Cher Net Worth: The Power Behind Her Success

Cher net worth in 2024 continues to intrigue fans and music lovers around the world. As an iconic figure in the entertainment industry, she has enjoyed a remarkable career spanning decades, marked by her powerful vocals and memorable performances. Cher is not just a music legend; she has also made a significant impact in film and fashion.

Let’s explore his earnings, sources of income, and the journey that has contributed to his impressive net worth.

What is Cher Net Worth in 2024?

Cher is an American singer, actress, and television personality with a net worth of $360 Million as of 2024. The main source of Cher’s wealth comes from her successful career in entertainment, including music, acting, and television.

She gained fame as a singer with hits like “Believe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time,” and her music has earned her significant income through album sales, concerts, and royalties.

Additionally, Cher has made money from her acting roles in movies and TV shows, such as “Moonstruck” and “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which added to her wealth. Her long-lasting career and popularity have helped her accumulate a substantial net worth.

Cher’s Early Life 

Cherilyn Sarkisian known as Cher was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro California. Her father John Sarkisian was an Armenian-American truck driver with issues related to drugs and gambling. Her mother Georgia Holt was a former model and actress with Irish, English, German, and Cherokee heritage. her paternal grandparents survived the Armenian Genocide.

Her father was mostly absent when she was a baby and her parents divorced when she was just ten months old. Her mother then married actor John Southall who became Cher’s stepfather and the father of her half-sister Georganne.

After moving to Los Angeles, Her mother started acting while also working as a waitress. She took on the stage name Georgia Holt and appeared in minor film and TV roles. Holt even got small parts for Cher and her sister on shows like “The Adventures of Ozzie” and “Harriet.” Her mother’s marriage to Southall ended when Cher was nine but she still viewed him as a father figure though he could be difficult when drinking.

Holt went on to marry and divorce several times moving the family around the country including to New York Texas and California. Money was often tight and Cher recalled using rubber bands to keep her shoes together. At one point, she was placed in an orphanage for a few weeks which was a difficult experience for both her and her mother even though they visited daily.

Cher’s Career

Cher Beginnings

As a fifth grader, Cher performed Oklahoma! for her class. She led a group of girls in dance routines and took on male roles herself. By age nine she had developed a surprisingly deep voice. She admired film stars like Audrey Hepburn from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and was also inspired by Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, and Katharine Hepburn. Despite her childhood dreams of fame, She felt unattractive and untalented thinking “I didn’t think I’d be a singer or dancer. I just thought well I’ll be famous.”

In 1961, Her family moved to a new school after her mother married Gilbert LaPiere. Montclair College Preparatory School where Cher was enrolled was filled with wealthy students. She stood out due to her unique appearance and outgoing personality. Although she wasn’t the best student she excelled in French and English. Her unconventional behavior like performing at lunch and wearing bold outfits made her memorable. She later discovered she had dyslexia and often felt disconnected from school and focused on her dreams of fame.

Breakthrough

At 16, she dropped out of school and moved to Los Angeles with a friend. She took acting classes and worked at clubs while trying to meet industry people. She met Sonny Bono in 1962 who introduced her to record producer Phil Spector. She started singing backup for Spector’s recordings and released her first single under the name Bonnie Jo Mason. This single was rejected by radio stations due to Cher’s deep voice which they mistook for a man’s.

Cher and Sonny became close eventually marrying and performing together under the name Caesar & Cleo. Their first singles didn’t do well but by the end of 1964, She signed with Liberty Records. Her cover of Bob Dylan’s “All I Want to Do” hit number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. The duo later changed their name to Sonny & Cher and gained fame with their hit “I Got You Babe” which topped the charts.

Career setbacks

By the late 1960s, Sonny and Cher’s music faced stiff competition from newer louder bands. She was drawn to the changing music scene but Sonny preferred to stick with their folk-rock style. Their attempt to capture a younger audience with the film “Good Times” failed and their next album Backstage did not succeed commercially.

