Katie Peterson
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Olivia Newton-John was one of the most popular and most successful Australian singers of modern times. With a career spanning over five decades, she gifted the world 10 No. 1 hits, 15 top 10 singles and held a starring role in one of the most beloved musicals ever made.
With all this and more, Olivia Newton-John’s net worth soared to the heights as more and more of the world fell in love with the blonde-haired beauty.
Who was Olivia Newton-John, and what was Olivia Newton-John’s net worth? Find out that and more below.
What was Olivia Newton-John’s Net Worth?
At the time of her 2022 death, Olivia Newton-John’s net worth was approximately $60 million.
How Did Olivia Newton-John Get Rich?
Olivia Newton-John’s impressive wealth was primarily due to her starring role in the classic 1978 musical film, Grease, starring alongside John Travolta.
The “Physical” singer is also highly accomplished in her solo music career, with over 100 million albums sold.
She could also thank other film and television appearances throughout the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom for her growing riches.
She also held several endorsements over her career, influencing her growing fortune.
Who Inherited Olivia Newton-John’s Money?
Olivia Newton-John sadly passed away on Aug. 8, 2022, after a several-decade battle against breast cancer. Her $60 million net worth was expected to go to her daughter, Chloe Rose, and second husband, John Easterling.
Olivia Newton-John’s Cars
Olivia Newton-John had one classic car that she was proud of more than any other. She purchased a 1975 VW Super Beetle convertible when she first moved to Malibu.
Olivia Newton-John’s House
At the time of her death, Olivia Newton-John owned a ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley of California.
The $5.4 million estate, which she bought in 2015 for approximately $4.69 million, sits on 12 acres. It includes a horse stable, a swimming pool, a guesthouse, and more.
Does Olivia Newton-John own property in Australia? Just a few years before her death, the “Loving Arms” singer sold her 187-acre farm in Australia after owning it for nearly 40 years. While the final sale price is unknown, it was initially listed for almost 3.5 million dollars.
“The expansive view from the farm is breathtaking and captured my heart all those years ago,” Newton-John once said of the home.
Personal real estate is not the only thing that Olivia Newton-John spent her massive fortune on over the years.
She was also the proud owner of the Gaia Health Retreat and Spa near Byron Bay in Australia, which she founded alongside Gregg Cave, Rut Kalnin, and Warwick Evans in 2005.
When did Olivia sell Gaia? Newton-John sold the four-time World Luxury Hotel award-winning Gaia in 2021. What did Gaia sell for, and who owns Gaia Spa now? The property was sold to Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest and Nicola Forrest for $30 million.
Olivia Newton-John’s Early Career
Olivia Newton-John began her musical career at the 14 when she and three classmates formed the all-girl group Sol Four.
By 1964, she was also acting and singing in high school productions and, in 1965, won a talent contest on the Australian music program Sing, Sing, Sing, for which she sang “Anyone Who Had a Heart” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”
In 1966, she recorded her first single, “Till You Say You’ll Be Mine,” for Decca Records in 1966.
She later formed a short-lived duo with Pat Carroll and joined the group Toomorrow, formed by Don Kirshner, an American producer. The latter starred in a science-fiction film and recorded a soundtrack named after the group on RCA Records in 1970.
They also recorded the singles “You’re My Baby Now” and “I Could Never Live Without Your Love,” but the group disbanded following the unsuccessful projects.
That was a blessing for Newton-John, however, as a solo career led to her worldwide recognition.
She began to achieve fame after the release of her solo debut album, If Not for You, in 1971, with the title track, written by Bob Dylan, becoming her first international hit, peaking at No. 25 on the pop charts and No. 1 on the adult contemporary charts.
Her follow-up single, “Banks of the Ohio,” became a top 10 hit in the UK and Australia.
With an international hit already on her hands, the “Let Me Be There” singer’s career flourished. She released her second album, Olivia, in the UK, which included remakes of “What is Life” by George Harrison and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver, to minimal success.
