Shirley Bassey Net Worth

What is Shirley Bassey's Net Worth?

Shirley Bassey is a Welsh singer who has a net worth of $40 million. Shirley Bassey, the powerhouse Welsh vocalist with a commanding voice that has captivated audiences for over seven decades, stands as one of popular music's most enduring and distinctive talents.

Over a seven-decade career, she has earned tens of millions from record sales, global tours, and high-profile performances. She resides in a luxury apartment in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and in 2024, she auctioned off a portion of her jewelry collection at Sotheby's for €2.2 million (roughly $2.4 million). While those proceeds were donated to charity, they underscore the value of her assets. Bassey also continues to earn royalties from her expansive music catalog, including three James Bond themes, which remain in regular commercial rotation.

Rising from humble beginnings in Cardiff's Tiger Bay to international stardom, Bassey made history as the only artist to record three James Bond theme songs—"Goldfinger," "Diamonds Are Forever," and "Moonraker"—each showcasing her remarkable vocal control and dramatic delivery. Her career encompasses over 70 albums, numerous chart-topping singles, and an estimated 135 million records sold worldwide.

Known for her glamorous stage presence and ability to infuse songs with emotional intensity, Bassey's performance style combines theatrical flair with technical precision. Her longevity in the music industry is matched by her continued relevance, having performed at prestigious events, including the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert and the 2013 Academy Awards. Bassey was named a Commander of the British Empire in 1994. Five years later, on New Year's Eve in 1999, she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Bassey has also been awarded the Legion d'Honneur, the highest order of merit in France.

Early Life

Shirley Bassey was born on January 8, 1937, in Cardiff, Wales, as the youngest of six children of English mother Eliza and Nigerian father Henry. In addition to her own siblings, she lived with two of the four children her mother had from prior relationships. As a youth, Bassey went to Moorland Road School, where she sang in the school choir. She subsequently attended secondary modern school but left at the age of 14 to work at the manufacturing company Curran Steels. In the evenings, Bassey sang at local clubs and pubs.

Career Beginnings

Bassey signed her first professional music contract in 1953 as a member of the "Memories of Jolson" variety show tour. Later in the year, she signed with Columbia Productions for a two-performance engagement. Bassey went on to tour with the show "Hot from Harlem." Eventually, she was noticed by English impresario Jack Hylton, who invited her to appear in the West End show "Such is Life." Bassey attracted a great deal of attention for her show-stopping performance in the production and was subsequently offered a recording contract by Philips record producer Johnny Franz. She soon recorded her first single, "Burn My Candle," which she had sung in "Such is Life." However, the song was banned by the BBC for being too suggestive. In 1957, Bassey had her first hit single in the UK with "The Banana Boat Song." She then made her American stage debut in Las Vegas before performing in Los Angeles.

In 1958, Bassey recorded two of her most acclaimed singles: "As I Love You" and "Hands Across the Sea." She had another hit with her cover of "Kiss Me, Honey Honey, Kiss Me." Shortly after this, Bassey signed with Columbia and released the hit album "The Fabulous Shirley Bassey."

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Hits of the '60s and '70s

Bassey's star continued to rise exponentially in the early 60s. In the first two years of the decade, she had top-ten UK hit singles with "As Long As He Needs Me," "Reach for the Stars," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "I'll Get By," and "You'll Never Know." Bassey subsequently released the album "Let's Face the Music,"; a collaboration with Nelson Riddle and his orchestra, it spawned the hit single "What Now My Love." In 1964, Bassey recorded perhaps her most famous song of all, the theme song to the James Bond film "Goldfinger." Released the following year in the United States, it reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100. Also in 1965, Bassey released the live album "Shirley Bassey at the Pigalle." A couple of years later, she released the single "Big Spender."

After living as a tax exile for two years beginning in 1968, Bassey made her comeback in 1970 with a run of shows at the Talk of the Town nightclub in London. The same year, she released the hit album "Something." In 1971, Bassey returned to the James Bond film franchise to record the theme song to "Diamonds Are Forever." She went on to have an incredibly successful decade, releasing such hit albums as "Something Else," "I Capricorn," "Love, Life and Feelings," and "You Take My Heart Away." Bassey also had major hits with her compilation albums "The Shirley Bassey Singles Album" and "25th Anniversary Album." She concluded the 70s with her third James Bond theme song, which was recorded for the film "Moonraker."

Further Recording Career

In the 80s and 90s, while in what she called "semi-retirement," Bassey recorded such albums as "All by Myself," "I Am What I Am," and "Keep the Music Playing." Later, in 2003, she celebrated her 50 years in the industry by releasing the album "Thank You for the Years." Four years after that, she had another hit album with, "Get the Party Started." Bassey's subsequent albums have included "The Performance," "Hello Like Before," and "I Owe it All to You." With the lattermost album, which peaked at number five in the UK, Bassey became the first female artist to have an album chart in the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart in seven consecutive decades.

In 2020, Bassey signed a new recording contract with Decca Records to release what she described as her final studio album, "I Owe It All to You." The album debuted at number five on the UK Albums Chart, making her the first female artist in history to chart a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades. The deal reportedly came with a substantial advance and renewed interest in her catalog, adding another wave of streaming and sales royalties to her long-standing income.

BBC Television

Bassey has had numerous BBC television specials over the years. Her first, "Shirley Comes Home," was broadcast in 1957. In the 60s, Bassey had five specials. She had seven specials in the 70s and also hosted her own eponymous variety show from 1976 to 1979. Bassey continued to star in BBC television specials in the 90s and 2000s.

Jewelry and Collectibles

Throughout her career, Bassey amassed a stunning jewelry collection that included custom pieces from Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and other luxury houses. In October 2024, she auctioned off more than 80 pieces at Sotheby's in Paris. The event raised €2.2 million and set a record for a single-owner jewelry collection sold at Sotheby's France. Top lots included a diamond necklace and a Cartier gold-and-diamond suite, each fetching six-figure sums. Although the proceeds were donated to charity, the auction showcased the immense value of her personal collection.

Personal Life

In 1961, Bassey wed her first husband, Kenneth Hume. The pair divorced in 1965 following Bassey's affair with actor Peter Finch. Bassey next married Sergio Novak in 1968; they eventually divorced in 1979. Bassey had two daughters, Sharon and Samantha, whose fathers remain unknown. The latter child was found dead in the River Avon at the age of 21 in 1985.

Real Estate

Bassey has lived in Monte Carlo, Monaco, since the late 1970s, where she owns a high-end apartment overlooking the Mediterranean. The residence is likely worth several million pounds, given Monaco's exclusive property market. In addition to its luxury, the location also reflects strategic financial planning: Monaco's lack of income tax has made it a popular haven for high-earning entertainers. Her longtime home remains one of her most valuable known assets.

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