Cher Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Cher’s Net Worth?

With a net worth estimated at $360 million, Cher is an American singer, actress, and television personality. Recognized as a cultural icon, her career has spanned numerous decades. To date, she has achieved sales of over 100 million records, solidifying her status as one of the top-selling musical artists globally. Her impressive accolades include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival award. Cher’s contributions to the entertainment industry are also commemorated by her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame alongside her collaboration with Sonny & Cher.

Beginning her career as half of the popular music duo Sonny & Cher in the mid-60s, Cher gained significant television fame on “Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and later on her own program, “Cher,” into the 1970s. She eventually made a name for herself in Las Vegas before returning to Hollywood for films. Her successful comeback included numerous high-profile appearances in the ’80s, with roles in movies like “Silkwood,” “Mask,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” and “Moonstruck,” the latter earning her an Academy Award for Best Actress. Cher quickly regained her prominence in the music scene with the release of her hit album “Heart of Stone.” Notably, she is the only artist to have received an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, three Golden Globes, a Cannes Best Actress honor, and furthermore, she remains the only musical artist to have a #1 song on the “Billboard” charts each decade over the last sixty years.

Early Life

Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, faced parental separation when her mother, Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch), divorced John Sarkisian when Cher was just ten months old. As a result, Cher and her mother moved frequently across California, New York, and Texas. At the age of sixteen, she left school and relocated to Los Angeles, where she pursued acting classes and danced in clubs to pay her way.

Sonny & Cher

Meeting Sonny Bono in 1962, Cher initially worked as his housekeeper. Through Sonny, she was introduced to record producer Phil Spector and began her journey as a backup singer. Cher and Sonny formed a close bond, transitioning from friendship to romance, and soon began to perform as a duo. Their debut single, “I Got You Babe,” was released in July 1965, catapulting Cher into the limelight.

Stardom

Their debut studio album, “Look at Us” (1965), paved the way for Sonny & Cher to achieve an unprecedented five songs simultaneously in the “Billboard” Top 50, a remarkable achievement matched only by icons like the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Amid the duo’s success, Cher also flourished in her solo career. She signed with Liberty Records’ Imperial label in 1964, producing albums like “All I Really Want to Do” (1965), “The Sonny Side of Cher” (1966), and “Chér” (1966). Her single from 1966, “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” marked her first flight into solo success with a million copies sold.

As the popularity of Sonny & Cher waned, Cher’s solo career soared. She ventured into recording “3614 Jackson Highway” in 1969, her first project without Sonny’s influence. Following their contentious divorce in 1975, Cher diverted entirely into a solo path. She signed a lucrative $2.5 million contract with Warner Bros. Records and released “Stars” (1975), an album that received poor reviews initially, yet has grown into a cult classic.

Cherreturned to television in 1975 with her own show titled “Cher” and subsequently reunited professionally with her ex-husband Sonny on “The Sonny and Cher Show” between 1976 and 1977. In addition to her television pursuits, she continued to create music, having released over twenty studio albums. From 1980 to 1982, she held a residency in Las Vegas, making a remarkable $300 thousand per week. Starting in 2008, she served as a headliner at the Colosseum at Caesars for three years and reportedly earned $180 million from that series.

Acting Career

The earliest forays into acting for Cher included “Good Times” (1967), which she produced alongside Sonny, and the film “Chastity” (1969), which was written, directed, and funded by the couple. Neither of these ventures found success. In 1976, director Robert Altman cast her in a Broadway production titled “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean,” a role she reprised in the 1982 film adaptation sharing the same name. Cher credits this opportunity, facilitated by Altman, as pivotal in launching her career. In 1985, she founded her film production company, Isis, and went on to star in significant films such as “Mask” (1985), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “Moonstruck” (1987), “Mermaids” (1990), “Tea with Mussolini” (1999), and “Burlesque” (2010). Additionally, she portrayed Ruby Sheridan in “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018) and lent her voice to characters in “Zookeeper” (2011) and “Bobbleheads: The Movie” (2020).

Other Projects

Cher, recognized for her distinctive style, has appeared in numerous fashion campaigns, notably the Dsquared2 spring/summer advertising campaign launched in February 2020. Furthermore, she has introduced two fragrances, Cher Eau de Couture (2019) and Uninhibited (1987). During a phase of declining health in the early 1990s, she participated in a series of infomercials due to her inability to engage in other projects. The infomercials promoting health, beauty, and diet products are estimated to have generated nearly $10 million for her.

Throughout her career, Cher has demonstrated significant philanthropic efforts, supporting causes that help children, soldiers, veterans, and the environment. She has actively participated with Habitat for Humanity, and her own Cher Charitable Foundation backs international initiatives such as the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Helmet, and the Children’s Craniofacial Association.

Personal Life

In 1969, Cher officially married Sonny Bono, shortly before welcoming their child Chaz Bono (originally named Chastity Bono) in March of that same year. In February 1974, Sonny initiated a separation, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Cher responded by filing for divorce, alleging that he had withheld money from her and deprived her of their joint earnings. The ensuing legal battle over financial matters and custody of their child concluded in June 1975.

During her split from Sonny, Cher began dating music executive David Geffen. Just four days after her divorce from Sonny was finalized, she tied the knot with musician Gregg Allman but filed for divorce only nine days later. Nevertheless, the couple reconciled, and in July 1976, they welcomed a son, Elijah Blue. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1979. Cher has also been linked to several notable personalities, including Gene Simmons, Eric Stoltz, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora. With properties worldwide valued at approximately $100 million, her Italian villa on Malibu’s coast alone is estimated to be worth between $50-70 million. While widely regarded as a gay icon, Cher’s fan base encompasses a diverse range of admirers. A timeless star, she remains actively engaged in both philanthropic and entertainment endeavors.

Real Estate

Cher has owned various extravagant and more modest homes globally, particularly in the Los Angeles area. Notably, the Beverly Hills estate she once shared with Sonny Bono sold for $90 million in September 2016.

In 2006, she acquired a condo in the renowned Sierra Towers building in LA for $4.5 million. Together with her designer, they transformed it into a Buddhist paradise, featuring high ceilings, arched doorways, Bell Jar ceiling fixtures, and numerous “Eastern” details. Spanning two stories, the condo had walls removed from the twelve-room layout, creating expansive open-plan living spaces. Additionally, a sizable outdoor terrace offers stunning city views. Cher listed this property for sale in February 2015 and ultimately accepted an offer of $5.25 million. Before Cher, this unit was owned by David Geffen at one point.

For the majority of the past thirty years, Cher’s primary home has been an astonishing Italian Renaissance-style mansion perched on the cliffs of Malibu, boasting views of the ocean. This 1.7-acre bluff-top estate features a three-story main house, encompassing 13,000 square feet, along with a tennis court, a pool, and a guest house. Cher purchased the vacant land for $2.95 million in 1989, and it took five years to complete construction, which was officially finished in 1999.

In August 2008, Cher put her Malibu mansion on the market for the first time, just ahead of the real estate downturn, with an asking price of $45 million. Fast forward to October 2022, and she re-listed the property, this time for an astounding $85 million. By March 2023, the price had been lowered to $75 million.

Previously, Cher owned a waterfront residence in Key Biscayne, Florida, which was sold for $8.8 million in 2006. Additionally, in 2019, she experienced a minor loss on her Beverly Hills property, which sold for $2.073 million.