Whitney Houston was an American actress and singer whose first four albums, published between 1985 and 1992, sold more than 86 million copies worldwide.
Houston’s career veered off course with her marriage to musician Bobby Brown in 1992 and subsequent drug usage. Finally, she returned in 2009 with the film “I Look to You” and starred in the musical “Sparkle.” Houston perished in a hotel on February 11, 2012, due to unintentional drowning.
Table of Contents
- Whitney Houston’s Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
- Facts About Whitney Houston
- Whitney Houston’s Net Worth
- Whitney Houston’s Early Life and Education
- Whitney Houston’s Husband and Family Life
- Whitney Houston’s Career
- Whitney Houston’s Controversies
- Whitney Houston’s Humanitarian Works and Activism
- Whitney Houston’s Real Estate and Other Properties
- Whitney Houston’s Death
Whitney Houston's Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
| Height | 5 ft 7 in 1.7 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 135 pounds 61 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Body TypeS | Slim |
| Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Whitney Houston
| Nationality | American |
|---|---|
| Estimate Net Worth | $20 million |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Birthday | August 9, 1963 |
Whitney Houston's Net Worth
Whitney Houston had a $20 million net worth at her death. Whitney Houston’s net worth also included the $10 million she earned for her role as Julia Coleman Biggs in 1995’s “The Preacher’s Wife,” the $36 million she made for her 2010 “Nothing But Love Tour,” and the $100 million contract she signed with Arista Records in 2001.
There were undoubtedly reports that Whitney Houston was penniless when she passed away and had no real influence on the economy in the latter few years of her life. However, this is untrue, according to Forbes writer Zack O’Malley Greenburg. (1)
According to Forbes, Houston would have made almost $250 million from the sales of each of her 200 million albums. And that number for album sales alone is unmatched by any other female musician for a performer who didn’t receive any publishing royalties. Her estate is worth tens of millions of dollars, significantly more than it was at the time of her death, thanks to the success of her songs since her passing.
See the net worth of other famous musicians here.
Whitney Houston's Early Life
In Newark, New Jersey, on August 9, 1963, Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born to famed gospel singer Cissy Houston and a city official named John. Houston began singing very early in life as a New Hope Baptist Church church choir member in Newark, where she also learned how to play the piano.
She had a brother named Michael and two older half-brothers named John III and Gary. She eventually relocated with her family to East Orange, New Jersey, due to the 1967 Newark riots. Houston persisted in her performance career, becoming a soloist for her junior gospel choir by age 11.
When Houston was 15, she frequently played alongside her mother and pursued a record deal. A photographer impressed by her natural beauty came upon her at about the same time. One of the first Black American women to grace the cover of Seventeen magazine, she quickly rose to the status of a highly sought-after young model. Yet her primary love remained music.
Whitney Houston's Education
Franklin Elementary School served as her first educational stop before transferring to Mount Saint Dominic Academy, where she earned her diploma in 1981.
Whitney Houston's Husband and Family Life
Houston dated Jermaine Jackson, Eddie Murphy, and Randall Cunningham in the 1980s. She first met musician Bobby Brown at the close of the decade, and the two eventually got married in 1992. In 1993, Houston and Brown gave birth to a daughter named Bobbi Kristina Brown.
Whitney Houston's Career
She also provided background vocals to her mother’s album “Think it Over.” When Houston was still a young adolescent, she began singing in the background for her mother at cabaret clubs in New York City. Her mother soon encouraged her to sing a few songs, which led to Houston’s debut at Manhattan’s Town Hall. She then started to get the interest of record producers, namely Michael Zager and Paul Jabara.
Houston was seen by a photographer while performing at Carnegie Hall for the United Black College Fund and was immediately exposed to the fashion modeling world. She later worked as a model for numerous periodicals, including Cosmopolitan and Glamour. (2)
She sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female performers ever. Many awards and achievements during her career, including six Grammy Awards and 22 American Music Awards, have left their mark.
