How much is Patti Labelle worth?
| Net Worth: | $60 Million |
|---|---|
| Profession: | Professional Singer |
| Date of Birth: | May 24, 1944 (age 78) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Height: | 5 ft 4 in (1.65 m) |
About Patti Labelle
Patti LaBelle is an American actress, businesswoman, singer, and songwriter whose career spans over 60 years. She began her career in the 1960 as a lead singer of the vocal group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles. After the band’s name was changed in the 1970s, they released their symbolic hit “Lady Marmalade”, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Since 1976, Patti focused on her solo career and quickly became the “Godmother of Soul”.
Patti has released multiple number one albums and singles, starting with her debut album, which included her career-defining track “You Are My Friend”. With more than 50 million records sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling artists of all time and has also been inducted in multiple Hall of Fames. At the height of her career, it is estimated that LaBelle earned income equal to a salary of $18 million dollars per year.
Patti LaBelle is famous for her dramatic soprano, as well as her range, emotive delivery, and most notably vocal powers. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 24, 1944, to a railroad worker/club performer and a domestic. At the age of 16, Patti won a talent competition hosted by her high school John Bartram High School. Around the same time, she formed a singing group called The Ordettes with fellow schoolmates Johnnie Dawson, Jean Brown, and Yvonne Hogen
In the 1960s, Labelle and The Ordettes were discovered by Harold Robinson, a record label owner, who offered them a record deal. After signing a contract with Robinson, the group was renamed The Blue Belles. Their first successful single was “Down the Aisle” which was released in 1963, followed by “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in 1965.
Towards the early 1970s, after releasing three commercially successful albums, the group was signed by the giant Warner Bros and changed their name to Labelle, with Patti continuing to be the lead singer.
In 1974, the group gained international popularity with their number one single “Lady Marmalade”, which became their first song to not only top international music charts but also receive gold certification by the RIAA for selling millions of copies.
In the mid-1970s, at the peak of their career, the Labelle group signed with both RCA and Epic Records while continuing to release highly-praised studio albums.
In 1977, Patti Labelle signed a contract with Epic Records and released her first studio album – Patti Labelle. Besides earning millions of dollars and gaining millions of fans thanks to her music projects, Patti also earned financially from starring in various films and television series.
Her film debut was the 1984 drama film A Soldier’s Story. In the 1980s and 1990s, the talented singer appeared mostly in television shows such as Working, Unnatural Causes, and Fire and Rain among many others.
At the peak of her career, Patti landed her own TV special – The Patti Labelle Show. The special premiered in November 1985 and it included a variety of stars such as Cyndi Lauper, Bill Cosby, and Luther Vandross to name a few. In 1990, simultaneously with releasing new music and touring the world, Patti joined the cast of A Different World and also appeared in the likes of Out All Night, The Nanny, and Cosby.
The main reason why Patti Labelle has been successful is her ability to act and sing. Her voice is like no other and that has been the core reason why her albums have been financially successful. She has also embarked on various business ventures that have added to her net worth.
Since focusing on her solo career in 1977, the multi-talented Labelle has released eighteen studio albums with the latest being Bel Hommage from May 2017.
Besides being inducted in multiple Hall of Fames, most notably the Grammy and Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Godmother of Soul is also the recipient of seven Image Awards and two Grammy Awards. Also, thanks to her outstanding acting performances, she has been nominated for two Emmy Awards.
Labelle’s Total Net Worth
Patti Labelle has earned estimated total career income of $135 million dollars. She has sold 50 million records worldwide. As Labelle has lived in the state of Pennsylvania, she will have had to pay around 43% in taxes on her career income. That is, considering taxes were so high during a large part of her career but Pennsylvania has a low state tax. After tax, it is estimated that his career earnings are at around $76.95 million dollars, having paid $58.05 million dollars in taxes.
Patti Labelle was married to Armstead Edwards between the years of 1969–2003 and they had three children. In total, it is estimated that she has paid around $25-30 million to Edwards as part of a divorce settlement. Labelle has another two children with Jacqueline Holte.
In her personal life she has likely spent $5-7 million dollars of her career earnings but also earned $18-20 million dollars from her investments. She will have also had to pay around $3-4 million dollars in business related costs. Therefore, it is estimated that Patti Labelle has a net worth of about $60 million dollars.
Summing-Up
Patti Labelle is one of the greatest artists of all time. The Grammy-award winning singer’s career has spawned more than seven decades and even now she continues to uphold her legacy. At the age of 70, she took part in several competitions such as Dancing with the Stars and The Masked Singer.
Her most recent business ventures include the launch of her own brand of bedding, cookbooks, and food. Most recently, in 2015, she created her own product titled Patti’s Sweet Potato Pie, which was promoted exclusively in Walmart and sold out in the first 72 hours.
