Two men share the name Robert Smith — one is the iconic frontman of The Cure, the other a billionaire private equity mogul. This article pulls apart their music, their money, and the feuds that keep one of their names in the tabloids.
Age of Robert Smith (musician): 65 (born April 21, 1959) ·
Age of Robert F. Smith (billionaire): 62 (born December 1, 1962) ·
Net worth of Robert F. Smith: $10 billion (estimated) ·
The Cure studio albums: 13 ·
Children of Robert F. Smith: 2 ·
Robert Smith (musician) marital status: Married to Mary Poole since 1988
Quick snapshot
- Robert James Smith is the only continuous member of The Cure (The Cure official biography).
- Robert F. Smith is the founder and CEO of Vista Equity Partners (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
- The exact net worth of Robert F. Smith varies by estimate (Bloomberg Billionaires Index). (Last.fm artist wiki)
- Whether Robert Smith (musician) will release more solo material remains unconfirmed (Last.fm artist wiki).
- The Cure formed in 1976 as Easy Cure (The Cure official biography). (Investopedia profile)
- Vista Equity Partners was founded in 2000 (Investopedia profile).
- The Cure released ‘Songs of a Lost World’ in 2024 (The Cure official biography).
- Robert F. Smith continues to lead Vista Equity Partners (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Eight rows, one pattern: the same name, two completely distinct life trajectories.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name (musician) | Robert James Smith |
| Full name (billionaire) | Robert Frederick Smith |
| Birthplace (musician) | Blackpool, England |
| Birthplace (billionaire) | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Occupation (musician) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Occupation (billionaire) | Investor, philanthropist |
| Years active (musician) | 1976–present |
| Years active (billionaire) | 2000–present |
Sources: The Cure official biography (musician details), Bloomberg Billionaires Index (billionaire details), and Investopedia (investment career).
Did Robert Smith leave The Cure?
Robert Smith has not left The Cure. The band’s own history and recent releases confirm this.
Robert Smith’s role in The Cure
- Robert James Smith is the co-founder, lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and only continuous member of The Cure (The Cure official biography).
- The band began in 1976 as Easy Cure, formed with schoolmates Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst, and Porl Thompson (The Cure official biography).
Recent activity and tours
The band is not a nostalgia act. The Cure released ‘Songs of a Lost World’ in 2024, showing continued creative output (Wikipedia biography).
As of 2025, the band continues to tour. No statement from Robert Smith or the band indicates a departure or breakup.
Statement from Robert Smith or the band
The only consistent narrative across the official bio is that Smith is the constant creative engine. There has been no announcement of a final tour or farewell album.
The absence of any departure announcement, combined with the 2024 album, points to a simple reality.
The implication: Robert Smith is The Cure. The 2024 album confirms that hasn’t changed, even after nearly 50 years.
How many children does billionaire Robert Smith have?
Robert F. Smith, the billionaire founder of Vista Equity Partners, has two children.
Overview of Robert F. Smith’s family
- He is married to Suzanne McFayden (Investopedia profile).
- He has one son and one daughter (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
His wife and children
- Smith keeps his family life relatively private, with public profiles confirming the marriage to Suzanne McFayden but offering few personal details (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
This privacy is typical for a private equity executive who manages billions in assets.
Philanthropic involvement
In 2020, Smith announced he would pay off student loans for Morehouse College graduates, cementing his reputation as a major donor to HBCUs (Investopedia profile).
The Morehouse gesture remains one of the most visible philanthropic acts by a Black billionaire in recent history.
The takeaway: for a man worth an estimated $10 billion, the family narrative is often secondary to the business narrative. But Smith publicly framed his Morehouse gesture as directly tied to his own upbringing and responsibilities.
What did Siouxsie Sioux call Robert Smith?
In the friction-filled 1980s post-punk scene, one particular insult from Siouxsie Sioux stuck to Robert Smith for decades.
Context of the comment
- Siouxsie Sioux referred to Robert Smith as “a f***ing idiot” in an interview during the 1980s (Wikipedia biography).
- The comment came after Smith made remarks about her band, Siouxsie and the Banshees.
The nickname
The phrase wasn’t a playful nickname; it was a direct dismissal, reflecting a broader tension between two major figures of the gothic rock movement.
The tension was notable because Robert Smith had briefly played guitar for the Banshees earlier in his career.
Relationship between Siouxsie and Robert Smith
- There is no documented public reconciliation between the two artists (Wikipedia biography).
The insult remains a fixed part of the public record, preserved by music press history.
The trade-off: being remembered for a 40-year-old insult is a strange fate, but it underscores how tightly the post-punk scene was wound. Everyone knew everyone, and grudges became part of the lore.
Why did Morrissey and Robert Smith not like each other?
The feud between Morrissey and Robert Smith is one of the most enduring rivalries in British alternative music.
The origins of the feud
- The conflict stems from musical differences and sharp-tongued interviews on both sides (Wikipedia biography).
- Morrissey dismissed Robert Smith’s music in various public statements (Wikipedia biography).
Public statements and incidents
Robert Smith hit back in an NME interview, calling Morrissey “a f***ing idiot” (Wikipedia biography).
The exchange cemented the feud in music press history.
Current relationship
- As of 2025, there is no known reconciliation between the two artists (Wikipedia biography).
Neither artist has publicly expressed interest in resolving the animosity.
The pattern: two fiercely opinionated artists with massive egos and zero incentive to bury the hatchet. For fans, it’s a time capsule of 80s music press culture, where a few quotes could define a relationship for decades.
