Overview

Cherilyn Sarkisian, known professionally as Cher, is an American singer, actress, and television personality. Often referred to as the ‘Goddess of Pop’, she is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in various areas of entertainment, as well as continuously reinventing her fashion and image, which has led to her being regarded as a cultural icon. Her career has spanned six decades. Cher gained prominence in 1965 as one half of the folk rock husband-wife duo Sonny & Cher after their song ‘I Got You Babe’ reached number one on the American and British charts. She began her solo career simultaneously, releasing her first album, ‘All I Really Want to Do’, in 1965. She became a television personality in the 1970s with the variety shows ‘The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,’ and ‘Cher.’ Cher expanded into films in the 1980s, starring in ‘Silkwood,’ ‘Mask,’ ‘The Witches of Eastwick,’ and ‘Moonstruck,’ for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1988. She has also been involved in activism and philanthropy.

What Is Cher’s Net Worth?

Cher, the iconic American singer, actress, and television personality, boasts a substantial net worth estimated at $360 million as of 2025. This impressive figure reflects her multifaceted career, spanning decades of success in music, film, and television. Her financial success is a culmination of record sales, acting roles, endorsements, and strategic investments.

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California, Cher’s early life was marked by frequent moves between California, New York, and Texas with her mother, Georgia Holt. Dropping out of school at 16, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she supported herself through acting classes and dancing in clubs. This period laid the foundation for her future success. In 1962, Cher met Sonny Bono, initially working as his housekeeper. Bono introduced her to record producer Phil Spector, leading to her work as a backup singer. This collaboration evolved into a close personal and professional relationship, culminating in the formation of the duo Sonny & Cher. Their first single, “I Got You Babe,” released in July 1965, catapulted Cher into the limelight, marking the beginning of her ascent to stardom.

Sonny & Cher’s debut studio album, “Look at Us” (1965), propelled them to unprecedented success, landing five songs in the Billboard Top 50 simultaneously—a feat previously only achieved by The Beatles and Elvis Presley. Concurrently with her success as part of Sonny & Cher, Cher also forged a successful solo career. Signing with Liberty Records’ Imperial imprint in 1964, she released albums such as “All I Really Want to Do” (1965), “The Sonny Side of Cher” (1966), and “Chér” (1966). Her 1966 single “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)” achieved million-selling status, cementing her solo appeal.

Solo Success, Television Ventures, and Acting Career

As Sonny & Cher’s popularity waned, Cher’s solo career flourished. In 1969, she recorded the album “3614 Jackson Highway,” her first musical project without Sonny’s direct involvement. The early 1970s saw Sonny & Cher transition into television with “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which premiered in 1971. Following their divorce, finalized in 1975, Cher embarked on a definitively solo career, signing a $2.5 million deal with Warner Bros. Records. This deal resulted in the album “Stars” (1975), which, despite initial commercial struggles, has since gained a cult following.

Cher returned to television with her own show, “Cher,” in 1975, and later reunited professionally with Sonny on “The Sonny and Cher Show” (1976-1977). Continuing her musical endeavors, she released over twenty studio albums and held a Las Vegas residency from 1980 to 1982, earning $300,000 per week. From 2008, she headlined for three years at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, reportedly grossing $180 million from this engagement alone.

Cher’s foray into acting began with “Good Times” (1967), a joint project with Sonny, and “Chastity” (1969), written and directed by Sonny. Both ventures were commercially unsuccessful. However, her casting by Robert Altman in the Broadway production “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean” in 1976, and subsequently in the 1982 film adaptation, proved pivotal. Cher credits Altman with launching her serious acting career. In 1985, she established her own film production company, Isis, and starred in films such as “Mask” (1985), “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987), “Moonstruck” (1987), “Mermaids” (1990), “Tea with Mussolini” (1999), and “Burlesque” (2010). Her role in “Moonstruck” earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress. More recently, she played Ruby Sheridan in “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018) and provided voice roles in “Zookeeper” (2011) and “Bobbleheads: The Movie” (2020).

Other Ventures and Assets

Beyond her music and acting careers, Cher has ventured into various other projects. Known for her distinctive style, she has been featured in fashion campaigns, including the Dsquared2 spring/summer campaign in February 2020. She also launched two fragrances: Cher Eau de Couture (2019) and Uninhibited (1987). During a period of poor health in the early 1990s, Cher participated in infomercials, estimated to have earned her nearly $10 million through sales of health, beauty, and diet products.

Cher’s philanthropic activities include support for children, soldiers, veterans, and environmental causes. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, and her Cher Charitable Foundation supports international projects such as the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, Operation Helmet, and the Children’s Craniofacial Association. In terms of real estate, Cher has owned several properties globally, valued at approximately $100 million. One of her most significant assets is her Italian villa on the coast of Malibu, estimated to be worth between $50 million and $70 million.

Cher’s real estate portfolio has included several notable properties, particularly in the Los Angeles area. The Beverly Hills estate she shared with Sonny Bono was sold in September 2016 for $90 million. In 2006, she purchased a condo in the Sierra Towers in Los Angeles for $4.5 million, which she remodeled to feature high ceilings, arched entryways, and a large outdoor terrace with city views. Cher sold this unit for $5.25 million in 2015. Her primary residence for nearly three decades has been an Italian Renaissance-style mansion in Malibu, overlooking the ocean. She acquired the 1.7-acre property in 1989 for $2.95 million, and it took five years to construct the 13,000 square-foot main house, which includes a tennis court, pool, and guest house. Cher initially listed this mansion for sale in August 2008 for $45 million and again in October 2022 for $85 million, later reducing the price to $75 million in March 2023. She also previously owned a bay-front home in Key Biscayne, Florida, which sold for $8.8 million in 2006, and took a slight loss on a Beverly Hills home in 2019, selling it for $2.073 million.

Personal Life and Relationships

Cher married Sonny Bono in 1969, shortly after the birth of their child, Chaz Bono, in March of that year. Sonny filed for separation in February 1974, citing “irreconcilable differences,” and Cher countered with a divorce suit alleging financial withholding. The divorce, including a custody battle, was finalized in June 1975. During her divorce from Sonny, Cher dated record executive David Geffen. Four days after finalizing her divorce from Sonny, Cher married musician Gregg Allman, filing for divorce just nine days later. They reconciled and had a son, Elijah Blue, in July 1976, before divorcing in 1979. Cher has also been linked to Gene Simmons, Eric Stoltz, Tom Cruise, and Richie Sambora.

Throughout her career, Cher has demonstrated not only artistic talent but also business acumen, strategically diversifying her income streams to build a substantial net worth. From her early days as part of the dynamic duo Sonny & Cher to her solo music and acting ventures, her entrepreneurial spirit has allowed her to adapt and thrive in a constantly evolving entertainment industry. Her financial success is a testament to her enduring appeal, shrewd decision-making, and ability to consistently reinvent herself, cementing her status as a pop culture icon and savvy businesswoman.

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