Diana Ross' Net Worth (Updated September 2022) | Wealthy Gorilla

Net Worth:	$250 Million
Age:	79
Born:	March 26, 1944
Gender:	Female
Height:	1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Professional Singer
Last Updated:	February 14, 2024

Introduction

Diana Ross is an American professional singer, actress, and record producer with an estimated net worth of $250 Million.

Net Worth History

Year	Net Worth
2012	$160 Million
2013	$160 Million
2014	$160 Million
2015	$180 Million
2016	$180 Million
2017	$200 Million
2018	$200 Million
2019	$220 Million
2020	$220 Million
2021	$240 Million
2022	$240 Million
2023	$250 Million
2024	$250 Million

Career

Diana Ross got her start in the Primettes, a sister group to the Primes, after being discovered by music manager Paul Williams when she was 15.

Following the success of her live performances, Ross was approached by Smokey Robinson, who prompted her to audition for Motown.

When the Primettes auditioned for Motown, their voices blew executive Berry Gordy away, but after learning how young they were, he advised them to finish school.

However, the group wasn’t swayed, and they began appearing at Motown’s headquarters every day, until later that year they recorded two tracks for Lu Pine Records.

In 1961, Gordy agreed to sign the girls, on the condition that they change their name, and soon after, they were officially signed as the Supremes.

While they were far from being the richest singers in the world at that point, Diana Ross and her group quickly became superstars.

Rising Through The Ranks

After Barbara Martin left the Supremes, they became a trio in 1963 with Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, and Mary Wilson.

They had their first hit with “When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes,” which peaked at no. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

By the end of that year, Ross was made the group’s lead singer, and in 1964 they had their first no. 1 hit with “Where Did Out Love Go.”

Between 1964 and 1967, the Supremes had 10 no. 1 hit singles and had become a hit internationally as one of Motown’s most successful acts.

At this time, Diana Ross started outshining Ballard and Wilson, dominating interviews and pushing to be paid more than them.

Once Ballad was fired in 1967 and Cindy Birdsong was hired, the trio was renamed Diana Ross & the Supremes.

Ross would remain with the group until 1970 when she struck out as a solo artist with her debut solo album, Diana Ross.

Although it wasn’t one of the best-selling albums of all time it cemented her place as a solo act in the entertainment industry.

A Singer And Actress

Around the time she released her first solo album, Diana Ross also appeared in Lady Sings the Blues, a film loosely based on Billie Holiday.

Ross earned critical acclaim for her role and gained Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress.

In 1974, Ross became the first Black woman to co-host the Academy Awards with Burt Reynolds, John Huston, and David Niven.

After Motown acquired the rights to The Wiz, Ross joined Michael Jackson for a duet of “Ease on Down the Road”, which was a modest hit.

Soon after, Ross co-hosted an episode of The Tonight Show, with Muhammad Ali, George Carlin, and Lynda Carter as guests.

In 1980, she recorded a duet with Lionel Richie called “Endless Love,” which would be her sixth and final no. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.

At the end of the year, Ross began negotiating to leave Motown and received $250,000 in severance when she did.

RCA Records then offered her a seven-year recording contract for $20 million, the most expensive recording deal in history at the time.

An International Superstar

In 1981, Diana Ross released her first RCA album, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, and in 1982 she sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” at Super Bowl XVI.

The same year, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and appeared on USA for Africa’s “We Are the World” charity single.

Ross hosted the American Music Awards in 1986 before choosing not to renew her RCA contract and instead return to Motown Records.

In 1988, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Supremes alongside Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson.

She returned to acting in 1993, appearing in Out of Darkness, which earned her another Golden Globe nomination.

Also, during the 1990s, she performed at the 1994 FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl XXX during the halftime show.

Following the death of Florence Ballard, Ross reunited with Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong for a Motown TV special.

Two years later, during the US Open match between Venus Williams and Serena Williams, Ross performed “God Bless America.”

Ross’s Recent Career

Diana Ross continued to perform throughout the early 2000s, appearing at the Billboard Music Awards and the 2004 Tsunami Aid TV concert.

In 2005, she was an honored guest at Oprah Winfrey’s Legends Ball Weekend, and she was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards.

She received her first Grammy, for Lifetime Achievement, in 2012 and was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2016.

Ross appeared on the Home Shopping Network in 2017 to promote her new perfume, Diamond Diana, which sold out in only a few hours.

A year later, she began a mini-residency at Wynn Las Vegas and in 2021 released her 25th studio album titled, Thank You.

In June 2022, she appeared as the final act at the Platinum Party at the Palace for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.

Most recently, in June 2023, she began her Music Legacy Tour, celebrating her best no. 1 hits, and she performed at the Royal Albert Hall in October.