Net Worth Ranker
What Is Seal’s Net Worth?
Seal, the British singer and songwriter, has accumulated a net worth of $40 million throughout his career. This wealth is primarily derived from his successful music career, including album sales, songwriting royalties, touring, and appearances on television shows.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel on February 19, 1963, in St. Mary’s Hospital, London, Seal’s early life was marked by being raised in a foster family in Paddington, a district of Westminster. Seal’s brother, Jeymes Samuel, is also a singer-songwriter. He later earned an associate’s degree in architecture and held various jobs in London. Seal’s distinctive facial scars are a result of discoid lupus erythematosus, a condition that began affecting him around the age of 23. He started his musical journey singing in local pubs and, in 1980, joined the British funk band Push for a tour across Japan, Thailand, and India.
A pivotal moment arrived when he met producer Adamski, who provided him with the lyrics for “Killer.” This track became Seal’s first significant hit, reaching #1 in the UK charts, marking the start of Seal’s ascent in the music industry. Shortly after, he was signed to ZTT Records.
Music Career and Major Milestones
Seal’s debut album, “Seal,” released in 1991 under ZTT Records, was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. The album featured hits such as “Crazy” and “Future Love Paradise,” which gained international recognition. “Crazy” became a global hit in 1991, establishing Seal as a prominent figure in the music scene.
In 1992, Seal made his debut at the Brit Awards at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. This performance was critically acclaimed, earning him awards in three categories, solidifying his position in the UK music scene.
His second album, “Seal 2,” released in 1994, continued his success, featuring singles like “Prayer for the Dying” and “Newborn Friend.” The album received a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. However, it was the third single, “Kiss from a Rose,” that catapulted Seal to superstardom. Initially, the song had a modest performance, but its remix for the “Batman Forever” soundtrack turned it into a global phenomenon. “Kiss from a Rose” earned Seal Grammy Awards for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Male Pop Performance in 1996. The success of this single propelled “Seal 2” to multi-platinum status, significantly boosting Seal’s net worth.
The success of “Kiss From a Rose” led to significant increase in his earning through the sales of “Seal 2” and touring. Later that year, he recorded “Fly Like an Eagle” for the soundtrack of “Space Jam”, earning him more revenue through royalties.
In 1998, Seal released his third album, “Human Being,” after signing with Warner Bros. Following this, his album “Togetherland” was cancelled in 2001 before release, but in 2003 he released “Seal IV” which got him back into the US mainstream music market. Later albums include “System” in 2007, “Seal 6: Commitment” in 2010 (inspired by his then-wife, Heidi Klum), and “7” in 2015. Seal also released three cover albums: “Soul,” “Soul 2,” and “Standards.” These albums featured his take on hits from Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield, and Ben E. King. Seal’s collaboration with other musicians and his participation in charity events, like Band Aid 30, where he joined other UK and Irish pop acts to record “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” to raise funds for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa, also contributed to Seal’s income and boosted his public image.
Seal participated in a tribute album to Jimi Hendrix titled “Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix” with Jeff Beck by performing a cover of “Manic Depression” which added to his streams and royalty earnings in 1993. In 2010, Seal contributed vocals to a cover of John Lennon’s “Imagine” for Herbie Hancock’s album “The Imagine Project”.
Other Ventures and Television Appearances
Seal ventured into television, co-creating and producing the Lifetime reality series “Love’s Divine” with Heidi Klum in June 2010. His role as a judge on the 10th annual Independent Music Awards and as a vocal coach on the Australian version of “The Voice” further increased his visibility and income. As a coach on “The Voice” he coached Karise Eden (Season 1) and Harrison Craig (Season 2) to win the competition, thereby raising his public image and negotiating power in the industry. He took a break in Season 3 but came back in 2017 to continue on “The Voice”. In 2017, he also served as a guest judge on the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent”. Seal also showcased his versatility on “The Masked Singer,” where he performed as The Leopard in the second season, finishing in fourth place. These ventures into television and reality shows have broadened his income streams and solidified his status as a versatile entertainer. These shows would have included appearance fees which would have ranged between $50,000 to $200,000 per season.
Personal Life and Real Estate
Seal’s personal life has also been a subject of public interest, particularly his marriage to German model Heidi Klum. Seal and Klum began dating in February 2004. Shortly before, she had announced both her pregnancy and the end of her relationship with Flavio Briatore. Seal proposed to Heidi in December 2004 in an ice hut he had built on top of a glacier in Whistler, British Columbia. Heidi gave birth to Briatore’s daughter, Helene “Leni” Boshoven Klum, in May 2004 in New York City, with Seal by her side. Briatore is not involved in Leni’s life, according to Klum, and Seal acts as her only father figure. Seal officially adopted Leni in 2009. Seal and Klum married in May 2005 and renewed their vows every year. The two have three other children: two sons (born in September 2005 and November 2006) and a daughter (born in October 2009). Seal and Klum announced they were separating after seven years together in January 2012. Their divorce was finalized in October 2014. As a celebrity couple, Seal and Heidi’s life together and eventual separation contributed significantly to public interest, and would have impacted Seal’s image and indirectly affected his revenues.
In 2019, Seal invested over $3.5 million in a 3,600-square-foot property in Topanga, California, that had mountain-top views. Prior to this, he and Heidi jointly owned an opulent mansion in L.A.’s Brentwood Country Estates community. The property was sold for $24 million around the time of their divorce in 2014. The $24 million sale of the house would have resulted in approximately $11 – $12 million after commission and expenses.