The Goddess of Pop recorded “3614 Jackson Highway” in 1969 which was praised for its R&B and soul experiments. Despite this Sonny prevented her from releasing more music. Their relationship began to strain leading to their eventual divorce though they remained married until 1975.

Television breakthrough

In 1971, Cher and Sonny launched “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” a TV show that became a hit. Her humor and style including her Bob Mackie outfits made the show a favorite. Her solo music career saw a boost with the hit single “Gypsys Tramps & Thieves” in 1971 and she continued to release successful music.

However, Sonny and Cher’s recording career faced challenges leading her to release albums like “Foxy Lady” and “Bittersweet White Light.” Despite mixed results, Her show and personal style kept her in the public eye.

Divorce

Cher and Sonny’s marriage ended in 1975 and Cher started a new chapter with rock musician Gregg Allman. Their marriage troubled by Allman’s substance issues ended in divorce by 1979. Cher’s attempts at a comeback with disco music including the album “Take Me Home” proved successful but her rock album “Prisoner” faced criticism.

The Goddess of Pop’s involvement with the rock band Black Rose and her Las Vegas residency showed her versatility but faced mixed success. She continued to have a strong presence with TV specials and a hit duet with Meat Loaf.

Second musical comeback

In 1979, Her comeback with the disco single “Take Me Home” and its album was a hit becoming gold-certified. Despite initial resistance, Cher embraced disco and released “Prisoner” with mixed results. She also worked with Giorgio Moroder and formed the band Black Rose though it did not last. Her Las Vegas residency and TV specials solidified her place in entertainment while her 1981 duet with Meat Loaf and 1982 album “I Paralyze” showcased her enduring talent.

In the early 1980s, She shifted focus from her declining music career to acting. Despite her previous films not doing well, she was eager to improve her acting skills. She moved to New York to study under Lee Strasberg but didn’t start classes. Instead, she landed a role in the Broadway play “Come Back to the 5 & Dime Jimmy Dean” which led to a film adaptation.

Her performance in “Silkwood” caught attention earning her an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe. By 1985, Cher was making a significant impact with “Mask” which was both a critical and commercial hit. She won the Cannes Film Festival Award for her role but faced conflicts with the director and missed an Oscar nomination.

Her bold appearance at the 1988 Academy Awards in a striking outfit brought her considerable media attention. She also made headlines with her 1986 TV appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” where she called Letterman “an asshole” which stirred controversy.

Moonstruck

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, She enjoyed a successful period both in music and film. She starred in “Moonstruck” which won her an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe. Her 1989 album “Heart of Stone” was a commercial success, especially with the hit single “If I Could Turn Back Time” known for its provocative music video.

In the 1990s, she faced health issues and a dip in her career leading her to work on infomercials and launch a catalog business. Despite this, she continued to release successful music and appeared in films. Her 1995 album “It’s a Man’s World” received critical praise and her 1999 album “Believe” became a massive hit topping charts worldwide and earning her a Grammy Award.

Her 2000 album, “Not Commercial” was mostly written by her after a 1994 songwriting conference. Her label rejected it for being too unconventional so she sold it directly on her website. The song “Sisters of Mercy” criticized nuns who prevented her mother from taking her out of an orphanage leading to backlash from the Catholic church.

In 2001, She released “Living Proof” a dance-focused album that debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and went gold. It featured the UK hit “The Music’s No Good Without You” and “Song for the Lonely” dedicated to New Yorkers after September 11. In 2002 she won Dance/Club Play Artist of the Year and was named Artist of the Year by Billboard with her wealth estimated at $600 million.

Cher’s Living Proof: The Farewell Tour began in June 2002 and became the highest-grossing tour by a woman at the time earning $145 million from 200 shows. A live album from the tour was released in 2003 and a TV special drew 17 million viewers winning her a Primetime Emmy Award.

