| Net Worth: | $360 Million |
|---|---|
| Age/Date of Birth: | 20 May 1946 |
| Height: | 5’9″ (174 cm) |
| Ethnicity/Race: | White |
| Nationality: | American |
| Husband or Boylfriend: | Sonny Bono (m. 1969; div. 1975) Gregg Allman (m. 1975; div. 1979) |
| Parents: | John Sarkisian and Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch) |
Cher is an American singer and actress dubbed by fans as the Goddess of Pop. She is a legend by many standards and arguably one of the most versatile artists in the entertainment industry.
With all the milestones under her belt, the deep contralto vocalist isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. As of 2017, she continues to tour, play residency gigs, star in and even produce her own movies and Broadway projects. Retirement what?!
Who Exactly is Cher?
She was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. She had quite a troubled childhood. Her parents divorced when she was just 9 months old. Due to her mum’s subsequent marriages and divorces, Cher moved often, living in New York and Texas. Her mum who worked as a waitress and actress barely made enough to fend for her basic needs. The situation got so bad that her mum once checked her into an orphanage home where she lived for weeks.
In high school, Cher developed a passion first for film and then music. As a result, she organized and performed in numerous school plays while idolizing actress Audrey Hepburn. Her only dream was to one day become famous and not even dyslexia that plagued her at the time could stop her.
She dropped out of high school at the age of 16 and moved to LA to pursue her dreams. Cher took acting classes and at night, danced at clubs. She then met performer Sonny Bono and became friends and later lovers. They began doing music together as Caesar & Cleo and then as Sonny & Cher.
By 1965, they landed their big break with their song I Got You Babe which became a massive hit. It reached #1 on the American and British charts. Subsequently, Cher’s solo career was launched with Sonny as her manager. Her debut solo album The Sonny Side of Cher (1966) spawned another massive hit single Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) which became her first million-seller song.
Within the space of two years, (1965 – 1967), Sonny & Cher had sold over 40 million records globally. They also became known for their elaborate outfits which established them as fashion icons. Consequently, Cher began designing a clothing line.
Cher suffered a brief period of career decline in the late 1960s but revived her career with a TV show in the early 1970s. Their CBS show The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour was extremely successful enjoying a successful 3-year run with over 30 million viewers tuning in every week. Simultaneously, she released the chart-topping singles Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, Half-Breed, and Dark Lady.
Unfortunately, her partnership with Sonny ended with their divorce in 1975. Cher accused Sonny of cheating her out of her money. Sonny was ordered to pay her $25,000 per month for 6 months, $15,000 for support for their child Chastity Bono (now Chaz Bono), and $41,000 for her attorney fees. Their liquid assets were divided 50/50.
Cher then signed a $2.5 million record deal with Warner Bros. Stars (1975), her 12th studio album and first under the label was a critical and commercial success. The album became a cult classic and is regarded as one of her best works ever. Also in 1975, she married rocker Gregg Allman but the marriage which produced a child was only short-lived, ending in 1979.
Following two failed albums with Warner Bros., Cher signed with Casablanca Records and released the hit disco album Take Me Home in 1979. Cher enjoyed a highly successful Las Vegas residency from 1980 – 1982 for which she made $300,000 per week!
She forayed into Broadway in 1982 making her debut in Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean. She also starred in the film adaptation of the same title. Cher went ahead to stage a successful movie career with films like Silkwood (1983), Mask (1985), and Moonstruck (1987). For the latter, she won her first Oscar and Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. In the late 1980s, Cher was one of the most profitable actresses of the decade, earning not less than $1 million per role.
While landing movie gigs, Cher kept one foot in her music career. Her rock albums Cher (1987), Heart of Stone (1989), and Love Hurts (1991) enjoyed varying degrees of success, spawning hit singles. Her 22nd studio album Believe released in 1998, spawned a hit title-track single that became the highest-selling single of all time by a female artist in the UK. The album went on to sell over 10 million copies. She supported the album with her Do You Believe? tour which grossed $220 million ($316.29 million in 2017 dollars) becoming one of the highest-grossing tours by a female artist at the time.
