What Was Sonny Bono's Net Worth?
Sonny Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, restaurateur, and politician who had a net worth equal to $4 million at the time of his death in 1998. Sonny Bono rose to fame through his relationship and singing act with pop star Cher and went on to have a prominent career in politics. From 1988 to 1992, Sonny was the mayor of Palm Springs, California. From 1995 until his death, he was a congressman, representing California's 44th district.
Estate Value and Royalties
Sonny's surprisingly low net worth is partially a result of having multiple divorces around the peak of his career, followed by a relatively quiet career during the late '70s, '80s, and '90s. At the time of his death, Sonny did not have a will and, as a result, Cher sued his estate for $1.6 million in unpaid alimony related to their 1974 divorce. Sonny's wife at the time of his death, Mary Bono, took over his spot in Congress. She would go on to serve for 15 years. More than 20 years after his death, Mary was still earning between $250,000 and $1 million per year in royalties, interest, and dividends connected to Sonny's songwriting credits, according to a congressional disclosure form.
Early Life
Sonny Bono was born Salvatore Philip Bono on February 16, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan. His parents, Santo and Zena Bono, were Italian. His mother gave him the nickname "Sono," which evolved into "Sonny" over time. Sonny had two older sisters, and they were raised in Inglewood, California. He never graduated high school, choosing instead to pursue a career as a songwriter.
Early Career
Bono's first job in the music industry was as a songwriter for the label Specialty Records. In the early 1960s, he worked as a percussionist, promotional representative, and assistant for Phil Spector. While trying to establish a music career of his own, he worked a number of odd jobs, including butcher and deliveryman.
Sonny and Cher
In 1962, when Sonny was 27 and still working for Spector, he met 16-year-old Cher at the local coffee shop. The two became fast friends, and Cher began singing background for Spector through her connection with Sonny. They released their first regional hit under their duo name, Sonny & Cher, in 1964. Despite not gaining nationwide airtime, it led to a contract with ATCO Records, a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. They followed its release with the hugely successful 1965 single "I Got You Babe," which sold over 100 million copies. The song was produced and released prior to their debut studio album "Look At Us," which reached #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and was certified gold.
The couple went on a series of popular television shows to promote their album, and Bono's interest in politics was foreshadowed in the album's lyrics. In 1965, five of their singles reached the Billboard Top 20. The pair found success in both television and music. They went on a popular worldwide tour for their second album, "The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér," and the duo garnered attention for their unique stage costumes and appearances.
The third Sonny & Cher album, "In Case You're in Love," was released in 1967 and sold better in Europe than in the US. It was accompanied by their first appearance in a feature film, "Good Times," which was a massive flop. They began to wane in popularity, as their musical style became softer and less psychedelic. In 1970, the duo shifted their focus to television, starring in "The Nitty Gritty Hour," a comedy variety sketch show. They followed that with smaller roles in films and a comedy show of their own. "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" aired in 1971 and was initially a hit. After four seasons, it had received seven Emmy nominations. However, in 1974, the couple split up along with their music and television brand.
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Independent Career and Politics
Sonny went on to launch a short-lived comedy show in 1974, and he starred in minor roles in film and television throughout the late seventies and early eighties. In 1985, he opened Bono's Restaurant in Palm Springs, California. The restaurant featured eleven tennis courts, and arguments with the local authorities over zoning inspired his run for mayor in 1988. Running as a Republican, Bono capitalized both on his fame as a singer and his deep pockets. He spent $100,000 during the race compared to his opponent's $30,000. His platform centered around making the city more business-friendly and getting rid of cost-prohibitive regulations. Since he was campaigning during the Reagan era, his message was a popular one, and he won in a landslide. Interestingly, Sonny won a day after his ex-wife Cher won an Oscar for her role in "Moonstruck."
While Bono was mayor, he brought a film festival to the city to boost tourism profits, and with residents weary of spring break chaos, he tried to cut tourism from that demographic with targeted regulations. In 1992, he ran in the primaries for the Republican candidate for Senate but lost. He attributed that loss to him not being taken seriously and having a perception of "Sonny Bonehead," as he told the "New York Times." He did, however, win his 1994 run for California's 44th District's House of Representatives seat. During his time in Congress, Sonny was known for being witty and involved in the policymaking process. He was re-elected for a second term in 1996.
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Personal Life and Controversy
Sonny's first marriage was in 1954 to Donna Rankin. The two had a daughter together but divorced in 1962. Sonny and Cher began dating in 1962 shortly after they met. They went on to marry in October 1964 and had one child together, Chastity (who later became Chaz Bono), in 1969. The pair divorced in 1974. After Sonny moved to Palm Springs and opened his Italian restaurant and tennis club, he had a short marriage to Susie Coelho, lasting from 1981 to 1984. His fourth marriage was to Mary Whitaker in 1986, and the couple had two children together.
Although public documents listed him as a Roman Catholic, Bono had an interest in Scientology. Both he and his wife, Mary, attended Scientology classes, and he publicly expressed an interest in the religious cult. It was rumored that Tom Cruise's former wife, Mimi Rogers, recruited him into the organization, and his last wife stated that they wouldn't let him officially leave. She also claimed that he had been addicted to valium and painkillers, but neither were found in his system at the time of his death.
Death and Legacy
Sonny died on January 5, 1998, after he collided with a while skiing in South Lake Tahoe, California. He was 62 years old at the time of his death. His widow, Mary, filled his Congressional seat and won the district in her own name seven times before being voted out in 2012.
