Cher Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Cher’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $360 million, Cher is an American singer, actress, and television personality. Known as a cultural icon, her influential career spans several decades. To this day, she has sold over 100 million records, positioning her among the best-selling musical artists worldwide. Some of her remarkable accolades include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival award. As part of the duo Sonny & Cher, her name is enshrined on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Having established herself as one half of the iconic music duo Sonny & Cher in the mid-60s, Cher quickly gained fame on television with the “Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” and later, her own show, “Cher,” during the ‘70s. She became a Las Vegas sensation before returning to Hollywood for films. This return marked a successful chapter in her career, leading to significant roles in major films throughout the late ‘80s, such as “Silkwood,” “Mask,” “The Witches of Eastwick,” and “Moonstruck.” Her performance in “Moonstruck” earned her an Oscar for Best Actress, and shortly after, her album “Heart of Stone” reignited her presence on music charts. Cher stands out as the only artist to receive an Oscar, a Grammy, an Emmy, three Golden Globe awards, and a Best Actress distinction at Cannes, in addition to being the only musical artist with a #1 song on the “Billboard” charts in every decade over the last sixty years.

Early Life

Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian in El Centro, California, on May 20, 1946. Her parents, John Sarkisian and Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch), divorced when Cher was just ten months old. Throughout her childhood, she moved alongside her mother, living in California, New York, and Texas. At the age of sixteen, she dropped out of school and relocated to Los Angeles, where she took acting classes while dancing in clubs to make a living.

Sonny & Cher

In 1962, Cher met entertainer Sonny Bono and initially worked as his housekeeper. He connected her with record producer Phil Spector, leading Cher to become a backup singer. A close friendship developed between Sonny and Cher, evolving into a romantic relationship, and eventually, they began performing together. They launched their music career with their first single, “I Got You Babe,” released in July 1965, which catapulted Cher into the limelight.

Stardom

Their debut studio album, “Look at Us” (1965), contributed to them landing five songs on the “Billboard” Top 50 simultaneously—a milestone previously achieved only by the Beatles and Elvis Presley. While achieving success as Sonny & Cher, Cher also pursued a successful solo career. She signed with Liberty Records’ Imperial label in 1964, producing albums such as “All I Really Want to Do” (1965), “The Sonny Side of Cher” (1966), and “Chér” (1966). Her song “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” released in 1966 was her first solo single to reach a million copies sold.

As the popularity of Sonny & Cher waned, Cher’s solo career flourished. In 1969, she recorded “3614 Jackson Highway,” the first album she created independently of Sonny’s influence. Subsequently, they were offered a television show, leading to the launch of “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour” in 1971. After their tumultuous divorce, finalized in 1975, Cher transitioned to a fully solo career. She inked a $2.5 million contract with Warner Bros. Records and released “Stars” (1975), which, while initially not successful, has since garnered a cult following.

Cherreturned to television in 1975 with her show, “Cher,” later joining forces with her former husband Sonny on “The Sonny and Cher Show” from 1976 to 1977. She has remained active in music, releasing over twenty studio albums throughout her career. From 1980 until 1982, she held a residency in Las Vegas, where she earned $300 thousand weekly. Beginning in 2008, she performed for three years at the Colosseum at Caesars, with total gross earnings from the series reportedly reaching $180 million.

Acting Career

Her initial forays into acting included “Good Times” (1967), which she produced with Sonny, and the film “Chastity” (1969), a project she co-created with him. Both were not successful. In 1976, director Robert Altman cast Cher in the Broadway production “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean,” a role she reprised in the film adaptation of 1982. Altman is credited by Cher for helping to kickstart her acting career. In 1985, she founded her own production company, Isis, and went on to feature in movies like “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 voiced characters in “Zookeeper” (2011) and “Bobbleheads: The Movie” (2020).

Other Projects

Acknowledged for her fashion sense, Cher has participated in numerous advertising campaigns, including Dsquared2’s spring/summer campaign in February 2020. Furthermore, she has introduced two fragrances: Cher Eau de Couture (2019) and Uninhibited (1987). During a period of health challenges in the early 1990s, Cher appeared in a series of infomercials as she was unable to pursue other projects. It is estimated that her infomercials, promoting health, beauty, and diet products, earned her nearly $10 million.

Cher has shown considerable dedication to philanthropy throughout her career, supporting various causes aimed at helping children, soldiers, veterans, and environmental initiatives. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, and her own The Cher Charitable Foundation backs international projects 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 after welcoming their child Chaz Bono (originally named Chastity Bono) in March of that year. By February 1974, Sonny had filed for separation, citing “irreconcilable differences.” In response, Cher filed for divorce, alleging that he had withheld funds from her and denied her access to their shared earnings. The ensuing court dispute concerning finances and child custody concluded in June 1975.

While undergoing her divorce from Sonny, Cher started a relationship with record executive David Geffen. Just four days post-divorce from Sonny, she tied the knot with musician Gregg Allman but applied for divorce only nine days afterward. Nonetheless, they reconciled and welcomed their son, Elijah Blue, in July 1976. Their divorce was finalized in 1979. Noteworthy individuals Cher has been linked to include Gene Simmons, Eric Stoltz, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora. Cher possesses properties worldwide with an estimated total value of $100 million, including an Italian villa on the Malibu coast valued between $50-70 million. Although often regarded as a gay icon, Cher’s fan base undeniably spans beyond a single demographic. As a timeless celebrity, she remains active in philanthropy and the entertainment industry.

Real Estate

Cher has had ownership of several luxurious and less extravagant homes globally, particularly in the Los Angeles area. Notably, she sold the Beverly Hills estate she once shared with Sonny Bono for $90 million in September 2016.

In 2006, Cher acquired a $4.5 million condo in the acclaimed LA building known as Sierra Towers. Together with her designer, they transformed it into a Buddhist paradise. This two-story condo boasts high ceilings, arched entryways, Bell Jar ceiling fixtures, and various “Eastern” influences. The twelve-room interior underwent significant changes, eliminating walls to create expansive open-plan levels. Additionally, it features a spacious outdoor terrace offering stunning city views. Cher listed this unit for sale in February 2015 and eventually agreed to sell for $5.25 million. Before Cher’s ownership, this unit had briefly belonged to David Geffen.

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

Initially, Cher put her Malibu mansion on the market in August 2008, just before the onset of the real estate crisis, with a price tag of $45 million. In October 2022, the property reappeared for sale, this time at an impressive $85 million, which she later reduced to $75 million in March 2023.

Previously, Cher owned a waterfront residence in Key Biscayne, Florida, which she sold for $8.8 million back in 2006. Additionally, in 2019, she experienced a minor financial setback when selling her Beverly Hills property for $2.073 million.