Tony Bennett Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Was Tony Bennett’s Net Worth?

At the time of his passing, Tony Bennett, an iconic American singer and performer, had a net worth valued at $200 million. He passed away on July 21, 2023, having lived to the age of 96.

Launching his career in the early 1950s after serving in World War II, Bennett quickly rose to prominence, becoming a global music sensation. The 1950s and 1960s saw him produce hits like “Because of You,” “Rags to Riches,” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Additionally, he collaborated with jazz legends such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Bill Evans.

Although his fame waned in the 1970s, the 1980s marked a resurgence with the release of “The Art of Excellence.” He maintained an active recording and touring schedule through the 1990s and 2000s, partnering with modern artists like Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga, and Ed Sheeran.

As part of his illustrious career, Tony Bennett garnered 20 Grammy Awards, including a prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and he sold over 50 million records internationally.

Early Life

On August 3, 1926, Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Queens, New York. His father John Benedetto was a grocer, while his mother Anna was a seamstress. Growing up in the shadow of the Great Depression, Tony shared a modest upbringing with his two older siblings, Mary and John Jr. The death of their father when Tony was only ten added to their challenges.

From a young age, Tony listened to the music of artists such as Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and Jack Teagarden. By 13, he worked as a singing waiter in various Italian restaurants throughout Queens. Not just a singer, Bennett possessed talent as a caricaturist and attended New York’s School of Industrial Art, focusing on painting and music, but left at 16 to help his family financially. He took on various low-paying jobs while performing at amateur events across the city.

In November 1944, Tony enlisted in the United States Army. By March 1945, he found himself on the front lines as an infantry rifleman, experiencing intense combat during winter conditions as the Allies advanced against the Germans. He narrowly avoided death many times and was part of the group that liberated a Nazi concentration camp near Landsberg.

After being discharged, Bennett returned to the United States in 1946 and attended the American Theatre Wing, mastering the bel canto singing style and learning to mimic the phrasing of saxophones and pianos. In 1949, he was discovered by Pearl Bailey, who invited him to perform at a venue in Greenwich Village. Bob Hope attended the performance and later brought Bennett along on his tour. Just a year later, Tony landed a contract with Columbia Records, a major label.

Career

Initiating his career with orchestral, pop, and jazz music, Bennett’s breakthrough came with his hit “Because of You,” which dominated the pop charts in 1951 for ten consecutive weeks. That same year, he released a cover of “Cold, Cold, Heart,” a country song, expanding his reach to a wider audience.

As rock and roll emerged in 1955, it…it became increasingly challenging for established pop singers to achieve commercial success; nevertheless, Tony continued to thrive, with eight songs landing in the “Billboard” Top 40 in the latter portion of 1950. In 1955, Bennett released his debut full-length album, “Cloud 7,” which received favorable reviews, followed by the well-received and popular album “The Beat of My Heart” in 1957.

Maintaining the reputation of his nightclub performance, Tony orchestrated a grand concert at Carnegie Hall in June 1962, heavily promoted and featuring a stellar lineup of musicians. The concert, which included 44 songs, proved to be an enormous success, solidifying Bennett’s status as a show star.

In that same year, Tony released both an album and a single titled “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The single and album both attained gold status and earned him Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Male Solo Vocal Performance. “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” has become synonymous with Bennett, and by 2001, it held the 23rd spot on an RIAA list of the most historically significant songs of the 20th century. With the arrival of the Beatles and the British Invasion in 1964, public interest shifted away from jazz, and throughout the rest of the decade, Tony released several albums and singles that yielded only minor hits.

As the 1970s unfolded, Bennett battled a drug addiction, and by 1979, he found himself without a recording contract, manager, or regular performances. After experiencing a near-fatal overdose, Tony sought assistance from his son Danny. A musician with business acumen, Danny chose to take on the role of his father’s manager. He arranged several tours for Tony, and by 1986, Bennett signed with Columbia Records, marking his first charting album since 1972 with “The Art of Excellence.”

Tony began making appearances on various shows such as “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “The Simpsons,” “Muppets Tonight,” and multiple MTV programs. This connection with a younger audience signaled a rebirth for Bennett. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, he maintained a busy schedule of touring and recording, releasing albums that achieved Platinum status and garnered Grammy Awards for Album of The Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

At 85 years old, Bennett released “Duets II” in 2011, a compilation of jazz standards performed with artists like Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Amy Winehouse, and Lady Gaga. The album entered the “Billboard” 200 at #1, making Tony the oldest living artist to achieve that milestone. In the years that followed, Bennett won eleven additional Grammy Awards and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In February 2021, Tony’s family disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, though he persistently continued to perform and record until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Painting

Bennett is also celebrated as a painter, with his works displayed in numerous galleries around the globe. Some of his pieces have fetched prices as high as $80,000.

Relationships

In 1952, Bennett wed Patricia Beech after meeting her during a nightclub performance in Cleveland. They welcomed two sons, Danny and Dae, and their marriage endured until 1965.

Subsequently, in 1971, Tony married actress Sandra Grant,

They had two daughters together: Joanna and Antonia. The marriage deteriorated as a result of Bennett’s struggles with drug addiction, leading to their separation in 1979.

In the 1980s, Tony started a relationship with Susan Crow, who was 40 years younger than him. They married in 2007 and remained together until Bennett’s passing on July 21, 2023.

Real Estate

For a significant period, Tony resided in an impressive mansion located in Marin County, California. This 8,600-square-foot mansion features 7 bedrooms and offers stunning views of San Francisco from nearly every room (which is fitting). Below is a video tour of this remarkable residence in the town of Belvedere:

In 2010, Tony put the home on the market for $27.5 million. After five years and several price reductions, he eventually sold it for $15.5 million in September 2015.

Additionally, Tony owned an apartment that provided views of Central Park in New York City.