Cher Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Cher’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $360 million, Cher stands out as an American singer, actress, and television personality. Her illustrious career, spanning several decades, has earned her recognition as a cultural icon. Having sold over 100 million records thus far, she ranks among the world’s best-selling musical artists. Cher’s impressive accolades include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival award. Moreover, she is honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of the Sonny & Cher duo.

Beginning in the mid-60s, Cher rose to fame as one half of the popular music duo Sonny & Cher, paving her way into television with the hit “Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and later starring in her own show, “Cher,” throughout the 1970s. Following her successes in Las Vegas, she was drawn back to Hollywood for film roles. This return led to multiple high-profile appearances in the ’80s in movies like “Silkwood,” “Mask,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” and “Moonstruck,” for which she received an Oscar for Best Actress. Almost immediately, her music career surged again with the release of her album “Heart of Stone.” Cher uniquely holds the distinction of being the only artist to achieve an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, three Golden Globes, and a Best Actress title at Cannes while simultaneously being the only musical artist to reach #1 on the “Billboard” charts in every decade over the last sixty years.

Early Life

Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, experienced an unstable early life. Her parents, John Sarkisian and Georgia Holt (originally Jackie Jean Crouch), divorced when she was just ten months old. As a result, Cher and her mother moved frequently, residing in various locations including California, New York, and Texas. At sixteen, she chose to leave school and relocate to Los Angeles, where she pursued acting classes and danced in clubs to make ends meet.

Sonny & Cher

In 1962, Cher crossed paths with performer Sonny Bono, initially taking on the role of his housekeeper. He introduced her to producer Phil Spector, which allowed her to begin working as a backup singer. Their friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship, leading them to perform together. The duo released their debut single, “I Got You Babe,” in July 1965, marking a significant turning point in Cher’s journey to stardom.

Stardom

Their first studio album, “Look at Us” (1965), achieved remarkable success, placing five songs in the “Billboard” Top 50 simultaneously—an accomplishment previously matched only by the Beatles and Elvis Presley. While riding the wave of success with Sonny & Cher, Cher simultaneously carved out a successful solo career. In 1964, she signed with Liberty Records’ Imperial imprint, leading to the releases of “All I Really Want to Do” (1965), “The Sonny Side of Cher” (1966), and “Chér” (1966). Her 1966 single “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” became her first solo hit to surpass one million copies sold.

As the popularity of Sonny & Cher waned, Cher’s solo career flourished. Her 1969 album “3614 Jackson Highway” marked a significant shift as it was her first project made without Sonny’s influence. They later launched their own television series, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which debuted in 1971. Following their contentious divorce, finalized in 1975, Cher stepped into a fully solo career. This period began with a $2.5 million contract with Warner Bros. Records and the release of the album “Stars” (1975), which, while initially met with mixed reviews, has since gained cult classic status.

CherCher made her television comeback in 1975 with her own show, “Cher,” and later reconnected with her former husband Sonny on “The Sonny and Cher Show” (1976-1977). She continued her musical career, releasing more than twenty studio albums. From 1980 to 1982, Cher held a residency in Las Vegas, earning approximately $300 thousand weekly. In 2008, she began headlining at the Colosseum at Caesars for three years, reportedly amassing $180 million from the performances.

Acting Career

Her earliest acting endeavors included “Good Times” (1967), produced alongside Sonny, and the film “Chastity” (1969), which Sonny both wrote and directed, with the couple funding it. Both projects did not achieve success. In 1976, director Robert Altman cast Cher in the Broadway show “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean,” a role she reprised in the 1982 film version. Cher attributes her career launch to Altman and this opportunity. She established her film production company, Isis, in 1985, going on to feature in 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 provided her voice for characters in “Zookeeper” (2011) and “Bobbleheads: The Movie” (2020).

Other Projects

Cher, known for her distinctive style, has participated in numerous fashion campaigns, including the Dsquared2 spring/summer campaign in February 2020. Moreover, she has launched two fragrances: Cher Eau de Couture (2019) and Uninhibited (1987). Due to health issues in the early 1990s, she appeared in a series of infomercials as she was unable to engage in other projects. Her various infomercials promoting health, beauty, and diet products are estimated to have generated nearly $10 million in earnings.

Throughout her career, Cher has demonstrated significant philanthropy, supporting causes aimed at aiding children, veterans, soldiers, and environmental initiatives. She has collaborated with Habitat for Humanity and founded The Cher Charitable Foundation, which contributes to international projects like the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Helmet, and the Children’s Craniofacial Association.

Personal Life

In 1969, Cher officially married Sonny Bono, shortly after welcoming their child Chaz Bono (originally named Chastity Bono) in March of that year. Sonny initiated separation proceedings in February 1974, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Cher responded with a divorce filing, alleging that he had withheld funds from her and denied her a share of their joint earnings. Their protracted legal dispute regarding finances and child custody culminated in June 1975.

While going through her divorce from Sonny, Cher was romantically involved with record executive David Geffen. Just four days post-divorce from Sonny, she wed musician Gregg Allman, only to file for divorce nine days later. Nevertheless, they reconciled and welcomed a son, Elijah Blue, in July 1976. Cher and Allman’s marriage officially ended in 1979. Throughout her life, she has also had relationships with prominent figures such as Gene Simmons, Eric Stoltz, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora. Cher’s property holdings around the globe are valued at approximately $100 million, with her Italian villa on Malibu’s coast estimated to be worth between $50-70 million. Although widely regarded as a gay icon, Cher’s fan base is diverse and extends well beyond any singular demographic. She remains a perennial star, actively engaged in charitable work and the entertainment industry.

Real Estate

Cher has possessed a variety of extravagant and moderately priced residences around the globe, with a significant concentration in the Los Angeles region. A prime example includes the Beverly Hills estate she once shared with Sonny Bono, which sold for $90 million in September 2016.

In 2006, Cher acquired a condominium in the renowned Sierra Towers building in Los Angeles for $4.5 million. She collaborated with her designer to transform it into a Buddhist paradise. This condo boasts high ceilings, arched doorways, Bell Jar ceiling fixtures, and numerous “Eastern” design elements. Spanning two stories, the twelve-room interior was reconfigured to create two expansive open-plan levels. A large terrace enhances the space, offering breathtaking city views. Cher put this unit on the market in February 2015 and subsequently sold it for $5.25 million. Before Cher’s ownership, the unit had once belonged to David Geffen.

For almost thirty years, Cher’s main residence has been an exceptional Italian Renaissance-style mansion perched on the cliffs of Malibu, overlooking the ocean. This 1.7-acre bluff-top estate includes a three-story main house of 13,000 square feet, along with a tennis court, pool, and guest house. Cher purchased the undeveloped land for $2.95 million in 1989, and it took five years for the construction to be completed, officially wrapping up in 1999.

In August 2008, Cher initially put her Malibu mansion on the market, shortly before the onset of the real estate crisis, with a price tag of $45 million. Fast forward to October 2022, she re-listed the property for a staggering $85 million. By March 2023, the asking price had been reduced to $75 million.

Before her Malibu residence, Cher owned a waterfront property in Key Biscayne, Florida, which she sold for $8.8 million in 2006. In 2019, she incurred a small loss when she sold a home in Beverly Hills for $2.073 million.