Paul Anka Net Worth: Discovering His True Fortune

Paul Anka net worth in 2024 is a topic that sparks interest among fans and music lovers. Known for his timeless songs and smooth voice, Anka has been a staple in the music industry for decades. His career has taken him from early rock ‘n’ roll hits to sophisticated ballads, making him one of the most respected names in music.

So, let’s take a closer look at how Anka built his fortune and the sources of his lasting success.

What is Paul Anka Net Worth in 2024?

Paul Anka is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and actor with a net worth of $80 million as of 2024. Paul Anka built most of his wealth from his long career in music as a singer, songwriter, and performer.

He became famous in the 1950s with hit songs like “Diana,” and he continued to create popular music for decades. Anka also wrote songs for other big stars, including “My Way” for Frank Sinatra, which brought in significant royalties.

Besides music, he made money from acting and investments, but his music and songwriting have been his biggest income sources. Even today, he earns from royalties whenever his songs are played, keeping his wealth growing steadily over time.

Paul Anka’s Early Life

Paul Albert Anka was born on July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario. His parents were Camelia and Andrew “Andy” Anka Sr. His dad owned a restaurant called Locanda. Anka’s family was of Lebanese Christian descent, but his ancestors came from Syria. His father was from Damascus and his mother was from Lebanon. Sadly, his mother passed away when he was 18.

Anka started singing with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir and learned music theory from Frederick Karam, the choir’s director. He also attended Fisher Park High School, where he sang in a vocal group called the Bobby Soxers.

Paul Anka’s Career

Early Success

Paul Anka began his music career at 14 with his first single, I Confess. In 1956, his uncle gave him $100, and he traveled to New York City to audition for ABC Records. Anka performed a song, Diana, which he had written for a girl from his church. Diana became a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the charts in both Canada and the US, making him a teenage star. He followed this success with songs like It’s Time to Cry and (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings. In 1959, Anka wrote It Doesn’t Matter Anymore for his friend Buddy Holly, who recorded it just before his tragic passing.

Songwriting and Acting

Anka became a sought-after songwriter, creating music for others and appearing in movies. He wrote the theme for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and songs for artists like Connie Francis with Teddy.

In the 1960s, Anka acted in movies and wrote film music, including for The Longest Day, where he also had a small role. His own hit Lonely Boy was recorded for a film. His popularity grew as he performed in Las Vegas and became one of the first pop singers to appear in major casinos.

Comeback

After a quiet period in his career, Anka signed with United Artists in the 1970s, sparking a major comeback. He teamed up with singer Odia Coates for the No. 1 song (You’re) Having My Baby. They also released more duets like One Man Woman/One Woman Man, I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone, and (I Believe) There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love. Anka recorded the popular Kodak jingle Times of Your Life, which became a hit. He also had success with Anytime (I’ll Be There) and collaborated with Peter Cetera on Hold Me ‘Til the Mornin’ Comes.

Return and Collaborations

In 1998, Anka released A Body of Work, featuring duets with Celine Dion, Kenny G, Patti LaBelle, and Peter Cetera. This was his first U.S. album in 15 years. In 2005, he released Rock Swings, which included big-band versions of Rock songs, giving his career a fresh boost. Anka also co-wrote This Is It with Michael Jackson, and later, Love Never Felt So Good. His holiday album Songs of December was well received, reaching No. 58 in Canada.

Success in Italy

Anka enjoyed great popularity in Italy, collaborating with Italian artists like Ennio Morricone and Mogol. He released Italian-language singles, including the hit Ogni giorno, which reached No. 1. He participated in Italy’s Sanremo Festival with Ogni volta, which sold over a million copies. In 2006, he recorded a new version of Diana with Adriano Celentano, reaching No. 3 on the Italian charts.

Popularity in Finland

Anka became a favorite in Finland, performing in Helsinki’s Linnanmäki in 1959 and appearing in other cities over the years. He performed at the Pori Jazz Festival in 2007 and 2012. Anka even appeared in the Finnish film Prince of the Hit Parade with his song How Long as background music.

Other International Work

Anka also explored the French market with Comme Avant and released the French-language album Paul Anka à Paris. He recorded in Japanese and collaborated with Filipino singer Regine Velasquez on the duet It’s Hard to Say Goodbye, later re-recorded with Celine Dion. Anka performed multiple times in Israel, staying true to his music despite calls for a boycott in 2019.

Paul Anka’s Acting career

Paul Anka’s first major movie role was in The Longest Day. He played a small part as an army private and also wrote the movie’s theme song. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, he appeared in teen movies like Girls Town and Look in Any Window.

He also starred in 3000 Miles to Graceland as a casino manager and Captain Ron as a yacht broker. Anka was in the TV movie The Case of the Maligned Mobster and made guest appearances on That ’70s Show and Gilmore Girls as himself. He also appeared in the Las Vegas TV series.

Anka was the focus of a 1962 documentary called Lonely Boy. He also worked on the 1985 children’s cartoon George and the Christmas Star. Anka appeared on The Simpsons in an episode where he sang with Lisa. He also appeared on American Idol seasons 2 and 3, where he performed a funny version of his song “My Way.” Anka played Buddy Maus in Kojak.

In 1970, Anka performed on The Morecambe and Wise Show, singing “My Way”. This show was rebroadcast in 2021 after it was thought to be lost. On That 70s Show, he made an appearance in the episode “Red’s Last Day”. On Gilmore Girls, Lorelai Gilmore named her dog after him. The character Paul Anka even appeared in a dream sequence on the show.

Anka also competed on The Masked Singer as “Broccoli” and finished 7th place during the Group C finals.

Paul Anka’s Personal Life

Paul Anka was married to Anne de Zogheb, who was half-English and half-Lebanese. They got married on February 16, 1963, and stayed together until 2001. They met in 1962 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Anne was a fashion model at the time.

Her father, Charles de Zogheb, was a Lebanese diplomat. They had a wedding at Paris-Orly Airport. Anka has a daughter named Amanda, who is married to actor Jason Bateman.

Anka became a U.S. citizen on September 6, 1990. In 2008, he married his trainer, Anna Åberg, in Sardinia, Italy. They divorced in 2010, and Anka got full custody of their son. Anna appeared on a Swedish TV show called Svenska Hollywoodfruar (Swedish Hollywood Wives).

Anka released an autobiography in 2013 called My Way, which he co-wrote with David Dalton. In 2016, he married Lisa Pemberton in Beverly Hills. However, they divorced in 2020.

Paul Anka’s Awards 

Paul Anka, a famous singer and songwriter, grew up in Ottawa, Canada. The city honored him by naming a street Paul Anka Drive in 1972. Later, the Ottawa City Council dedicated August 26 as “Paul Anka Day” to celebrate his 25 years in show business.

Paul Anka’s Real Estate

Mansion Purchase

In April 2007, Paul bought a big house in Westlake Village, California. The house was 6,000 square feet, and he paid $3.9 million for it.

Listing the Mansion for Sale

In August 2024, Paul put the house up for sale. He listed it for $10 million, much more than he had paid.