookings. As the band’s profile grows, so do performance fees and merchandise sales.
Production work represents his biggest growth opportunity. The credits on Cyrus’s albums established him as a capable producer who can work on major label projects. Other artists seeking his production style could generate $100,000 to $300,000 annually if he takes on just a few projects per year. As his reputation grows, so do his rates.
Fashion design remains a potential expansion area. The collaboration with Shane Kastl proved his design sensibility resonates with fashion-forward audiences. A capsule collection or ongoing brand partnership could add $50,000 to $200,000 annually to his income.
Conservative projections put Morando’s net worth at $5 million to $7 million by 2030 if he continues his current trajectory. If he lands a major production credit on a chart-topping album or expands his fashion work significantly, that figure could reach $10 million or more.
The engagement with Cyrus will likely increase his public visibility, potentially leading to endorsement opportunities or brand partnerships that weren’t previously available. However, Morando has shown consistent focus on artistic credibility over commercial exploitation, suggesting he’ll remain selective about how he monetizes his growing platform.