Her 25th studio album, as well as her first studio album in 12 years, “Closer to the Truth”, was released in 2013 to much acclaim. It debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 to become her highest-charting solo album in the U.S.
In 1988, Cher’s fragrance “Uninhibited” earned $15 million from sales. In the early 1990s when Cher couldn’t keep up with her music and film gigs due to ill health, she earned $10 million from appearing in several infomercials.
Cher’s numerous accolades include; a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, 3 Golden Globe Awards, a Cannes Film Festival Award, a special CFDA Fashion Award, and many more.
A democratic supporter, Cher is vocal about her political views. She has also made huge contributions towards philanthropy. Cher is also a social rights activist who supports LGBT rights. Her daughter Chastity Bono became a lesbian at the age of 17 before undergoing transgender surgery to become a trans man renaming himself Chaz Bono.
Analysis of Cher’s Net Worth and Career Earnings
With a career that spans over 5 decades, the veteran entertainer has had her fair share of highs and lows, but ultimately, she has established herself as a timeless icon. Cher has released over 25 studio albums and sold over 100 million records, making her one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Cher’s wealth is estimated at over $360 million. She made a large chunk of her wealth through her musical tours and even more from her acting career, and other endeavors.
Here are some of her highest-grossing tours:
- Heart of Stone Tour (1990) – $40 million from 78 shows
- Do You Believe? (1999) – $220 million from 121 shows
- Living Proof: The Farewell Tour (2002 – 2005) – $260 million from 325 shows, making it one of the highest-grossing tours of all time.
- Cher residency show (2008 – 2011) – Cher signed a $180 million deal to headline the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for three years. She was paid $60 million per year. The show grossed $97.4 million.
- Dressed to Kill Tour (2014) – $55 million from 49 shows all in North America.
- Classic Cher (2017) – A residency show in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Washington D.C. As of February 2017, it had grossed $4 million from 7 shows.
- She embarked on a ‘Here We Go Again’ tour in which she generated over $14 million in the final days of the tour and made over 100 million in 2019 alone.
She Also Made a Huge Wealth Through Her Acting Career
Cher has made giant strides even as an actress, and through her movies, she has received fat paychecks for her efforts. She has written several movies, some of which she has produced. Her earliest foray into acting was in 1967 when she starred in the film, Chastity, which she produced together with her then-husband Sonny. She also has a film company called Isis, which she formed in 1985. Interestingly, her acting career has seen her star in over 30 movies and TV shows.
Some of her highest-paying movies between the 80s and 90s include:
- Silkwood (1983) – $150,000
- Mask (1985) – $500,000
- Moonstruck (1987) – $1 million
- The Witches of Eastwick (1987) $1 million
- Suspect (1987) – $1 million
- Mermaids (1990) – $4 million
Key Takeaways
- Cher’s net worth is currently estimated at $360 million
- The songstress made her wealth through her music, acting career, modeling campaigns, and endorsements from different brands.
- She is also known for her unique contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment.
- In 2014, Billboard Magazine estimated that Cher had earned $352 million from her tours since 1990.
- She has sold over 100 million records, making her one of the world’s best-selling musical artists.
- The singer owns several lavish mansions in exotic locations in America, including Los Angeles, Florida, and other choice locations.
- Cher has been married twice, and even though her two marriages ended in divorce, she has two children.
Meet Her Kids
The veteran entertainer has two children from her two marriages. Her first marriage with fellow entertainer Sonny Bono lasted from 1969 to 1975, and they had a son named Chaz Salvatore Bono (born in 1969). After their divorce, Cher got married to American singer Gregg Allman. Through her second marriage, the songstress also has another son – Elijah Blue Allman (born 1976). Cher and Gregg’s marriage lasted from 1975 to 1979. Let’s meet her children below.
