Home Personality Barry Manilow Net Worth: From a Destitute Unknown to Surpassing Elvis Presley—How Barry Manilow Earned $100 Million Through Music?

Barry Manilow Net Worth: From a Destitute Unknown to Surpassing Elvis Presley—How Barry Manilow Earned $100 Million Through Music?

by Judy M. Ortego
barry manilow net worth

Barry Manilow has just signed up for a lifetime gig at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. This is good news for long-time fans of the iconic singer-songwriter, myself included. The 81-year-old “Copacabana” singer is surely one of the most successful artists of all time, with tens of millions of records sold and several generations’ worth of fans.

Still, if you’re a long-time Manilow fan, you may wonder, “How much fortune did Manilow make out of his five-decade legacy?” This post will give a Barry Manilow net worth breakdown and walk you through the musical icon’s early life and road to success.

Barry Manilow achieved the record for the most concert performances in history

Barry Manilow achieved the record for the most concert performances in history

Image source: X

How Rich is Barry Manilow?

For someone who’s been in the industry for decades, some might think Barry Manilow fell out of the spotlight. And they couldn’t have been more wrong. Now 81, the Brooklyn-born ‘70s king of pop and soft-rock remains a top-notch and crowd-favorite singer and performer. If you’re doubting that, Manilow’s fortune may change your mind.

In 2024, 50 years after “Mandy,” Barry Manilow’s net worth is estimated at $100 million. His main source of income comes from being a singer, songwriter, producer, and performer. For some time in his early career, Manilow earned a living by writing and selling jingles for commercial brands. Such one-time contracts paid the singer-songwriter $500 per song.

However, it also meant he didn’t get residuals from his work. “At that point, $500 meant a lot of money — I was grateful to have it,” Manilow said in an interview. To this day, Manilow has sold over 75 million records, released 13 Billboard chart hits, and six albums with platinum status.

The ‘70s icon recently signed a lifetime residency to perform at Westgate Resort & Casino’s International Theater. And while the amount he gets from the deal wasn’t disclosed, you can bet it’s rather hefty.

the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley

the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley

Image source: Google

“Barry Manilow is a generational artist and a dear friend,” said David Spiegel, Westgate’s chairman and founder. “I am honored to offer Barry the opportunity to perform at Westgate for a lifetime.” Just last year, Barry Manilow broke the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley’s Las Vegas record for the most shows performed at the venue.

What Made Barry Manilow Famous?

For those rediscovering the singer’s work, you may wonder what made Barry Manilow so famous. So, here’s the tale of the ‘70s musical icon’s early life and success story.

Early Life and Education

Born Barry Alan Pincus, Manilow grew up in the industrial streets of Brooklyn, New York. He grew up without his father, so he took his mother’s maiden name, Manilow. The would-be ‘70s king of pop loved music as a child and took up several instruments at an early age. At seven, he was taking accordion lessons while trying to learn piano.

Manilow later attended the New York College of Music and Juilliard School in New York City. Both are prestigious musical schools.

Singing and Songwriting Career

Manilow wrote and sold jingles as a young man. Some of the most famous jingles he composed include “Like a Good Neighbor,” “You Deserve a Break Today,” and “Stuck on Band-Aid,” songs you probably heard a thousand times. When he was not making up catchy tunes, Manilow worked as a musical director at one of CBS’s television shows in 1967.

Manilow got his shot at the pop music scene working with Bette Midler. Midler was not so famous then, and Manilow became her musical director and arranger, co-producing her first and second albums. Bette Midler’s album won a Grammy, while Manilow’s debut album tanked. But that didn’t stop Manilow from writing and releasing more music.

His big break as a singer and songwriter finally came on his second album when “Mandy” topped the Billboard Charts in 1974. That initial win set the rhythm for his overwhelming success in the ’70s. Then follows a string of musical hits like “It’s a Miracle,” “I Write the Songs,” “Looks Like We Made It,” and “Copacabana,” placing the once-starving prodigious songwriter on the map.

Manilow was a favorite tune and his songs were requested in clubs, theatres, and arenas. He was phenomenal. Few other performers at the time had the opportunity to bring their music to such a wide variety of audiences.

Final Thoughts

While not Elton John or Led Zeppelin, Manilow established quite a loyal fan base that continues to appreciate his melodic and romantic odes. He had the entire world singing along to “Mandy” and “Copacabana.” Boasting a massive $100 million net worth and a legacy to last decades more, Barry Manilow’s impact on music certainly surpassed many of his contemporaries.


Featured image source: X

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