Paul Anka Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Paul Anka’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $80 million, Paul Anka OC is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor. Rising to fame in the late 1950s with popular songs such as “Diana,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” he became a teen idol. His adaptability as a composer and performer allowed him to successfully transition through the evolving styles of popular music, from rock and roll to adult contemporary and beyond. Anka has written more than 900 songs, including enduring classics like “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” and “Lonely Boy.” He is also renowned for writing the lyrics to Frank Sinatra’s iconic song “My Way” and composing Tom Jones’s famous track “She’s a Lady.” Additionally, Anka created the theme music for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” More recently, he co-wrote Michael Jackson’s hits “This Is It” and “Love Never Felt So Good,” both of which achieved significant success following Jackson’s death. Paul Anka’s son-in-law is actor Jason Bateman, who is married to his daughter Amanda Anka.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Paul Anka is the son of Camelia and Andrew, who both have Lebanese Christian roots. His mother immigrated from Lebanon, while his father hailed from Syria. Anka first showcased his singing talent with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir and learned to play the piano under the guidance of Winnifred Rees. During his high school years at Fisher Park High School, he formed a vocal group called the Bobby Soxers, and by the age of 14, he recorded his debut single, “I Confess.”

Rise to Fame

In 1956, Anka made his way to New York City to audition for Don Costa at ABC Records, performing “Diana,” which would soon become one of his major hits. The song, released in 1957, reached the #1 position on both US and Canadian charts, establishing itself as one of the highest-selling singles by a Canadian artist. Continuing his streak of success in 1958, he released four songs that landed in the top 20, including “It’s Time to Cry,” which peaked at #4, and “(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings,” which reached #15. At just 17, Anka was recognized as one of the most significant teen idols of his era. His career took him on tours to the UK and Australia, where he performed alongside Buddy Holly. Anka also contributed the song “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” for Holly, just before the latter’s tragic passing in 1959.

Among his notable achievements, Anka composed the celebrated theme for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” In 1960, he created “Teddy,” a top 20 hit for Connie Francis, and he later penned the English lyrics for Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “My Way.” In addition to songwriting, Anka ventured into acting and began composing songs for films, including “Lonely Boy,” which he performed in the movie “Girls Town,” and the theme for the war film “The Longest Day.” However, by the end of the 1960s, Anka’s career faced challenges due to the British Invasion, prompting him to focus more on contemporary and big-band standards while frequently performing in Las Vegas casinos.

Career in the 1970s and 80s

During the early 1970s, Anka joined Buddah Records and released two albums titled “Paul Anka” and “Jubilation.” For the former, which debuted in 1971, he wrote “She’s a Lady.” Although his version

The song, which initially failed to chart, gained massive popularity after Welsh artist Tom Jones released his version later that year.

After a hiatus of more than ten years from the top 25, Anka signed on with United Artists. In collaboration with singer Odia Coates in 1974, he successfully made a comeback with the #1 hit “(You’re) Having My Baby.” Two additional duets with Coates made it into the top 10: “One Man Woman/One Woman Man” and “I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone.” Another collaboration, “(I Believe) There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love,” reached #15. In 1975, Paul enjoyed further success with “Times of Your Life,” a jingle he recorded for Kodak, which was so well-received that Anka expanded it into a full song, soaring to #7 on the US pop chart. Other notable hits included “Anytime (I’ll Be There),” written for Sinatra, and “Hold Me ‘Til the Mornin’ Comes,” which marked Paul’s last top 40 hit in the US in 1983.

Recordings in the 1990s and 2000s

In 1998, Anka released “A Body of Work,” his first new American studio album since “Walk a Fine Line” in 1983. This album featured contributions from artists like Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, and Kenny G, among others. It was followed by “Rock Swings” in 2005, which featured big-band renditions of modern rock songs. He also released “Songs of December,” which reached #58 in Canada, along with the album “Duets” in 2013.

Acting Career

Anka appeared in several films including “Let’s Rock,” “Verboten!,” “Girls Town,” “The Private Lives of Adam & Eve,” and “Look in Any Window.” His major film debut came in 1962 with a role as an army private in “The Longest Day.” He later guest-starred in the television movie “The Case of the Maligned Mobster,” based on Perry Mason, and portrayed a yacht broker in the comedy “Captain Ron,” starring Kurt Russell. In 1995, Paul lent his voice to himself for the annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode of “The Simpsons,” and the following year, he was featured in the ensemble crime-comedy “Mad Dog Time.” His later acting credits include the 2001 film “3000 Miles to Graceland,” the NBC series “Las Vegas,” and a role as himself in the dramedy series “Gilmore Girls.”

Personal Life

Anka was married to Anne de Zogheb, the daughter of a Lebanese diplomat, from 1963 to 2001. They have five daughters: Amelia, Anthea, Alicia, Amanda, and Alexandra. His daughter Amanda is married to actor Jason Bateman. In 2008, Anka married Swedish model and actress Anna Åberg, who had been his personal trainer prior to their marriage. Their relationship ended in divorce in 2010, with Paul gaining full custody of their son. In 2016, he married Lisa Pemberton in Beverly Hills.

Real Estate

Paul purchased a 6,000-square-foot mansion in Westlake Village, California, for $3.9 million in April 2007. He listed this property for sale in August 2024 at a price of $10 million.