Whitney Houston’s net worth when she died was $10,000. At the time of her death, Houston was living in debt, in a motel.
She was one of the best-selling female music artists of all time, with over 200 million records sold worldwide.
Houston’s personal life was often troubled. She struggled with addiction and died of an accidental drug overdose in 2012. See Heath Ledger’s Wealth at Death.
Whitney Houston Net Worth
| Name | Whitney Elizabeth Houston |
| Profession | Singer, Actress |
| Net Worth at Death | $10,000 |
| Peak Net Worth | $150 Million |
| Debts | $25 Million |
| Bank Balance | $610 |
How did she go broke?
Whitney Houston was one of the most successful and popular singers of all time, but she also struggled with financial problems throughout her career.
She reportedly made over $250 million during her lifetime, but she lost most of it due to a combination of factors, including:
Legal fees:ย Houston was involved in several legal disputes throughout her career,ย including a lawsuit from her father and a divorce settlement from Bobby Brown.ย
These legal battles reportedly cost her millions of dollars, and she lost over $100 million in settlements.
Lavish spending:ย Houston was known for her extravagant lifestyle,ย which included spending millions of dollars on clothes,ย and jewelry,ย and renting luxury mansions.ย
She also reportedly gave away $16 million in cash gifts to friends and family.
Net Worth at Death
Whitney filed paperwork in Orange County, California in 2007 to divorce Bobby Brown, stating that she had $6 million in debts and only $15,000 cash.
Whitney stated at the time that she owned two properties: a $8 million house in New Jersey with a $4 million mortgage and a $1 million Atlanta townhouse with a $900k mortgage.
Who Inherited Whitney Houston’s Wealth?
After her death, Houston’s music saw a sudden surge in sales, and her estate earned over $50 million in royalties to date.
After paying off $25 million in debts, the remaining money was transferred to her daughter Bobby Kristina.
Her daughter is the sole beneficiary of her will. Bobby Kristina earns $1.6 million in music royalties annually from her mom’s albums.
Top Grossing Music
| Song | Earnings |
| I Will Always Love You | $50 million |
| I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) | $30 million |
| How Will I Know | $25 million |
| One Moment in Time | $20 million |
| Saving All My Love for You | $15 million |
| Didn’t We Almost Have It All | $10 million |
| Greatest Love of All | $9 million |
| Exhale (Shoop Shoop) | $8 million |
| My Love Is Your Love | $7 million |
| When You Believe | $6 million |
Career Success
In addition to her success in music, Whitney also ventured into acting. In 1992, she starred in the romantic thriller film The Bodyguard, which was a critical and commercial success.
The film’s soundtrack, which featured Whitney singing several songs, was also a huge success, selling over 42 million copies worldwide.
FAQs
Whitney Houston made an estimated $300 million during her lifetime. This includes earnings from record sales, streaming revenue, concert ticket sales, and acting roles.
Whitney Houston’s net worth at the time of her death in 2012 was estimated to be around $10,000. This is a significant decrease from her peak net worth of $150 million in the 1980s and 1990s.
Whitney Houston’s estate is currently owned by Primary Wave Music Publishing, a music publishing and talent management company.
In 2019, Primary Wave acquired a 50% stake in Houston’s estate, which includes her publishing, master recording revenue, name, likeness, and brand. The deal valued the estate at $14 million.
Yes, Whitney Houston’s father, John Houston, sued her in 2002 for $100 million. He claimed that she had breached her contract with his company, John Houston Enterprises, by failing to pay him a commission on her record deals.
Bobbi Kristina Brown’s money went to her two court-appointed administrators, Bedelia Hargrove and Pat Houston.
Hargrove was Bobbi Kristina’s maternal aunt, while Pat Houston was her paternal aunt and Whitney Houston’s former manager.
Whitney Houston had an estimated $25 million in debt when she died in 2012. This debt was accumulated from a variety of sources, including record deals, real estate investments, and personal expenses.