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What Is Chris Rea’s Net Worth?
Chris Rea, the English singer-songwriter known for his distinctive “husky” voice and slide guitar technique, has accumulated a considerable fortune throughout his career. His net worth is estimated to be around $8 million. This sum reflects his success in pop rock, soft rock, and blues rock, as well as his expertise as a vocalist, guitarist, and pianist.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Christopher Anton Rea was born on March 4, 1951, in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, England. Growing up in a Roman Catholic household with six siblings, he was the son of an Irish mother, Winifred, and an Italian father, Camillo, who owned the ice cream chain Rea’s Creamy Ices. Chris began working at the family business at the age of 12, which provided him with an early introduction to the world of commerce. He attended St Mary’s College, Middlesbrough.
In his early twenties, Rea purchased his first guitar, a 1961 Hofner V3, marking the beginning of his musical journey. He taught himself to play, drawing inspiration from musicians like Charlie Patton, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Blind Willie Johnson, Joe Walsh, Ry Cooder, Muddy Waters, and Sonny Boy Williamson II. This eclectic mix of influences helped shape his unique sound.
Rea’s professional music career began in 1973 when he joined the band Magdalene. Later that year, he formed The Beautiful Losers, laying the groundwork for his eventual solo success. After signing a solo record deal with the independent label Magnet Records, he released his debut album, “Whatever Happened to Benny Santini?,” in April 1978. This album marked a significant milestone in his career, earning a Gold certification in the U.S. and reaching #49 on the “Billboard” 200 chart and #94 on Australia’s Kent Music Report.
One of the album’s standout singles, “Fool (If You Think It’s Over),” topped the “Billboard” Easy Listening chart and Canada’s “RPM” Adult Oriented Playlist, and it peaked at #12 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. The success of this single garnered Rea a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, further solidifying his position in the music industry.
Musical Career and Album Success
Following his debut, Chris Rea released a series of albums, including “Deltics” (1979), “Tennis” (1980), “Chris Rea” (1981), “Water Sign” (1983), and “Wired to the Moon” (1984). These albums contributed to his growing fan base and established him as a consistent presence in the music scene.
His seventh studio album, “Shamrock Diaries” (1985), achieved Gold certification in Germany and Silver in the U.K., reaching #3 on the Dutch Albums chart and #12 on the German Albums chart. The single “Josephine” became a top 10 hit in France and the Netherlands, showcasing his international appeal. The 1986 album “On the Beach” went Platinum in the U.K. and New Zealand and Gold in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, reaching #1 on the Dutch Albums chart, #2 on the German Albums chart, and #4 on the New Zealand Albums chart. This album marked a significant commercial breakthrough for Rea, expanding his reach and solidifying his status as a major recording artist.
Rea’s next album, “Dancing with Strangers” (1987), was certified Platinum in the U.K. and Gold in France, Germany, and New Zealand, reaching #1 on the New Zealand Albums chart and #2 on the UK Albums chart. The single “Let’s Dance” was a top 10 hit in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, and South Africa. This continued success demonstrated his ability to connect with audiences across different countries and cultures.
The 1989 album “The Road to Hell” became his most commercially successful work, achieving 6x Platinum status in the U.K. and Platinum in Austria, France, and Switzerland. It reached #1 on the UK Albums chart, #2 on the Austrian Albums and Swedish Albums charts, and #3 on the German Albums and Norwegian Albums charts. The album’s title track reached the top 10 on the charts in Austria and the U.K. This album cemented his place as one of the most popular British singer-songwriters of the 1980s.
In the 1990s, Chris Rea released the albums “Auberge” (1991), “God’s Great Banana Skin” (1992), “Espresso Logic” (1993), “The Blue Cafe” (1998), and “The Road to Hell: Part 2” (1999). “Auberge” was certified 2x Platinum in the U.K. and Platinum in Germany and Switzerland, reaching #1 on the UK Albums and German Albums charts. All the studio albums Rea released during that decade reached the top 10 in at least one country except “The Road to Hell: Part 2,” and they were all certified Silver or higher in the U.K.
The 2002 album “Dancing Down the Stony Road” went Gold in the U.K., further demonstrating his enduring popularity. The 2004 album “The Blue Jukebox” reached #27 on the UK Albums chart, and 2005’s “Blue Guitars” peaked at #29 on the Dutch Albums chart. In 2011, Chris released his twenty-third studio album, “Santo Spirito Blues,” which reached #10 on the German Albums chart and #13 on the Croatian Albums and UK Albums charts and went Gold in Poland. His 2017 album “Road Songs for Lovers” reached #11 on the UK Albums chart. Rea released “One Fine Day,” his twenty-fifth studio album, in 2019.
Other Ventures and Personal Life
Beyond his musical career, Chris Rea has explored other creative avenues. He wrote and produced the 1996 film “La passione,” and he appeared in the 1998 film “Parting Shots.” These ventures demonstrate his versatility and his interest in different forms of artistic expression.
Rea began a relationship with Joan Lesley after they met as teenagers in 1968. The couple later married, and they welcomed daughters Josephine and Julia on September 16, 1983, and March 18, 1989, respectively. He is known to maintain a private personal life away from the spotlight.
Rea used to own the Sol Mill Recording Studios in Cookham, Berkshire, and he has said that he likes to “read a lot and even though I chose music, journalism was my first passion.” He enjoys historic motor racing, and he has raced a Ferrari 328, Ferrari Dino, and 1955 Lotus 6, among others. Chris was a guest driver during the 1993 British Touring Car Championship ToCa shootout, and he joined the Historic Racing Drivers Club. In 2005, he sold his Caterham 7 (which was featured on the cover of his 1991 album “Auberge”) for £11,762 and donated the proceeds to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
In 1994, Rea was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, leading to surgery to remove his pancreas, gallbladder, and part of his liver. After the operation, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This health challenge has influenced his life and career, but he has continued to pursue his passion for music.
In 2008, major news publications began erroneously reporting that Rea had donated large amounts of money to the Conservative Party. Those donations were actually made by a different Chris Rea who was a businessman. Chris supported Jeremy Corbyn during the 2017 general election and wrote a song about him titled “What’s So Wrong With A Man Who Tells The Truth?”
Awards and Recognition
Chris Rea’s talent and contributions to the music industry have been recognized through various awards and nominations. At the 21st Annual Grammy Awards in 1979, he was nominated for Best New Artist. He earned Brit Award nominations for Best British Male Artist in 1988, 1989, and 1990. In 1973, Rea’s band The Beautiful Losers won a “Melody Maker” award for Best Newcomers.
Chris Rea’s net worth of $8 million reflects his long and successful career as a singer-songwriter. His album sales, touring revenue, and other ventures have contributed to his financial success.
