Whitney Houston Net Worth at Death (FORBES)

July 2024 · 4 minute read

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

NameWhitney Elizabeth Houston
ProfessionSinger, 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: Houston was involved in several legal disputes throughout her career, including a lawsuit from her father and a divorce settlement from Bobby Brown. 

These legal battles reportedly cost her millions of dollars, and she lost over $100 million in settlements.

Lavish spending: Houston was known for her extravagant lifestyle, which included spending millions of dollars on clothes, and jewelry, and renting luxury mansions. 

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

SongEarnings
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

How much money did Whitney Houston make in her lifetime?

Whitney Houston made an estimated $300 million during her lifetime. This includes earnings from record sales, streaming revenue, concert ticket sales, and acting roles.

What was Whitney Houston’s net worth at the time of her death?

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.

Who owns Whitney Houston’s estate now?

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.

Did Whitney Houston’s father sue her?

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.

Where did Bobbi Kristina money go?

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.

How much debt was Whitney in when she died?

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.

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