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Phil Robertson, the patriarch of the Robertson family from A&E’s reality series Duck Dynasty, passed away on May 25, 2025, at 79. His daughter-in-law, Korie Robertson, announced the news on Facebook, noting that Phil had been living with Alzheimer’s disease since late 2024.
The family held a private service immediately afterward and plans to share details of a public celebration of his life soon. Fans and colleagues across the country offered condolences, celebrating both his faith and his impact on outdoor culture.
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His net worth was estimated at $10 million at the time of his death
At the time of his passing, Phil Robertson’s net worth was reported at approximately $10 million according to Celebrity Net Worth. This estimate accounts for his ownership stake in Duck Commander; residual payments from the Duck Dynasty series, and earnings from speaking and publishing.
Though not among the highest-paid figures in reality television, his wealth reflects a career built on a simple invention and expanded through media success.
Phil Robertson invented a new duck call in his Louisiana workshop and launched Duck Commander
Raised in Vivian, Louisiana, Phil Robertson played quarterback at Louisiana Tech University before moving home to focus on hunting. In 1972, frustrated with lifeless duck calls, he spent months tinkering with reed setups and barrel shapes in a makeshift workshop.
By 1973, he had perfected a design that mimicked live duck sounds and secured a patent for what he named the Duck Commander call. That same year, he and his family incorporated Duck Commander, selling the calls from the back of a beat-up pickup truck.
Duck Commander sales grew from local beginnings to about $40 million in 2013
In its first decade, Duck Commander remained a small, family-run enterprise, distributing calls mainly in Louisiana and neighboring states. Word of mouth among hunters gradually expanded sales into other regions.
By 2013, industry reports estimated annual revenue from duck-call sales alone at roughly $40 million, a figure that reflected both Phil’s original design and the company’s growing reputation. Those earnings provided a steady income stream for the Robertsons and funded gradual expansion into other hunting accessories.
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Duck Dynasty boosted income with TV pay, advertising, and merchandise
When Duck Dynasty debuted in March 2012, the Robertson family’s private business became a national television phenomenon. By Season 4 (2013), A&E was paying the 20-member cast about $200,000 per episode, to be split among nine adults and eleven children.
In that same year, the show generated nearly $80 million in advertising sales and about $400 million through branded merchandise ranging from calls and apparel to home goods, according to the Kansas City Star. These revenues supported both the Duck Commander enterprise and the personal earnings of family members.
He earned additional income from speaking engagements and book royalties
After Duck Dynasty concluded its original run in March 2017, Phil Robertson turned to public speaking and writing. He toured churches and outdoor-sporting events as a conservative Christian speaker, sharing personal stories and biblical messages.
In 2013, he also published his memoir Happy, Happy, Happy, which became a bestseller. While these speaking fees and book royalties were smaller compared to his television and product revenues, they provided a steady supplementary income and kept him engaged with his audience.
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His legacy lives on through his family and the Duck Commander brand
Phil Robertson’s journey from a Louisiana football field to inventing a duck call and starring in a top-rated cable show illustrates how one idea can grow into a lasting enterprise. The Duck Commander business continues under the leadership of his sons, and spin-off media projects are in development.
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His family has committed to upholding his values of hard work, faith, and innovation as they honor his memory in upcoming public tributes. Even after his death, Phil Robertson's influence on hunting gear and reality television endures.
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