At the time of her death, Whitney Houston’s net worth was $10,000. She was living in a motel and was in debt. Houston sold over 200 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling female music artists ever.
Her personal life was troubled, and she struggled with addiction. She died from an accidental drug overdose in 2012. See Heath Ledger’s Wealth at Death.
Whitney Houston’s 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?
Houston was a very successful and popular singer, but she faced financial problems during 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 during her career. These included a lawsuit from her father and a divorce settlement with Bobby Brown. The legal battles reportedly cost her millions, and she lost over $90 million in settlements.
Lavish spending:ย Houston was known for living a lavish lifestyle. She spent millions on clothes, jewelry, and renting luxury homes. She also reportedly gave $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 sales increased, and her estate earned over $50 million in royalties. After paying off $25 million in debts, the remaining money was transferred to her daughter, Bobby Kristina, who is the sole beneficiary of her will. Bobby now earns $1.6 million annually in music royalties from her mother’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.