Cindy Adams Net Worth

What Is Cindy Adams’ Net Worth?

Cindy Adams, the celebrated American gossip columnist and writer, has an estimated net worth of $50 million. This substantial wealth is primarily attributed to her decades-long career in journalism, her authorship of several books, and strategic real estate investments. Her career began in an unconventional way, transitioning from modeling to becoming a prominent voice in the New York media landscape.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born Cynthia I. First on April 24, 1930, in Manhattan, New York, Cindy Adams’ early life was marked by her parents’ divorce when she was just two years old. She attended Andrew Jackson High School in Queens but didn’t graduate due to an incomplete sewing assignment. Interestingly, she received an honorary diploma in 2024, decades after leaving school. Adams began her career as a photographer’s model at the age of 15. Her marriage to comedian and humorist Joey Adams in 1952 significantly influenced her entry into journalism, as he introduced her to many influential figures.

Journalism Career and Key Achievements

Cindy Adams started her career as a gossip columnist for the New York Post in 1979. By 1981, her column’s popularity led to syndication. Her writing is known for its witty, opinionated style, often ending with her signature catchphrase, “Only in New York, kids, only in New York.” Before becoming a gossip columnist, Adams co-wrote the autobiography “Sukarno” of Indonesian President Sukarno in 1965. She later penned another book about him in 1967 after he was overthrown. These early works helped pave the way for her career in the New York Post. Moreover, Cindy wrote for local newspapers at the same time as her husband Joey, who wrote a humor column for the Long Island Press and then the New York Post. In 1986, Adams became an original contributor to the syndicated television show “A Current Affair”. She also served as a panelist on the NBC game show “To Tell the Truth” in 1990-1991. Additionally, she appeared regularly on “Good Morning America” in the late 1990s.

Literary Works and Animal Activism

Adams is also a published author, having written several books. These include biographies of Indonesian President Sukarno (“Sukarno: An Autobiography” in 1965 and “My Friend the Dictator” in 1967), Jolie Gabor (“Jolie Gabor” in 1975), Lee Strasberg (“Lee Strasberg: The Imperfect Genius of the Actors Studio” in 1980), and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (“Iron Rose: The Story of Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy and Her Dynasty” in 1995). She also penned books about her dogs, “The Gift of Jazzy” (2003) and “Living a Dog’s Life: Jazzy, Juicy, and Me” (2006). After the death of her dog Jazzy in 2003, Adams became an advocate for stronger regulations of boarding kennels, leading to the passing of the Boarding Kennel and Regulation Act, also known as “Jazzy's Law.”

Real Estate and Personal Life

Cindy Adams resides in a nine-room penthouse apartment on Park Avenue in Manhattan, which she and her husband purchased from the estate of tobacco heiress Doris Duke in 1997. The apartment includes a 1,000-square-foot veranda. She was married to Joey Adams on Valentine’s Day in 1952. Joey Adams passed away in 1999, following a long illness. Cindy’s words after her husband’s death included: “My career came because I married Joey,” and “This man gave me everything. Everything I have, I got from him. He introduced me to the world.”