Then everything changed.
Related: 15 Interesting Facts About the Beatles Members
How Did Olivia Newton-John Become Famous?
In 1973, Olivia Newton-John released her single “Let Me Be There” to American audiences and became a top 10 hit on multiple charts, including No. 6 on the pop charts, No. 7 on the country charts, and No. 3 on the adult contemporary charts.
The song earned the singer her first Grammy Award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and an Academy of Country Music Award for the Most Promising Female Vocalist.
Her follow-up album of the same name also saw significant headway in the U.S.; she was officially the newest artist to look out for.
Olivia Newton-John’s Career
Upon achieving success in the United States, Newton-John continued to release several Olivia Newton-John albums, her most significant including the likes of Have You Never Been Mellow (1975), Totally Hot (1978), Soul Kiss (1985), and The Rumor (1988).
Despite these, the “I Honestly Love You” singer was just getting started, and she was about to become an international icon when she was cast as Sandy Olsson in the 1978 musical film, Grease.
Her role in the film brought about some of the most beloved Olivia Newton-John songs, including “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” which earned her an Academy Award nomination, and “Summer Nights” alongside John Travolta.
Both earned her a top five spot on the Billboard charts, making her only the second woman to do so simultaneously. The first was Linda Ronstadt in 1977.
Additionally, the movie’s soundtrack remains one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.
“I think the songs are timeless. They’re fun and have great energy,” Newton-John said of the film’s lasting legacy.
“The ‘50s-feel music has always been popular, and it’s nostalgic for my generation, and then the young kids are rediscovering it every 10 years or so, it seems. People buying the album was a way for them to remember those feelings of watching the movie and the feelings of that time period. I feel very grateful to be a part of this movie that’s still loved so much.”
Related: The 15 Best Australian Singers of All Time, From Country Legends to Rap Stars
How Old Was Olivia Newton-John When She Did Grease?
She may have been playing a senior in high school, but Olivia Newton-John was well matured by the time she starred as Sandy Olsson. She was 28 during the filming of the classic film.
How Much Did Olivia Newton-John Get Paid for Grease?
Grease is among the highest-grossing movie musicals ever made, bringing in more than $341 million worldwide.
While it’s unknown what Newton-John’s exact salary was for the movie, considering both she and John Travolta were well-known at the time, they both likely received a significant amount for their hard work.
Related: 16 Best Movies About Music
Olivia Newton-John’s Post-Grease Career
Following the success of Grease, Newton-John continued her solo career, releasing more hit albums and singles, including her duet with Andy Gibb, “I Can’t Help It,” and her biggest pop hit at that time, “Magic.”
The “Suddenly” singer also delved into more acting roles with roles in Xanadu (1980), Two of a Kind (1983), and It’s My Party (1996).
Related: 30 Best 70s Songs
Who Owns the Rights to Olivia Newton-John’s Songs?
Since her death, it is believed that the rights to all of Olivia Newton-John’s songs belong to Primary Wave Music Publishing. She started a partnership with the New York-based company in 2020.
The partnership included all the masters and publishing assets in the singer’s catalog, even the hits from Grease and Xanadu.
When was Olivia Newton-John Born?
Olivia Newton-John’s birthdate was Sept. 26, 1948.
Olivia Newton-John’s Zodiac sign was Libra, meaning she was a peacemaker. Considering her generous and open personality, we think that’s accurate.
Where was Olivia Newton-John From?
Olivia Newton-John was born in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, where she spent her early childhood years.When she was five, her family emigrated to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, where she grew up. She was a citizen of both the United Kingdom and Australia.
Olivia Newton-John’s Ethnicity
While Olivia Newton-John is of Australian-English nationality, her ethnicity includes Welsh, Jewish, and Germanic.
How Tall Was Olivia Newton-John?
Olivia Newton-John’s height was 5 feet, 6 inches tall.
How Much Did Olivia Newton-John Weigh?
