What is Lionel Richie's net worth? 'American Idol' judge has luxury cars and a 28-bedroom Beverly Hills home
At the age of 71, Lionel Richie is one of the few musicians who is renowned amidst the old generation, as well as the new. In his career spanning almost 40 years, Richie with his talent has become an all-time best-selling artist.
He's been well-decorated with awards that recognize his contribution to the musical universe, including a number of Oscars. To top that, he's also signed up to judge the revamped version of 'American Idol' since it moved to ABC Network. He will also be seen on Season 19 of the show alongside Luke Bryan and Katy Perry.
RELATED ARTICLES:
There's never a dull moment when Richie is on screen. He lights up every frame with his electrifying presence and a hearty smile. It's for this reason that he was offered a number of endorsements in his career, including hard liquor, but he denied it because that didn't resonate with who he was as a person.
It's very rare to see people turn down moneymaking opportunities in showbiz. Despite saying no to product endorsements, the only one he did was for Pepsi in the '80s and one for Tap King in 2013, Lionel Richie still managed to amass a massive amount of wealth that keeps growing. Continue reading to know more about his total net worth as well as the luxuries that the stalwart owns.
When did Lionel Richie start his career?
Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, in June 1949, Lionel Richie weighed all his career options before finally settling for music. Right from being a tennis player to embracing priesthood and a couple of options in between, the crooner had considered it all before embarking on his musical journey. He was still a student when he formed a couple of R&B groups but by 1968, he joined the funk/soul band Commodores as a singer and a saxophonist. The Commodores were famous for being the support act for the Jackson 5.
He was with the band till 1982 after which he left to pursue a solo career. What egged him on for this decision could be his collaboration with Diana Ross on the love ballad 'Endless Love' in 1981 that received many critical acclaims and became the biggest hit amongst fans during that period.
A year before that, he had composed a song for Kenny Rogers titled 'Lady' which was the No 1 hit that year.
Lionel Richie's biggest career hits
After leaving the Commodores, Richie released his first self-titled album which landed the number three spot on the charts. He then released 'Can't Slow Down' and that album received a lot of success, most of its songs made it to Top 10.
'Hello' was the most successful song from the album as it topped Billboard's Pop, R&B, and contemporary charts, according to a Spears report. In 1985, Richie moved to sing in films. His song 'Say You, Say Me' for the movie 'White Nights' earned him an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.
Another highlight in his career was when he wrote the multi-platinum, triple Grammy-winning song 'We Are the World', a charity single, with Michael Jackson and other singers in 1985. The song raised $63 million at that time.
Lionel Richie awards
Richie has won five Grammy's for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, Producer of the Year — Non-Classical, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Person of the Year. He's also won nine American Music Awards, one NAACP Award, one Goldene Kamera for Music International Lifetime Achievement, one TV Land Award, the Goerge and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award, one BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center of Honors.
Prized possessions
Lionel Richie's 28-bedroom Beverly Hills Home
Lionel Richie bought the 28-bedroom mansion that was originally built in 1929 for Carrie Guggenheim on a knoll overlooking the Los Angeles Country Club, according to a report. Richie worked on updating the Italian Renaissance Revival Structure, adding personal touches to it that highlight his love for travel and history. High ceilings, dramatic staircases, and sweeping promenades, Richie's house has it all. He designed it in a way that he could reach any part of the globe in just the turn of a doorknob.
"I call the rooms in my house destinations. If I want to be in a suite in Paris, I go upstairs to the bedroom and close the door. Italy? I walk outside to the stone path bordering the property and look back to see the cardinal's house. With my career, I have to get on a plane every other week. So when people ask, Where do you go for vacation?' I say, I go home," he had told Architectural Digest about the home that cost him $12 Million.
Lionel Richie's luxury car collection
Lionel Richie owns a number of high-end cars including Datsun 280Z, a Mercedes 450 SEL, a Mercedes S550, a Range Rover L322 and a Ferrari Scaglietti, according to a Born Rich article.
Charity causes supported by Lionel Richie
Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Celebrity Fight Night Foundation, City of Hope, and Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center are charity causes Lionel Richie supports.
Lionel Richie total net worth
Lionel Richie's total net worth is estimated at a whopping $200 Million. What has also contributed to this is his entrepreneurial venture, a perfume line called Hello by Lionel Richie and another business called Lionel Richie Home Collection through which he has launched a number of bedding and bath collections as well as home accessories and fragrances, all designed and curated by him.