Net Worth Ranker
What Is Gladys Knight’s Net Worth?
Gladys Knight, the celebrated “Empress of Soul,” has accumulated a net worth of $8 million. Her financial standing reflects a multifaceted career encompassing music, acting, and entrepreneurial ventures. Knight’s journey from singing in church to topping R&B charts underscores a career built on both talent and business acumen.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Gladys Knight’s musical journey began in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was born on May 29, 1944. Her father, Merald Woodlow Knight Sr., worked as a postal worker, providing a stable background for the family. Knight’s early exposure to music in the church choir was pivotal. In 1952, at the tender age of eight, she formed ‘The Pips’ with her siblings and cousins. This group, initially performing in local talent shows in Atlanta, quickly gained recognition, winning every competition they entered. Although Brunswick Records signed The Pips in 1957, the label dropped them in 1959 after they failed to produce a charting record, which marked an early setback in their ascent.
The group rebranded themselves as Gladys Knight & the Pips and released “Every Beat of My Heart” in 1961 on Fury Records, achieving their first “Billboard” chart success. Despite this initial breakthrough, Knight briefly left the group in the early 1960s to start a family, returning in 1964. Joining Motown Records in 1966 marked a significant turning point. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, they released a string of hits, solidifying their place in the music industry. In 1973, they left Motown for a better deal with Buddah Records. The same year, they recorded “Midnight Train to Georgia,” which became their signature song, topping the R&B charts and winning a Grammy award. This success catapulted them into mainstream popularity, demonstrating the power of strategic career moves.
Solo Career and Notable Collaborations
In 1978, Gladys Knight embarked on her solo career, releasing her first LP, “Miss Gladys Knight,” under Buddah Records. A year later, she released “Gladys Knight” on Columbia Records. While she reunited with the Pips for a few years in the early 1980s, the group recorded their final LP together in 1987 before Knight officially launched her solo career. Her momentum was significantly boosted by the success of the 1985 track “That’s What Friends Are For,” where she collaborated with Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, and Elton John. In 1989, she recorded the theme song for the James Bond film “License to Kill,” a high-profile project that further broadened her appeal. In 1991, Knight released “Good Woman,” her most successful solo LP, which hit number one on the R&B chart, showing her continued relevance in the music scene. Her album “Just for You” was nominated for the 1995 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, underscoring her consistent quality and critical acclaim. By 2014, with the release of “Where My Heart Belongs,” she had accumulated 30 top-40 R&B albums, counting both her solo work and her collaborations with the Pips, demonstrating a sustained career over decades.
Film, Television, and Honors
Beyond music, Knight has made appearances in films and television shows, including guest roles in “Benson,” “The Jeffersons,” “A Different World,” “Living Single,” and “New York Undercover.” Her participation in “The Masked Singer” in 2019 showcased her willingness to engage with contemporary audiences and media platforms. Knight’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards and accolades. In 1995, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a permanent testament to her impact on the entertainment industry. In 1996, Gladys Knight & the Pips were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, solidifying their legacy. She received the Society of Singers ELLA Award in 2007 and was declared the “Empress of Soul,” a title that has remained with her. Knight is also included on “Rolling Stone’s” list of the Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2022, she received Kennedy Center Honors. Knight has won seven Grammy Awards, four as a solo artist and three with the Pips, acknowledging her exceptional talent and contribution to music.
Real Estate Ventures
In 1997, Gladys Knight invested in real estate, purchasing a home in Las Vegas, Nevada, for $695,000. After owning the property for over two decades, she sold it in 2018 for $720,000. The home’s unique customizations, including a recording studio in the basement, reportedly made the sale challenging. Knight and her husband also own a home on a golf course in Henderson, Nevada. In 2007, Gladys expanded her real estate portfolio by purchasing a 20-acre farm in Fairview, North Carolina. In 2015, Gladys and her husband, William McDowell, purchased a former high school in Canton, North Carolina, a property significant to McDowell, as it was his former high school and one of the few African American schools in North Carolina at the time. They established a foundation with the goal of raising $5 million to transform the property into a community center.
Personal Life and Background
Gladys Knight’s personal life has been marked by four marriages and the raising of three children. At age 16, she married Atlanta musician and classmate James Newman in 1960, and although she miscarried her first pregnancy, they went on to have two children. When Knight was 20, Newman struggled with drug addiction and abandoned the family, though they remained married until 1973. In 1974, Knight married Barry Hankerson, the founder of Blackground Records, and they had a son together in 1976. Their marriage ended in 1979, followed by a custody battle for their son. In 1995, Knight married motivational speaker Lee Brown, but they divorced in 1997. In 2001, she married William McDowell. Together, they have seventeen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. They reside in Fairview, North Carolina.
Knight has also been open about her past gambling addiction, which lasted over a decade. She sought help after losing $60,000 in one night at a baccarat table, joining Gambler’s Anonymous to overcome the habit. Raised Baptist, she later practiced Catholicism and was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints in 1997. Knight formed a friendship with LDS President Gordon B. Hinckley and suggested the church needed to invigorate its music, leading to the creation of the Saints Unified Voices gospel music choir, which won Grammy Awards for their music.
