Singer Lionel Richie has been a music icon for decades. His net worth, not surprisingly, clearly reflects this.
Whether with the Commodores or in his own immensely successful solo career, Richie has always seemed to find himself atop the charts one way or another. More recently, the iconic vocalist was also brought aboard as a judge on the upcoming American Idol reboot, something that should be interesting to watch closely given that fellow judge Katy Perry blasted him in a recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
But just who is Lionel Richie? What exactly is his net worth? Here’s all you need to know about his age, net worth, how he’s made his money and his family.
Lionel Richie has sold millions of albums both with the Commodores and as a solo artist
Who is Lionel Richie?
Lionel Richie is a singer, songwriter and record producer best-known as the vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the soul and funk band Commodores and as a successful solo artist.
Over the course of his long career, Richie has received a number of accolades, including Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, BRIT Awards, Golden Globe Awards and Academy Award nominations and wins. He was also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 from BET, reflecting his long and illustrious career in the music industry.
He was born on June 20, 1949 in Tuskegee, Alabama. Though he seriously considered becoming a priest in the Episcopal Church, Richie ultimately attended Tuskegee University and focused on his love for music. While studying at the college, he played in a number of local R&B groups in the 1960s before joining the Commodores as a vocalist and saxophone player.
In 1968, the Commodores were signed to Atlantic Records and later to Motown Records, first achieving fame as a supporting act for The Jackson 5. The band went on to produce a number of popular records and hit songs such as Easy, Three Times a Lady, Brickhouse and Still.
After writing songs for several popular artists in the late 1970s such as Kenny Rogers, Richie embarked on a successful solo career starting in 1982, producing a long string of hit singles like Truly, My Love, You Are and Hello.
In 1985, he helped to craft the iconic charity single We Are the World with Michael Jackson, which ultimately sold over 20 million copies throughout the world.
In more recent years, Richie has continued to find musical success and stay in the public eye, releasing his tenth album, Tuskegee, in March 2012 to strong critical reviews and chart-topping success. Richie is a judge on the upcoming revival of American Idol alongside Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.
How old is Lionel Richie?
Lionel Richie is 68 years old.
He was born on June 20, 1949.
What is Lionel Richie’s net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Lionel Richie’s net worth is estimated to be about $200 million (£144.2 million).
How does Lionel Richie make his money?
Lionel Richie’s huge net worth is mostly a reflection of his longtime success in the music industry.
Richie has sold more than 90 million records worldwide and also boasts 13 top ten hit singles from 1981 to 1986.
He’s also enjoyed immense success as a member of the Commodores, helping the band produce major hits like Brickhouse, Easy and Three Times a Lady.
Richie has also earned money from media appearances over the years, most notably as a judge for the highly-anticipated reboot of American Idol set to premiere on Sunday, March 11.
Who is Lionel Richie’s wife?
Lionel Richie is not currently married.
Previously, Richie was married to Brenda Harvey from 1975 to 1993 and Diane Alexander from 1995 to 2004.
Lionel Richie’s children
Richie also has three children: Nicole, Sofia and Miles.
Nicole Richie, his adopted daughter, works as an actress, TV personality and fashion designer.
She’s best-known for appearing in the hit TV show The Simple Life with her longtime friend Paris Hilton and has since appeared in TV series like Fashion Star, Candidly Nicole and Great News.
Sofia Richie works as a model after previously expressing an interest in music, a career she ultimately decided not to pursue due to the pressure of matching her father’s longtime success.
She’s currently dating Scott Disick, something that has been met with strong disapproval from Richie, who labeled their romance ‘just a phase’ and reportedly banned Disick from attending his recent Hand and Footprint Ceremony in Hollywood.