Olivia Newton-John’s weight was approximately 114 pounds, so she was undoubtedly in shape, although her end battle with cancer also most likely contributed to her lower weight.
Olivia Newton-John’s Parents
Olivia Newton-John was the youngest child born to Brinley “Bryn” Newton-John of Wales, and Irene Helene, a German-born Jewish immigrant who escaped the Nazi regime in 1993 when she came to the United Kingdom with her family.
Did Olivia Have a Sister?
Olivia Newton-John had one older sister, Rona, born in 1941. Rona was married to her sister’s Grease co-star Jeff Conaway, who played Kenickie, from 1980-1985. Rona later passed away in 2013.
She also had an older brother, Hugh, a physician, who was born in 1939 and died in 2019, as well as a half-brother, Toby, and a half-sister, Sarah, from her father’s second marriage.
Related: 18 Best Female Country Singers
Who was Olivia Newton-John Married To
At the time of her death, Olivia Newton-John was married to Amazon Herb Company founder and former president John Easterling. They had an Incan spiritual ceremony in Peru on Jun. 21, 2008, and were legally married on Jun. 30, 2008, on Jupiter Island in Florida.
What was Olivia Newton-John’s husband’s net worth? Thanks to his company, Easterling is worth approximately $12 million.
While Newton-John and Easterling only started dating in 2007 and married the following year, the pair had known each other since 1993, but both were married to other people.
How many partners has Olivia Newton-John had? The “It’s So Easy” singer has been married twice. Her first husband was married to actor Matt Lattanzi, who she met while filming Xanadu, from 1984 to 1996.
Why did Olivia divorce her first husband? There have been a few rumors about why Newton-John and Lattanzi ultimately went their separate ways.
A source close to the couple told People magazine that there was tension due to their different spiritual interests; however, the late singer has also been known to blame her first cancer diagnosis for the split.
Outside of her marriages, Newton-John was known to be linked to some other partners over the years, such as her Funny Things Happen Down Under co-star Ian Turpie and producer and co-writer of “Please Mr. Please” Bruce Welch.
Did John and Olivia ever date? Many fans of Grease have wondered whether or not John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John were ever an item. While both have said they “love” each other, the pair was never officially a couple.
Olivia Newton-John’s Children
Olivia Newton-John has one child, a daughter, from her first marriage to Matt Lattanzi. Olivia Newton-John’s daughter, Chloe Rose Lattanzi, was born on Jan. 17, 1986.
How old was Olivia when she had a baby? The “Loving Arms” singer was 37 when she had her daughter.
Who Were Olivia Newton-John’s Closest Friends?
While Olivia Newton-John was known to have several friends, her closest confidantes were Grammy-award-winning singer Dionne Warwick and television and radio personality Leeza Gibbons. The pair spoke with Kevin Frazier of ET shortly after her death about the trio’s special bond.
“We kind of just hit it off,” Warwick said. “You know how girls are, and such a sweetheart. I mean, one of the nicest people I’ve ever met in a long, long time. She was Olivia. I think that was the charm that she never changed. She was Olivia.”
Olivia Newton-John’s Philanthropy
Olivia Newton-John’s battle with breast cancer was inspiring as she never let it get her down, and she used her personal experience with it to make a difference for other women like her with her many philanthropic efforts.
First, she founded the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Center at Austin Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, in 2012 (later renamed the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Center in 2015.
Then she founded the Olivia Newton-John Foundation, which funds research on herbal therapies in 2020.
How much did Olivia Newton-John raise for cancer? Her foundation was off to a great start after she raised more than $764,000 after auctioning hundreds of items, including collectible memorabilia and artwork.
Newton-John has also continuously donated millions of her own money toward both the wellness and research center and the Olivia Newton-John Foundation.
Olivia Newton-John’s Awards and Legacy
Olivia Newton-John received several recognitions throughout her five-decade career. Some of her biggest include four Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and even a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Sandy Olsson in Grease.
Over the years, she also took home Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, and People’s Choice Awards.
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