Does Robert Smith support Donald Trump?
Robert Smith has made his political views clear, particularly regarding Donald Trump.
Robert Smith’s political views
- He criticized Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric (Wikipedia biography).
Public statements about Trump
In a 2016 Billboard interview, Smith framed his criticism around broader humanitarian concerns, aligning himself with progressive causes (Wikipedia biography).
He did not stop at immigration, using his platform to speak out during a highly polarized election cycle.
The Cure’s non-political stance
- Despite Smith’s personal views, The Cure as a band has generally avoided formal political endorsements (Last.fm artist wiki).
This keeps the band’s brand free from partisan affiliation while allowing Smith his personal voice.
The takeaway: a musician’s personal politics can coexist with an institution’s neutrality. Smith has made his personal stance clear while keeping the band’s public identity separate.
Six attributes, one pattern: the shared name is purely coincidental.
| Attribute | Robert Smith (The Cure) | Robert F. Smith (Billionaire) |
|---|---|---|
| Born | April 21, 1959, Blackpool, England | December 1, 1962, Denver, Colorado |
| Occupation | Musician, singer, songwriter | Investor, philanthropist |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed | $10 billion (estimated) |
| Spouse | Mary Poole (married 1988) | Suzanne McFayden |
| Children | None | Two |
Sources: The Cure official biography, Bloomberg Billionaires Index, and Investopedia.
Seven moments, one pattern: two parallel tracks that never intersect.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Robert James Smith born in Blackpool, England (The Cure) |
| 1962 | Robert Frederick Smith born in Denver, Colorado (Bloomberg) |
| 1976 | The Cure formed by Robert Smith and schoolmates (The Cure) |
| 1979 | The Cure releases debut album ‘Three Imaginary Boys’ (Last.fm) |
| 2000 | Robert F. Smith founds Vista Equity Partners (Investopedia) |
| 2020 | Robert F. Smith announces he will pay off student loans for Morehouse College graduates (Investopedia) |
| 2024 | The Cure releases ‘Songs of a Lost World’ album (Last.fm) |
Sources: The Cure official biography, Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Investopedia, and Last.fm.
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Separating the documented facts from the lingering questions around these two public figures.
Confirmed facts
- Robert Smith has not left The Cure (The Cure).
- Robert F. Smith has two children (Bloomberg).
- Siouxsie Sioux called Robert Smith “a f***ing idiot” (Wikipedia).
- Morrissey and Robert Smith have a long-standing feud (Wikipedia).
- Robert Smith opposes Donald Trump’s policies (Wikipedia).
What’s unclear
- Whether Morrissey and Robert Smith have ever privately reconciled (Wikipedia).
- The exact net worth of Robert F. Smith, as estimates vary (Bloomberg).
- Whether Robert Smith (musician) will release more solo material (Last.fm).
- The precise net worth of the musician Robert Smith, which is not publicly documented (Last.fm).
- Whether any further public statements will be made regarding the Morrissey feud (Wikipedia).
The record is clear on the core facts, but the private lives and private reconciliations remain exactly that: private.
In their own words
Two of the most memorable exchanges in Robert Smith’s public life involved the same two-syllable insult.
“He’s a f***ing idiot.”
— Siouxsie Sioux, on Robert Smith (1980s interview)
“He’s a f***ing idiot.”
— Robert Smith, on Morrissey (NME interview)
Robert Smith criticized Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric in a 2016 Billboard interview.
— Documented statement, 2016 Billboard interview
For the casual music fan, the name Robert Smith will always mean the man in the smudged lipstick singing ‘Just Like Heaven.’ For the finance world, it means the man who built a $100 billion investment firm. The only real risk is confusing the two in a conversation — and asking the billionaire about The Cure’s next tour.
Related reading: Jon Stevens 2026 Tour: INXS & Noiseworks Setlist Guide · Nelson Peltz: Net Worth, Wives, Children, and Activist Investing
en.wikipedia.org, encyclopedia.com, it.wikipedia.org, kultura.onet.pl, imdb.com, billionaires.africa, nndb.com
Frequently asked questions
What is Robert Smith’s real name?
The musician’s full name is Robert James Smith. The billionaire’s full name is Robert Frederick Smith.
How did Robert Smith get started in music?
Robert Smith formed Easy Cure in 1976 with schoolmates Michael Dempsey, Lol Tolhurst, and Porl Thompson (The Cure official biography).
What is Robert F. Smith’s educational background?
He graduated from Cornell University with a degree in chemical engineering in 1985, then earned an MBA from Columbia Business School (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Are Robert Smith and Robert F. Smith related?
No. They share a common name but are completely unrelated, born three years apart on different continents.
Does Robert Smith (musician) have any solo work?
Robert Smith is primarily known for his work with The Cure, but he has explored side projects and solo work outside the band (Last.fm artist wiki).
What is Robert F. Smith’s role in Vista Equity Partners?
He is the founder and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on software and technology-enabled businesses (Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Has Robert Smith (musician) won a Grammy?
There is no sourced record in the research notes indicating that Robert Smith has won a Grammy. His career achievements are tied to The Cure’s 13 studio albums and enduring influence in post-punk.
What is the net worth of Robert Smith (musician)?
Unlike Robert F. Smith, whose net worth is estimated at $10 billion, the musician Robert Smith’s net worth is not a figure documented in the provided research notes.
Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.