What Is Pia Zadora’s Net Worth?
Pia Zadora, the American actress and singer who began her career as a child performer in the 1960s, has accumulated a net worth of $25 million. Her financial standing is primarily a result of her diverse career, which includes acting roles, music releases, and strategic business ventures. While specific details of her earnings from each endeavor remain private, available information allows for a general overview of her financial highlights.
Early Career and Notable Roles
Pia Zadora was born Pia Alfreda Schipani on May 4, 1954, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Her early exposure to the entertainment industry, through her mother’s work as a wardrobe supervisor for major theatrical and music productions and her father’s career as a violinist, led to her initial forays into acting. While specific financial details from her early stage performances, including “Midgie Purvis,” “A Gift of Time,” and “We Take the Town,” are not publicly available, these roles provided a foundation for her future career. Her role as the youngest sister in “Fiddler on the Roof” on Broadway from 1964 to 1966 further solidified her presence in the entertainment world. Pia made her film debut in 1964 in “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.”
Zadora’s breakthrough came in 1982 with her starring role in “Butterfly,” where she acted alongside Stacy Keach and Orson Welles. Despite the film’s poor critical reception, Zadora won a Golden Globe Award for Best New Star of the Year for her performance. She also contributed to the film’s musical score. Zadora’s performance in “Butterfly” led to her winning the Golden Raspberry Awards for Worst Actress and Worst New Star. Her role in the film “The Lonely Lady,” which garnered her another Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress, and her appearance in the musical comedy “Voyage of the Rock Aliens” further added to her exposure, although not necessarily to critical acclaim.
Transition to Music and Album Releases
Pia Zadora found more success in her music career. Her cover of Shirley Ellis’ “The Clapping Song,” from the film “The Lonely Lady,” reached the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983. In 1984, her duet with Jermaine Jackson, “When the Rain Begins to Fall,” for the film “Voyage of the Rock Aliens,” also became a hit. In 1985, she received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the song “Rock it Out.” Specific sales figures and royalties from these singles and albums are not publicly disclosed. However, these musical endeavors added to her overall income.
Zadora released several albums, including “Pia & Phil” in 1985 and “I Am What I Am” in 1986, both albums comprised of popular standards. Later albums include “Let’s Dance Tonight,” “When the Lights Go Out,” “Pia Z,” and “All Or Nothing At All,” released in 2020. Financial details regarding the sales and streaming revenues generated by these albums are not publicly available.
Real Estate Investments
In 1988, Pia Zadora and her then-husband Meshulam Riklis purchased Pickfair Manor, a historic Beverly Hills mansion, from Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss for approximately $7 million. The couple later demolished the estate and built a new 25,000-square-foot residence in its place. Zadora continued to live in the mansion until 2006, following her divorce from Riklis in 1993. The sale price of the property in 2006, as well as any profits or losses incurred from the transaction, remains undisclosed. This real estate venture represents a significant asset held by Zadora and contributed to her overall wealth.
Later Performances and Career Ventures
In 2011, Zadora attempted a comeback with her cabaret show “Pia Zadora: Back Again, and Standing Tall,” performing in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, Florida, and later in San Francisco. The financial success and earnings from these shows are not publicly documented. However, they represent ongoing efforts to generate income and maintain her presence in the entertainment industry. Since 2013, Zadora has hosted and performed “Pia’s Place” at Piero’s Italian Cuisine in Las Vegas. Financial details, including performance fees and revenues from these performances, are not publicly available, but these engagements contribute to her income.
While exact earnings from her later performances and ventures remain undisclosed, these activities contribute to her overall net worth. Zadora’s financial success is attributed to her diverse career in acting, music, and entrepreneurial endeavors, which contributed to her total wealth of $25 million.