Linda Ronstadt Net Worth
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Linda Ronstadt Net Worth

Last Updated on July 18, 2023 | Written by CPA Alec Pow
First Published on February 9, 2023 | Content Reviewed by Certified CFA CFA Alexander Popivker

Linda Maria Ronstadt is a famous American singer and songwriter who has achieved immense popularity and success in the world of music. Beginning in the late 1960s, her musical career spans four decades and encompasses music from different genres, including blues, rock, jazz, and folk, among others. Her versatility in delivering a wide range of styles and her mesmerizing voice appealed to the masses.

In the 70s, she remained the best-selling and most successful female singer to be labeled the “First Lady of Rock” and the “Queen of Rock”. She emerged as the first woman to achieve “classy arena” stardom with her graphic albums such as “Heart Like a Wheel” and “Simple Dreams”.

What is Linda Ronstadt’s net worth?

The American pop singer, Linda Ronstadt has a net worth of $130 million at the time this article is written. She is well-known for her work that covers a large range of genres, from Latin music to country rock and light opera. During her career, she won eleven Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, three American Music Awards, and many more.

Childhood and teenage years

Linda Ronstadt was born on July 15, 1946 to Gilbert Ronstadt and Ruth Mary (née Copeman) Ronstadt. Her father was a wealthy machinery merchant and her mother was a homemaker.

She belonged to an influential family whose contributions to Arizona in the fields of wagon making, music, commerce, and others were immense, which are recorded in the “University of Arizona” library.

She was raised with her siblings Peter, Michael J. and Gretchen on the family farm.

Music career

Linda Ronstadt began her music career in the late 1960s, playing in a folk band with her siblings Gretchen and Peter at first. They performed at different small venues around Tucson town.

In 1964, after spending only one semester at Arizona State University, Linda left college and moved to Los Angeles, California. Here she formed the band “Stone Poneys” with her friends Bobby Kimmel and Kenny Edwards. In 1966 they were signed to Capitol Records, with Linda as lead singer.

Linda went solo in 1969 and released her first alternative record titled “Hand Sown…Home Grown”. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Linda continued to develop her solo music career and toured along with well-known musicians such as Neil Young and Doors.

In the 1970s Linda became one of the first female rock stars, being referred to as “First Lady of Rock” and “Queen of Rock”, thanks to her famous albums like “Living in the USA” released in 1978, “Heart Like a Wheel” released in 1974 and “Simple Dreams” released in 1977. Linda was also very famous for her rock-and-roll image and appeared multiple times on the covers of magazines such as Time, Rolling Stone, and Newsweek.

Ronstadt continued her work and the albums released during the 1980s were certified multi-platinum. These include “Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind”, “Mad Love” and “What’s New”.

During her music career, Linda Ronstadt sang with many famous artists including Johnny Cash, Bette Midler, Neil Young, Frank Zappa, and Dolly Parton. With more than 100 million records, she is one of the best-selling musicians in history.

In 2011 Linda Ronstadt announced her retirement from music. The same year she was awarded the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2014 Linda was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and in 2016 was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Other projects

Besides music, Linda created a career in acting and writing. She released her autobiography, called “Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir”, published by Simon & Schuster, in 2013. Also, there is a Spanish version of the book, named “Sueños Sencillos – Memorias Musicales”.

Linda dabbled in musicals and appeared in many TV shows, including “The Simpsons” in 1992, “Saturday Night Live” and “Playboy After Dark” in 1970, “The Muppet Show” in 1980. Also, in 1980 Ronstadt played the role of Mabel Stanley in the TV film version of “The Pirates of Penzance”. Between 1981 and 1982 she continued to play this role in a Broadway production of the show and was even nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

In 1983 she played the role of Mabel Stanley again, alongside Angela Lansbury and Kevin Kline, in the film version of “The Pirates of Penzance”. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for this performance.

Private life

Young Linda RonstadtAlthough she never married, she was romantically linked to many famous personalities.

In the late 1970s, her relationship with Jerry Brown, the then governor of California and Democratic presidential candidate in the mid-seventies became a hot topic for the global media.

In 1983 her relationship with famous comedian Jim Carrey lasted for eight months. Although she was engaged to filmmaker George Lucas in the mid-eighties, the relationship never culminated in marriage.

She adopted her daughter Mary Clementine in December 1990 and son Carlos Ronstadt in 1994, both early on.

In 1997, she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which was a cause for the weight gain.

In December 2012 she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which she revealed in August 2013. The disease, which causes loss of muscle control, became a barrier to her singing. In 2019 the diagnosis was reversed and she was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy.

She is a self-proclaimed agnostic.

Real estate

Today Linda Ronstadt owns homes in Tucson and San Francisco. But years before she had an impressive oceanfront house in Malibu, that has been sold decades later by another owner for $16 million.

Alec Pow
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