Let’s step into the world of Luther Vandross net worth of $40 million. He is a famous American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Who dominated his field for 25 years. Throughout his career, he received many awards for his brilliant performance. Luther’s mother wanted him to become a professional singer. Her support enables him to pursue his dream. He was such an obedient boy from an early age. His songs Never Too Much, Power of Love, and Dance with My Father were his masterpiece and caught the public’s attention. His songs contributed to his fame and added a wave to Luther Vandross net worth. He still lives in the hearts of his fans even after his death.
QUICK FACTS
Name | Luther Vandross |
Full Name | Luther Ronzoni Vandross Jr |
Other Name | elvet Voice |
Net Worth | $40 Million |
Date Of Birth | April 20, 1951 |
Age | 54 Years Old |
Height | 6 feet and 2 inches |
Weight | 86kg |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Birth Place | New York City |
Profession | Composer, Musician and Actor |
Debut Year | 1981 |
Nationality | American |
Hometown | Manhattan, New York City |
School/High School | William Howard Taft High School |
Net Worth
After exploring his fantastic career, the next question that may pop into your mind is Luther Vandross net worth. At the time of his death, Luther Vandross net worth was estimated around $40 million. It must be shocking to know the massive number in his bank account. But he had no doubt worked very hard to get to this point. Throughout his life, he sold more than 40 million records, which helped him succeed more. Not only that, it also contributes significantly to Luther Vandross’s net worth.
Source Of Income
A significant part of Luther Vandross net worth comes from his singing profession. But he also uses multiple sources of income. He also earned a significant amount of money from advertising and sponsorship. Moreover, he also owns a website. His website has 15.2k organic search visitors as of 14 October 2023. So, it also contributes to Luther Vandross net worth.
Assets
He made some wise and unique decisions regarding spending money on assets. In early 2000, he sold out one of his apartments in Manhattan for $5.6 million. After that, he once again marked a significant shift in price by selling his other luxurious apartment on the Upper East Side for about $400,000. He didn’t stop there; in 2002, he also owned property in Stamford, Connecticut. Later, he sold that property for about $850,000. His moves around the property market made him more famous. Furthermore, in 1999, he sold one of his properties for $10.75 million. And that property was listed under $9 million in 2015.
Early Life
He was born on April 20, 1951 in New York City. His parents, Mary Ida Vandross and Luther Vandross Sr, raised him in the Alfred E. Smith Houses public housing development in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. By profession, his father was an upholsterer and singer, and his mother was a nurse. He was the fourth child and second son. Patricia “Pat” and Ann are his sisters. He was lucky to experience the blessing of financial stability since his childhood. Financial stability enabled him to pursue his mother’s dream and opened the door of opportunities for him. Patricia Vandross, Luther Vandross’ father’s sister, was a member of the Crests in the mid-’50s. He was only three years old when he bought his phonograph and started playing the piano.
In 1969, he attended William Howard Taft High School for his early education. And then, he went to Western Michigan University for higher education. After discovering his interest in music, he left the university without completing his degree to pursue his music career.
Career
He always wanted to become a professional singer and started the first Patti LaBelle fan club, even becoming president! Meanwhile, he joined a group called Shades of Jade. A legendary theatre called Apollo once hosted their performance. He performed several times at the Apollo’s amateur night. He also participated in a theatre workshop called “Listen to My Brother.”
In the 1970s, he was primarily known as a backing vocalist. He collaborated with big names such as Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, and more. Then, in 1980, he released his debut song, “The Glow of Love”, as a lead singer of the group.
His first solo album, “Never Too Much,” was released in 1981 by Epic Records. It was an instant hit! After his father’s death, he paid a heartfelt tribute to him by releasing a beautiful song, “Dance with My Father.” There were so many beautiful memories that were highlighted in the song. There were a lot of popular songs by Luther Vandross. “Never Too Much,” “Here and Now,” “Any Love,” and “Power of Love/Love Power” were some of the most popular.
Family
Luther Vandross didn’t get married to anyone. Health issue was the biggest challenge for his family. His father passed away early, undoubtedly a significant loss for him. He preferred to keep his personal life private. So there is not any valid news about his relationship except one. After his death, one of his friends revealed that during his lifetime, he had a relationship with a man when he was living in Los Angeles.
Talking about Luther’s personal life, he kept it pretty private, especially about his romantic relationships. He liked guys but didn’t tell everyone when he was alive. A good friend split the beans after Luther passed away, saying that Luther had a long relationship with a man in the late 1980s and early 1990s when he lived in Los Angeles. In 1985, a magazine reported that he lost weight due to AIDS. The news was false. He took them to court for spreading false news.
Death
Luther Vandross had faced some health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. In April 2003, the situation got worse, and he had a terrible stroke in his home. He was in a coma for almost two months and lost the ability to speak. He used a wheelchair for some time but learned to walk again after some time.
2004, he won the Grammy Award but could not attend the award ceremony. He recorded a video and talked about his song “Dance With My Father.” His mother attended the award ceremony and received the award on his behalf. In May 2004, he appeared on Oprah Winfrey Show, his last public appearance.
Sadly, on 1 Jul 2005, he passed away because of a heart attack. He was only 54 years old. His funeral was held in New York City. Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, and Cissy Houston attended the event. He was buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey. In 2008, his mother also passed away after three years of his death.
Conclusion
Let’s wrap up the story of Luther Vandross net worth. He was a famous singer and songwriter. Throughout his career, he accumulated significant money in his bank. At the time of his death, Luther Vandross net worth was estimated at $40 million. Sadly he left us on 1 July 2005. But he still lives in the hearts of his fans. Moreover, Don’t forget that financial situations can change quickly, so it is advisable to check celebworthmagazine for updates periodically to gain the most up-to-date data regarding Luther Vandross net worth.