The Tragic Story Of Eddie Money’s Death

Eddie Money passed away on September 13, 2019, leaving behind an icon for the globe. With songs like “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Baby Hold On,” and “Two Tickets to Paradise,” among numerous others, the singer’s voice became renowned around the world.

Money, real name Edward Mahoney, passed away from heart and esophageal cancer-related problems. His family then filed an official complaint with the hospital where he was getting care. But his well-known masterpieces continue to carry Money’s voice.

Eddie Money’s Rise to Fame and Fall into Addiction

After switching careers multiple times, from being a police officer to working as a typist, Money finally decided to pursue his true passion for music in 1968. He made a significant move from his hometown, New York City, to Berkeley, California, close to San Francisco. While performing at local clubs, he caught the attention of a Columbia Records executive who offered him a record deal.

His talent became evident when his first single, “Baby Hold On,” reached the 11th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This success paved the way for more defining moments in his career, such as “Take Me Home Tonight,” which achieved Top 5 status and earned him his sole Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male. Other well-known songs in his repertoire include “Walk on Water,” “Peace in Our Time,” and “I’ll Get By.”

Despite consistently appearing on the music charts during the 1980s, Money faced personal challenges in his private life. He grappled with addiction throughout his career and suffered an accidental overdose in 1980 from a synthetic depressant drug he mistakenly thought was cocaine. This overdose caused nerve damage to his leg, leaving him with a permanent limp. However, Money eventually sought help through rehabilitation and has remained sober since 2003.

Money’s Cancer Battle and Tragic Death

In July 2019, Eddie Money had surgery to replace a heart valve, and he got pneumonia shortly afterward. About a month later, he shared that he had stage four esophageal cancer, which sadly led to his passing on September 13 when he was 70 years old.

In 2018, Money and his family were featured on a reality TV show called Real Money on AXS TV. During the filming of the second season, he found out about his cancer diagnosis, which was a part of the show as it was airing.

Money’s death had a bit of foreshadowing because in August 2019, before he passed away, he talked openly about his cancer diagnosis in a preview clip of Real Money. He mentioned that he initially thought he was going for a routine checkup, but the doctor informed him about the cancer. He expressed uncertainty about his future but emphasized his gratitude for each day he had. The episode where he discussed this aired just a day before he died.

A year after his death, Money’s family filed a lawsuit against Keck Hospital at the University of Southern California, where he received treatment, in December 2020. They alleged medical malpractice and wrongful death, claiming that Money didn’t receive adequate care for his condition and that he was examined and diagnosed negligently and recklessly. They also asserted that his health worsened after leaving the hospital, leading to his readmission.