Stuck on You

After leaving Warner UK in 2002 she signed with Warner Bros. in 2003. The Very Best of Cher reached number four on the Billboard 200 and was certified double platinum. She also appeared in the comedy “Stuck on You” and produced a documentary about her mother Georgia Holt in 2013.

In 2013 album “Closer to the Truth” debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 her highest chart position at the time. She performed “Woman’s World” on The Voice and joined the show as an adviser. In 2014, she began the Dressed to Kill Tour but had to cancel part of it due to health issues.

In 2018, Cher returned to film with “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” playing Ruby Sheridan. Her album “Dancing Queen” featuring ABBA covers debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and topped the Top Album Sales chart. She also received a Kennedy Center Honor and launched a new perfume, Cher Eau de Couture.

In 2020, She voiced a bobblehead version of herself in “Bobbleheads: The Movie.” She also appeared in various campaigns and released her first Spanish-language song. In 2023, her Christmas album hit number one on multiple Billboard charts extending her record to seven decades with a number-one song.

In 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and announced that her memoir would be released in November 2024.

Cher’s Personal Life

Cher and Sonny Bono got married in 1969, right after she had their child Chaz Bono in March. Sonny filed for separation in February 1974 claiming they had irreconcilable differences. She then sued for divorce alleging Sonny withheld money and kept some of their earnings. Their legal disputes over money and their child’s custody ended in June 1975.

While going through the divorce, Cher dated record executive David Geffen. Just four days after her divorce from Sonny was finalized, Cher married musician Gregg Allman but filed for divorce only nine days later. They later reconciled and had a son Elijah Blue born in July 1976. Cher and Allman divorced again in 1979. She has also been linked to Gene Simmons, Eric Stoltz, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora.

Cher’s Philanthropy

Cher has dedicated much of her time and resources to various charitable causes. Her philanthropic efforts include supporting health research improving the lives of patients fighting poverty advocating for veterans’ rights and helping vulnerable children.

Cher’s Charitable Foundation backs international projects like the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Helmet, and the Children’s Craniofacial Association. This foundation aims to support families with children who have facial disfigurements providing hope and empowerment. Cher also helps with Get A-Head Charitable Trust which works to improve the lives of people with head and neck diseases.

Since 1990, Cher has been actively involved with the Children’s Craniofacial Association serving as a donor and national chairperson. Her annual Family Retreat helps children with craniofacial conditions and their siblings and parents connect with others in similar situations. She also supports Keep a Child Alive which fights the AIDS pandemic by providing antiretroviral medicine to affected children and families. Cher’s efforts in this area earned her the amfAR Award of Inspiration in 2015.

In 2007, Cher became a major supporter of the Peace Village School in Kenya which provides essential services to over 300 orphans and vulnerable children. Her support helped build permanent facilities and combat malaria.

She has shown strong support for American soldiers and veterans by donating to Operation Helmet and the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. She also participated in humanitarian efforts in Armenia in 1993 delivering food and medical supplies.

Cher Real Estate

Cher has owned many homes, both big and small, mostly around Los Angeles. One of her famous homes was a Beverly Hills estate she shared with Sonny Bono, which sold in 2016 for $90 million.

In 2006, Cher bought a condo in the Sierra Towers building for $4.5 million. She remodeled it with a Buddhist theme, making it two open floors with high ceilings and city views. She sold it in 2015 for $5.25 million. Before Cher, the condo belonged to David Geffen.

For most of the last 30 years, Cher lived in a huge Italian-style mansion in Malibu, sitting on 1.7 acres. The mansion has a tennis court, pool, guest house, and a 13,000-square-foot main house. Cher bought the land in 1989 for $2.95 million and finished building the mansion in 1999. She tried to sell it in 2008 for $45 million. In 2022, she put it back on the market for $85 million but later dropped the price to $75 million in 2023.

Cher also owned a home in Key Biscayne, Florida, which sold for $8.8 million in 2006, and another in Beverly Hills, which she sold for $2.073 million in 2019.