Net Worth Ranker
What Is Sheila E’s Net Worth?
Sheila E., the celebrated American drummer, percussionist, singer, and author, has accumulated a net worth of approximately $4 million. This financial standing is largely attributable to her diverse and prolific career, encompassing collaborations with music icons such as Prince, George Duke, and Ringo Starr, as well as frequent partnerships with her father, the esteemed percussionist Pete Escovedo.
Career Highlights and Earnings
Sheila E.’s discography includes a series of solo albums, each contributing to her overall earnings. These albums include: “The Glamorous Life” (1984), “Romance 1600” (1985), “Sheila E.” (1987), “Sex Cymbal” (1991), “Writes of Passage” (2000), “Heaven” (2001), “Icon” (2013), and “Iconic: Message 4 America” (2017). Notably, her singles “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre” (with Prince) both achieved the coveted #1 position on the “Billboard” Dance Club Songs chart, further solidifying her presence in the music industry.
In 1976, Sheila E. showcased her talents on jazz bassist Alphonso Johnson’s album “Yesterday’s Dream,” marking an early milestone in her professional journey. By her early twenties, she had already collaborated with an impressive roster of artists, including Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, and Marvin Gaye. In 1977, she released the album “Solo Two” with her father and joined The George Duke Band. Sheila E. made significant contributions to numerous George Duke albums, including “Don’t Let Go” (1978), “Follow the Rainbow” (1979), “Master of the Game” (1979), and “A Brazilian Love Affair” (1980). She released another album with her father, 1978’s “Happy Together,” then she appeared on Herbie Hancock’s 1980 album “Monster” and joined Marvin Gaye’s 1983 “Midnight Love Tour.”
Sheila E. and Prince’s professional relationship began in 1977 and intensified during the “Purple Rain” recording sessions. Her vocal contributions to the 1984 song “Erotic City” and her role as the opening act on the “Purple Rain Tour” marked significant milestones. Her debut solo album, “The Glamorous Life,” released on June 5, 1984, achieved considerable success, reaching #28 on the “Billboard” 200 chart and #7 on the “Billboard” Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Earning a Gold certification, the album’s title track topped the “Billboard” Dance Club Songs chart and reached #7 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. Sheila E.’s second album, “Romance 1600” (1985), also achieved Gold status and featured the hit single “A Love Bizarre,” co-written and performed with Prince. This single reached #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart, #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and #11 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, also achieving top 10 status in Germany and the Netherlands. From 1987 to 1989, Sheila E. served as Prince’s drummer and musical director, while also releasing her self-titled album “Sheila E.” (1987). That album featured the single “Hold Me,” which reached #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Following “Sheila E.”, she released “Sex Cymbal” (1991), after which she faced serious health challenges.
Her versatility and talent have led to collaborations with Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, as well as contributions to Gloria Estefan’s “Mi Tierra” album (1993), Cyndi Lauper’s “At Last” album (2003), and Beyoncé’s single “Work It Out” (2002). In the early 2000s, she released the albums “Writes of Passage” (2000) and “Heaven” (2001). In 2006, she formed the all-female group C.O.E.D. (Chronicles of Every Diva), and in 2007, she performed at three Prince concerts and served as a judge on Fox’s “The Next Great American Band.”
Sheila E. participated in Prince’s “20Ten Tour” and “Welcome 2 America” tour, and in 2011, she performed on the “American Idol” season finale with Marc Anthony. She released the 2011 album “Now & Forever” with The E. Family, including her father and brothers, and followed it with the 2013 solo album “Icon.” Sheila E. showcased her talents at the 2012 Academy Awards, playing intros and outros during commercial breaks. Her percussive skills were featured on the orchestral soundtracks of the films “Man of Steel” (2013) and “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016). After Prince’s passing in 2016, she released “Girl Meets Boy” in his honor. In 2017, she released the album “Iconic: Message 4 America” and was the featured percussionist on “The Boss Baby” soundtrack. Sheila E. appeared in Fred Armisen’s 2018 Netflix special “Stand Up for Drummers,” and in 2020, she served as the musical director and performer for the Staples Center concert “Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince.” In 2020, she launched “Sheila E. Teaches Drumming and Percussion” with MasterClass.
Real Estate and Personal Assets
In June 2018, Sheila E. invested $900,000 in a home located in Woodland Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. The current estimated value of this property ranges between $1.5 million and $2 million, reflecting a substantial increase in its market value since the initial purchase.
Early Life and Background
Born Sheila Cecilia Escovedo on December 12, 1957, in Oakland, California, Sheila E. is the daughter of percussionist Pete Escovedo and dairy factory worker Juanita Gardere. Her Mexican-American heritage comes from her father’s side, while her mother’s side is Creole-French/African. Sheila E. grew up in a Catholic household alongside her three younger siblings, Peter, Zina, and Juan, all of whom are involved in music. Peter is the biological father of Nicole Richie, who was raised by Lionel Richie and his first wife, Brenda, from the age of 3.
Sheila E.’s early life was marked by both musical influences and personal challenges. She has spoken about being raped by her teenage babysitter at the age of 5 and her subsequent journey toward healing. Sheila E. told “USA Today” in 2019, “I wrote for an hour and a half, and when I started to read it, I realized how awful it was. I cried for two or three days. That was the beginning of healing. You can’t hold onto these things. It’s not your fault. Don’t feel guilty or ashamed. That stops you from leading your fullest life and experiencing joy.”
Awards, Nominations, and Humanitarian Work
Sheila E. has received five Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist in 1985. Other nominations include: Best R&B Instrumental Performance for “Shortberry Strawcake” (1985), Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female and Best Rhythm & Blues Song for “The Glamorous Life” (1985), and Best Music Video, Long Form for “Prince and the Revolution LIVE!” (1986). In 2021, she received a Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award alongside her father. She won the CMT reality series “Gone Country” in 2009. Sheila E. has earned Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Music Direction for “In Performance at the White House: Fiesta Latina” (2010) and “Let’s Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince” (2020). In 1985, Shelia E. received American Music Award nominations for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Female Video Artist and MTV Video Music Award nominations for Best Female Video and Best New Artist in a Video for “Sheila E.: The Glamorous Life.”
Beyond her musical achievements, Sheila E. is actively involved in humanitarian work. She and her friend Lynn Mabry co-founded Elevate Oakland, a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing art and music programs to the youth of Oakland.
Personal Relationships
Sheila E. and Prince’s relationship involved a proposal during the 1987 “Sign O’ the Times” tour, though the exact duration of their engagement remains undefined. In a 2016 “Billboard” interview, Sheila E. stated, “This is the thing: we were together for so long I don’t really know when we weren’t. We always loved each other. He really did care for me.” Sheila E. has also revealed a past engagement to Carlos Santana.
In 2009, Howard University’s Eta Delta Chapter of the Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority made Sheila E. an honorary member because of her humanitarian efforts.