Chaz Bono
- Date of Birth: March 4, 1969
- Parents: Cher, Sonny Bono
- Occupation: Writer, Musician, Actor
Born as Chastity Sun Bono on March 4, 1969, Chaz Bono is Cher’s first son and only child with American entertainer Sonny Bono; they were married from 1969 to 1975. Chaz rose to prominence as a child as he used to appear on his parent’s television show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour. More so, Bono is a trans man; he first identified as a lesbian to The Advocate in 1995. However, between 2008 and 2010, Chaz underwent female to male gender transition. Later in May 2010, Chaz officially changed his name from Chastity to Chaz. As an actor, he has appeared on several reality TV shows and films, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, American Horror Story, and 3 from Hell, among others, playing different roles.
Elijah Blue Allman
- Date of Birth: July 10, 1976
- Parents: Cher, Gregg Allman
- Occupation: Musician, Guitarist
Elijah, professionally known as P. Exeter Blue, is an American musician, singer, and guitarist for the rock band, Deadsy. Born July 10, 1976, he is the product of Cher’s relationship with her second husband, Gregg Allman, as well as the half-brother of Chaz Bono. Asides from his band, Blue has worked with various artists, including his mother Cher and bands like Sugar Ray, Coal Chamber, and Orgy, among others. Elijah has dated prominent celebrities like Heather Graham, Parish Hilton, and Kate Hudson. He is currently married to an English singer Marieangela King, a member of the band King since 2013.
Plastic Surgery
Looking at Cher’s recent pictures, one would wonder if she’s truly in her 70s. Her face has some youthful features that are not expected of a woman at her age. Also, her skin looks relatively smoother and fresh with her frown lines not as conspicuous as they are supposed to be. In fact, she’s just too youthful for a septuagenarian.
Well, in case you are still wondering where she got the ageless looks from, it wasn’t handed down by her ancestors. Cher has gone under the knife several times to maintain her gorgeous appearance. From Botox to facelifts, the singer has had it all and is ready to do more if the need arises.
She once opened up about her botched breast surgery which apparently didn’t stop her from going under the knife again. Some of Cher’s plastic surgery procedures include; brow lift, facelift, botox treatment, blepharoplasty, and rhinoplasty.
Death Rumors
Just like most celebrities, Cher has had her fair share of death rumors. In 2012, a fabricated tweet suggesting the star’s death gained steam on social media. At the time, a Twitter user, falsely attributing CNN claimed the singer had died at her Malibu home. The fuss it created got more intense when Kim Kardashian responded to the tweet, wondering if it’s true. Her millions of followers on the platform reacted, thus, spreading the hoax like wildfire. Regardless, the ageless star is still alive and really looks good for a septuagenarian.
| Profile Summary | |
|---|---|
| First Name: | Cherilyn |
| Last Name: | Sarkisian |
| Also Known As: | Cher, Goddess of Pop |
| Sex/Gender: | Female |
| Profession: | Singer, actress and television personality |
| Famous For: | Her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment, as well as adopting a variety of styles and appearances throughout her career. |
| Colleges/Universities Attended: | Montclair College Preparatory |
| Educational Qualifications: | Dropped out |
| Religion: | Not available |
| Birthday & Zodiac |
|
| Age/Date of Birth: | 20 May 1946 |
| Zodiac Sign: | Taurus |
| Birth Place: | El Centro, California, US |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity/Race: | White |
| Country of Residence: | USA |
| Physical Attributes |
|
| Height: | 5’9″ (174 cm) |
| Weight: | 135 lbs (61 kg) |
| Eye Colour: | Brown |
| Hair Color: | Black |
| Other Body Measurements: | 36-26-36 inches (91-66-91 cm) (bust, waist, and hips) |
| Relationships | |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Spouse/Partner: | Sonny Bono (m. 1969; div. 1975) Gregg Allman (m. 1975; div. 1979) |
| Family and Relatives |
|
| Father: | John Sarkisian |
| Mother: | Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch) |
| Children: | Chaz Bono, Elijah Blue Allman |
| Siblings: | Georganne (half-sister) |
| Other Relatives: | Not available |
| Net Worth | |
| Estimated Net Worth: | $360 Million |
| Salary: | Unknown |
| Source of Wealth: | Music and film career, brand endorsement, perfume line, |
