Prince was a musician who played many instruments and wrote his songs. On his first album, For You, he played 27 instruments. By the time of his death, Prince had sold 100 million albums and written hundreds of unreleased songs.

Prince loved music, but he kept many parts of his private life secret. After he died in 2016, people close to him revealed more about his life.

After Prince died, the Carver County Sheriff’s Office found photos of a secret vault in the basement of his Paisley Park complex. Investigators found hundreds of Prince’s songs on tape in the vault, including his unreleased version of “Nothing Compares 2 U.” They also found rare VHS recordings, Batman-inspired tunes, bars of gold, and a Minnesota Twins mascot costume.

Prince’s flashy outfits and colorful schemes weren’t just a happy accident. As a child, Prince had epilepsy, which later influenced his music and fashion.

Prince’s fans are finding out that he helped many charities and organizations. Prince also kept his donations secret.

Prince worked with Van Jones and supported his organizations to help kids succeed in lower-class areas. 

Prince was generous with his money. 

In the fall of 1996, Oprah Winfrey and her crew went to Paisley Park to interview Prince and his then-wife, Mayte Garcia. Before the interview, the media was saying Prince’s son was either dead or sick.

The couple’s son died shortly after birth. Prince and Garcia wanted this kept secret. The couple later lost another child when Garcia miscarried. The losses made their marriage worse, and they divorced four years later.

Prince was a Jehovah’s Witness. He often spent time with his local congregation. But he also went door-to-door, proselytizing his neighbors. 

The house from Prince’s first film, Purple Rain, is a famous landmark and a piece of history for fans of the artist. Many fans and collectors wanted to buy it, and just eight months before Prince died, they could. 

The home’s exterior is part of film and music history, thanks to Prince’s purchase.

Prince gave up swearing to honor his faith. Prince put a swear box in his studio. If anyone used foul language, they had to put money in it.

The BBC says the Prince used Peter Bravestrong to protect his identity when traveling. Court documents and future interviews revealed the name. Prince also used other names, including Jamie Starr, Alexander Nevermind, and Joey Coco. Prince was also secretive when it came to the phone. He didn’t use a cell phone after it was hacked and often tried to disguise his voice.

Misty Copeland, one of Prince’s dancers, told GQ, “He never called from a number you’d recognize.” He loved to speak in different accents. “Sometimes I’d ask, ‘Who is this?’ It would go on for a while, and then he’d laugh, and it would be him.”