Newly released probate records reveal that Dick Parry, the saxophonist whose unmistakable playing helped define the sound of Pink Floyd on some of the most beloved rock albums ever made, left an estate valued at just £50,741 when he died in May 2026 — a sum that stands in stark contrast to the multimillion-pound fortunes accumulated by the band’s more famous members.
Parry, who was born in Kentford, Suffolk, in 1942, died on Friday, May 22, 2026, at the age of 83. The probate records, released August 7, 2026, show his gross estate was recorded at £53,341, settling to a net figure of £50,741. Parry died intestate, meaning he left no will. He was married and divorced three times, having two children with his first wife, Gwen, and a third child with his third wife, Millie.
For context, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour’s fortune was ranked at £115 million by The Sunday Times Rich List in 2018. Parry was never formally a member of the band, yet the music world he helped shape generated wealth on a scale his estate could scarcely reflect.
A Friendship Rooted in Cambridge
Parry and Pink Floyd guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour met as teenagers and played together in local groups around Cambridge long before either reached a major stage. In an emotional social media tribute posted May 22, 2026, Gilmour wrote, “Since I was seventeen, I have played in bands with Dick on saxophone, including Pink Floyd.” He included a photograph of the two performing for young moviegoers at a Cambridge theater in 1963. Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in the late 1960s after the departure of founding member Syd Barrett.
Parry first toured with the band from 1973 through 1977, during the peak years that produced their most celebrated work. His saxophone became integral to tracks such as “Money” and “Us and Them” from the 1973 album “The Dark Side of the Moon,” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” from the 1975 album “Wish You Were Here.” “Money” reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973, while “The Dark Side of the Moon” spent one week atop the Billboard 200 that same year. “Wish You Were Here” held the top position on the Billboard 200 for a fortnight in 1975.
More Than a Session Player
Despite never holding official membership, Parry was regarded by those close to the group as far more than a hired hand. Gilmour described his playing as carrying a feel and tone that made it instantly recognizable. He was known among devoted fans for wearing two saxophones simultaneously on stage, switching between a baritone and a tenor partway through his soloing on “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.”
Parry also appeared on “The Division Bell,” Pink Floyd’s 1994 album recorded after the split between Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters, contributing to the track “Wearing the Inside Out.” Gilmour said he received a Christmas card from Parry, who had by then sold his saxophones and worked as a farrier before giving that up too. Gilmour arranged a boat audition with producer Bob Ezrin, and after hearing only a few notes, both immediately agreed Parry was hired.
Parry later performed with Pink Floyd at the Live 8 charity concert in 2005 — described by Gilmour as the band’s one and only full reunion — and joined Gilmour’s band for the On An Island Tour in 2006, which also included the late Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright. Outside his work with Pink Floyd, Parry collaborated with artists including guitarist Rory Gallagher, the Who’s bassist John Entwistle, and blues musician Lightnin’ Slim.
Tributes From the Music World
When Gilmour announced Parry’s death on social media on May 22, 2026, the response from fellow musicians was swift. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Graham Nash left a message of condolence, and music industry figure Merck Mercuriadis offered thanks for Parry’s contributions. In a birthday post from December 2024, Gilmour had already publicly referred to Parry as "one of my oldest friends.”
A Legacy That Outlasts the Balance Sheet
The size of Parry’s estate may come as a shock to those who have heard his saxophone work for decades. Pink Floyd’s blockbuster albums generated enormous wealth — but disproportionately for those who held formal membership in the band. For Parry, the financial returns of his contributions never matched the cultural ones.
What those records cannot measure is the reach of his playing. Over more than forty years working with Gilmour and Pink Floyd, Parry created instrumental parts heard by millions around the globe. His saxophone work on “Money,” “Us and Them,” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” are as much a part of those recordings as any guitar riff or drum fill — a legacy that has nothing to do with what a probate filing says.
