Beethoven never got rich

Beethoven had financial hardship for a large portion of his career and life. He occasionally made a ton of money, which he often put into bank shares. However, the prolonged Napoleonic War's catastrophic depreciation of the Austrian currency severely diminished his fortune by more than 50% and sharply decreased the amount of the annuity granted to him by Archduke Rudolph and the Princes Lobkowitz and Kinsky. Beethoven was continually concerned about his financial status, even after he was freed from every justification for financial care.

Beethoven had a reputation as a piano virtuoso during his early years in Vienna. It is not easy to make a livelihood as a freelance musician. And to top it all off, he had renowned improvisational skills. The majority of his early years in Vienna were spent working as a performer in salons. In his 34 years in Vienna, Beethoven was only compensated for participating in fifteen public concerts before he was permitted to charge admission for performances of his work. However, pianists and musicians from all over Europe were originally drawn to Vienna, and it took some time for him to get through the scheming and jealousy of his contemporaries and competitors. Beethoven eventually grew popular and was able to charge high prices for his concerts. Sadly, when his hearing failed, this specific source of income would go forever.

Beethoven would give individual lessons as a way to augment his income, a job he detested to the core. He was obviously not temperamentally suited for such educational endeavors, as evidenced by the colorful narrative that claims he "hit Karl Hirsch in the shoulder" after becoming furious with him. It appears that he also slapped the poor kid and shouted at him nonstop in a fit of wrath. He did, however, take lovely young countesses as students, but frequently refused to accept payment for his services because of an antiquated custom and his wish to be seen as a member of the upper classes.