Even after Houston passed away in 2012, her estate still makes money from her brand and music. She will always be regarded as one of the best performers of all time, and her salary and earnings were a monument to her hard work and dedication to her craft.
Whitney Houston's Controversies
Houston’s demeanor had changed by the late 1990s, and she was gaining weight. There were many rumors that she and her husband used narcotics together, and in the early 2000s, she was discovered in possession of marijuana at a Hawaii airport. In a 2002 interview with Diane Sawyer, Whitney admitted using cocaine and marijuana. She spent a few times in rehab during the following ten years.
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Whitney Houston's Humanitarian Works and Activism
Whitney Houston believed in leveraging her fame to give back to those in need. She did much of her charitable work in secret, visiting sick children, writing handwritten cards to the organizations she supported, and planning Christmas parties for street kids. She contributed to several nonprofits.
In 1989, she established The Whitney Houston Foundation for Children. The WHFC developed inner city parks and playgrounds, assisted sick and needy kids, fought to prevent child abuse, educated kids to read, and offered college scholarships, including one that went to The Julliard School.
Whitney continued her humanitarian endeavors alongside Patricia Houston, her sister-in-law, who established the nonprofit Teen Summit in 2007. Teen Summit was set to help teenagers and young people repair their lives. Whitney participated in the yearly event and assisted Pat with Celebrity Consignment, a Shelby, North Carolina-based store that supports Teen Summit.
Whitney gave garments to the store and played a crucial role in persuading other famous people to do the same, including Oprah Winfrey, Alicia Keys, Dionne Warwick, Diane Sawyer, and others. On January 26, 2013, Teen Summit launched its first academy.
As part of Whitney’s mission to rebuild lives, restore self-esteem, and repair images through grassroots programs and initiatives for the young, The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation was established in 2020. Its goal is to encourage young people to thrive above their expectations, inspire them to overcome obstacles and provide them with opportunities that will help them live happier, more fulfilling lives.
Whitney Houston's Real Estate and Other Properties
A white 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera that belonged to Whitney Houston reportedly fetched $42,000 at auction. She also had a limousine from 1986 made by Rolls-Royce, now housed in the AACA Museum. She allegedly possessed numerous Mercedes-Benz SL500s, according to specific claims.
Whitney Houston owned several homes during her life, the most prominent of which being the mansion she spent over $500,000 on to buy in Mendham, New Jersey, in 1993. Until she sold it in 2010 for $940,000, she utilized this house as a guest house.
In 2003, she spent $1.38 million on a sizable estate in Alpharetta, Georgia. After her divorce from Bobby Brown was finalized in 2008, she sold this house at a loss.
The estate of Whitney Houston made an estimated $40 million in the nine months after her passing. This windfall’s most significant contributor was the sharp increase in Whitney’s record and single sales. The success of the film “Sparkle,” in which Whitney starred and executive produced, also benefited her estate. Her executors paid most of Whitney’s bills and raised $20 million for her daughter Bobbi Kristina.
Whitney Houston's Death
Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Aged 48, she was. Hours before she was scheduled to perform at Clive Davis’ annual pre-Grammys party at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, her death, was announced by her representative, Kristin Foster.
On March 22, 2012, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported that Houston had drowned accidentally. Houston had cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, Benadryl, and other narcotic substances in her system at the time of her death, according to the coroner’s office. According to the investigation, she died from heart disease and cocaine addiction. (3)
References
- Jason Pham, Whitney Houston’s Net Worth Reveals Who Inherited Her Estate & How Much She Made Before Her Death, retrieved from https://www.yahoo.com/now/whitney-houston-net-worth-reveals-213042188.html
- Hope Davis, Whitney Houston’s Net Worth: Her Houses, Cars, Career and More, retrieved from https://www.musicinminnesota.com/whitney-houstons-net-worth/
- Jennifer O’Brien, Whitney Houston’s Net Worth At The Time Of Her Death May Surprise You, retrieved from https://www.thelist.com/325865/whitney-houstons-net-worth-at-the-time-of-her-death-may-surprise-you/