Have you ever heard of a man making millions from moonshine?
Meet Popcorn Sutton.
He made illegal whiskey into big money.
He became a legend, too.
Popcorn was not like other businessmen.
He lived in the mountains.
He made moonshine the old way.
But it’s all real.
He died in 2009.
However, his name still generates income today.
You can buy legal whiskey with his name on it.
His estate is worth more than ever.
Want to know how a mountain man from North Carolina built such wealth?
Let’s look at the numbers.
Last Recorded Net Worth of Popcorn Sutton – $13 – 16 Million
Popcorn Sutton’s last recorded net worth was between $13 million to $16 million at the time of his death in 2009.
His estate has grown to maintain a similar value as of 2025.
This money came from his moonshine business when he was alive.
It also came from books and movies about his life.
Now his estate gets money from the rights to use his name.
He worked in the moonshine world for many years before his death.
His different income sources helped build wealth that lasted after his death.
This mix of skills enabled him to build wealth throughout his lifetime.
It helped his estate continue to grow even after his death.
Net Worth Evolution Over Time
Popcorn Sutton’s wealth grew steadily from the 1960s until he died in 2009.
Early on, he earned money by producing moonshine for residents.
As he gained fame through books and movies, he earned more money.
By the early 2000s, his work on books and films brought bigger pay.
After his death, his estate received money from legal whiskey sales.
It gets money from licensing deals, too.
His smart choices led to slow but steady growth in his wealth.
This growth continues today.
Fun Fact: Popcorn began making moonshine at 15, learning from his father in the North Carolina mountains.
Popcorn Sutton’s Diversified Investments
Popcorn Sutton did not rely on just one way to make money during his life.
His wealth came from several sources.
Here are the Investments:
- Moonshine Sales
- Books and Media
- Brand Licensing
- Equipment and Collectibles
- Property Rights
This mix of income sources created money security for his estate.
When one area slows down, other parts keep paying.
This spread of money sources has been key to his lasting wealth growth after death.
Major Assets
Popcorn Sutton’s top assets included moonshine equipment and book rights.
They also included brand value.
His moonshine stills and copper pots were worth $500K to $1 million.
They became museum pieces after he died.
They became collectibles, too.
He held rights to his book and movies.
These are valued at $2 million.
They earn a steady income from sales and licensing for their estate.
His name and brand keep making money through legal whiskey sales today.
These assets provide steady income for his estate.
They show his long-term impact on American culture.
Fact: The film “This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make” is a cult classic for moonshine fans.
Properties
Popcorn Sutton owned a home in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
This is where he grew up.
This is where he learned moonshining.
He had a house in Parrottsville, Tennessee.
It was filled with personal items.
It had moonshine stuff too.
A big distillery was built in Newport, Tennessee, after he died.
It is 46,000 to 50,000 sq. ft.
They make legal whiskey with his name there.
These properties support his legacy today.
They make income for his estate. They keep his memory alive.
Overall Career Earnings
During his lifetime, Popcorn Sutton’s income came from many sources:
- Moonshine sales: $200,000 to $400,000 yearly from selling half-gallon jars for $25 each. Also, from bulk sales to bootleggers.
- Book sales: $50,000 to $100,000 yearly from “Me and My Likker” and other writings
- Movie rights: $75,000 to $150,000 per year from film licensing and sales
- Brand licensing: After death, $300,000 to $500,000 yearly from legal distilleries using his name
- Collectibles: $25,000 to $50,000 yearly from selling moonshine equipment and stuff
His blend of illegal and legal income sources gave him long-term money growth.
It gave him a cultural impact, too.
This multi-stream way showed a plan focused on building wealth.
It showed keeping ownership and lasting fame.
Popcorn Sutton’s Private Life
Popcorn Sutton kept a quiet life even though he became famous for his moonshine.
He was born in North Carolina.
He stayed away from big cities and fancy events.
People who knew him said he cared more about making good moonshine than being famous.
This focus helped him build good ties with customers.
It helped him stay out of too much trouble with the law during his life.
Fun Fact: Popcorn got his nickname as a young man. He attacked a popcorn machine with a pool cue during a bar fight.
Early Life
Popcorn Sutton’s real name was Marvin Sutton.
He was born on October 5, 1946.
He was born in Maggie Valley, North Carolina.
Growing up in the Appalachian Mountains shaped his later work.
As a child, he saw the moonshine tradition.
He was drawn to it.
His family had deep roots in making illegal whiskey.
They taught him the old ways.
They also supported his love of the craft.
A big moment came when his father showed him how to build a moonshine still.
He showed him how to run it, too.
He was known as a skilled moonshiner before he became an adult.
Career Beginnings
In the 1960s, Popcorn Sutton began selling moonshine to local customers and tourists.
He worked from hidden spots in the mountains.
He made whiskey the way his family had for many years.
His style mixed old mountain methods with his own special touches.
His first big success was selling to tourists who visited the Smoky Mountains.
They paid good money for real mountain moonshine.
This gave him a steady income when he was young.
He learned to write and tell stories at night.
He made moonshine during the day.
This helped him later when he wrote his book.
Philanthropy and Charity Work
There is no public record of big charity work done by Popcorn Sutton.
His legacy is more tied to keeping Appalachian culture alive.
It does not tie to organized charity.
He helped keep the old ways of making moonshine alive.
He kept mountain living alive, too.
His story teaches people about American mountain culture.
It teaches about traditions, too.
Conclusion
So there you have it.
Popcorn Sutton’s amazing story from a mountain moonshiner to a millionaire legend.
What makes his story so special is not just the money.
Is how he stayed true to his mountain roots.
He built something that lasted long after he was gone.
His brand keeps making money today.
People still love his story.
The next time you see legal moonshine with his name on it in a store, remember this.
That’s the legacy of a man who turned an illegal craft into a multi-million-dollar empire.
Not bad for a guy who started with just a still in the mountains of North Carolina, right?
