7. Madonna
Net worth: $580 million.
American singer, songwriter, actress and entrepreneur, Madonna has an estimated net worth of $580 million. Born Madonna Louise Ciccone on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan, she was confirmed in the Catholic Church and adopted Veronica as a confirmation name.
As a music icon, Madonna used a mixture of talent, pulchritude and relentless self-promotion to become one of the most enduring recording artists of the 20th century. She released her self-titled and first album in 1983 in the guise of a streetwise pop ragamuffin, and over time, she kept one step ahead of the game by jumping from persona to persona: dance club queen, balladeer, cowgirl, channeler of the Mysterious East, and aging Dietrich-style vamp. Since then, she has sold more than 300 million records worldwide and is recognized as the world’s top-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records.
Madonna’s masterful manipulation of her image and the press, combined with an astute business sense, have crowned her as one of entertainment’s wealthiest and most enduring acts. While her albums don’t sell like they used to, her concerts still set attendance records all over the world, grossing $1 billion over the course of her 30-year career. Her portfolio includes several businesses, contemporary art, real estate and film directing.
