Anthony Dominic Benedetto, better known as Tony Bennett, is a 95-year-old American singer. He is best known for his jazz interpretations and melodies. Tony is also known for his popular songs "Rags to Riches" and "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." As of 2021, Tony Bennett's net worth is estimated to be around $220 million.
Tony Bennett retired from the stage just days after his 95th birthday. His son and his manager Danny Bennett has confirmed that his last two performances with Lady Gaga at New York’s Radio City Music Hall would be his last.
| Full Name | Anthony Dominick Benedetto |
| Birth Date | August 3, 1926 |
| Birth Place | Queens, New York City |
| Profession | Singer |
| Wife | Susan Crow |
| Net Worth | $220 million |
Early life
Tony Bennett was born on August 3, 1926 in Long Island City, Queens, United States. He was born to his parents Giovanni and Anna Benedetto. His father was a shopkeeper and his mother a seamstress. He has an older brother, John Jr., and an older sister, Mary. Tony grew up poor as his father had health problems and was unable to work.
Bennett became interested in jazz music after listening to jazz musicians Louis Armstrong, Joe Venuti, and Jack Teagarden. Through his uncle, who was a vaudeville tap dancer, he also entered show business. At the age of 10, he began singing and acting in the first Triborough Bridge show.
Tony started working as a singer and waiter at the age of 13. He has backed the money in many Italian restaurants. To study, he entered the New York School of Industrial Art. He studied painting and music at school, but dropped out at age 16 to support his family financially. He then worked various unskilled and low-paying jobs as a staff writer and editor for the Associated Press.
Net worth and career of Tony Bennett
Bennett signed with Columbia Records in 1950 after recording a demo of the 1933 hit “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”. At that time he sang, copying the legendary singer Frank Sinatra. Record producer Mitch Miller told her to stop imitating Sinatra and develop his own singing style. She had her first big hit with “Because of You”.
Bennett went on to perform hits like “Blue Velvet”, “Rags to Riches” and “Stranger in Paradise”. He quickly established himself as an international artist. Tony released his first full length album called Cloud 7 in 1955. Then in 1963 he released the album I Wanna Be Around… which became a huge hit.
In the late 1970s, Bennett became addicted to drugs, which greatly hampered his music career. In 1979, he had a near-fatal cocaine overdose. Later, he named his two sons, Danny and Dae, who were pursuing musical careers. However, they did not have the musical abilities of his father. Danny took care of his father and controlled his expenses.
In 1986, Bennett left Columbia Records and released The Art of Excellence on that label. Tony wanted the younger generation to hear his songs too, so he began playing a series of benefit concerts around the United States for alternative rock radio stations. In 1994 he appeared on MTV Unplugged, which brought him a new audience.
Bennett released an album called Duets: An American Classic in 2006. When the album came out, he was only 80 years old. She received two Grammy Awards for the album. Bennett released an album of songs written by Jerome Kern on September 25, 2015.
He re-recorded the song titled “Fascinating Rhythm” in September 2018, earning the title for the longest time between the original album release and the re-recording of the same single by the same artist.
Tony’s son, Danny Bennett, has announced that Tony will quit acting. His resignation was announced just days after his 95th birthday celebration. His physical health deteriorated, leading him to withdraw from concerts.
Tony Bennett’s Personal Life
Tony Bennett has been married three times. In 1952 he married Patricia Beach for the first time. His first marriage lasted 19 years and in 1971 he married Sandra Grant. He divorced his second marriage in 2007 and married his third wife the same year. Susan is 40 years younger than him.
In 2016, Tony was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. However, he continued to function even in poor health. Alzheimer’s had little effect on Tony as he began to experience short-term memory loss. He forgot that he had just performed in a concert, although he remembered all the lyrics while performing on stage.
Tony Bennett Net Worth
As of 2021, Tony Bennett’s net worth is estimated to be around $220 million. In his 50-year music career, he was able to collect a large amount of money. During his long musical career, he has sold more than 50 million records worldwide.