Dionne Warwick Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Wondering about Dionne Warwick’s financial status?

The net worth of Dionne Warwick, a versatile American artist, including singer, actress, and TV host, is estimated to be $300,000. Warwick has previously served as the United Nations Global Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United States Ambassador of Health.

Over the years, Dionne’s net worth has fluctuated significantly. There was a time when it was notably higher, but she also faced financial challenges, including a period where her net worth plummeted to negative $10 million. Warwick encountered financial hurdles intermittently. Her financial struggles were highlighted in 2013 when she filed for personal bankruptcy, revealing assets totaling less than $25,000 and debts exceeding $10 million. Some of Warwick’s most popular songs include “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and “Do You Know the Way to San Jose.”

Early Life

Born on December 12, 1940, in Orange, New Jersey, as Marie Dionne Warrick (later changed to Warwick), she hailed from a musical family. Her mother, Lee Drinkard, managed the renowned gospel singing group, the Drinkard Sisters. Many of Warrick’s relatives were part of this acclaimed group. Her father, Mancel Warrick, had versatile professions such as a record promoter, railroad porter, chef, and CPA. Dionne was raised with a sister named Delia and a brother named Mancel Jr. She started singing gospel at an early age at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. After graduating from East Orange High School in 1959, she enrolled at Hartt College of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut. It was during a recording session that she crossed paths with Burt Bacharach, who then engaged her to record demos for his compositions alongside songwriter Hal David.

Dionne’s maternal aunt Cissy Houston was the mother of the late music icon, Whitney Houston.

Professional Journey

While providing background vocals for the song “Mexican Divorce” by the Drifters, Dionne attracted the attention of Burt Bacharach due to her exceptional voice and on-stage presence. She was signed under Bacharach’s and Hal David’s production company, which later secured a deal with Scepter Records under the supervision of the label’s president, Florence Greenberg, in 1962. Warwick’s debut solo single, “Don’t Make Me Over,” was released by Scepter Records in November 1962. Due to a labeling error, her name was misspelled, leading to the adoption of the modified spelling (“Warwick”). She later released “The Empty Place,” with the B side featuring one of her iconic songs, “Wishing and Hopin’.” The track “Anyone Who Had a Heart” marked Warwick’s initial entry into the top 10 charts. In April 1964, she achieved international success with the release of “Walk On By.”

From the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, Warwick delivered a series of hit songs, including “Do You Know the Way to San Jose,” “Message to Michael,” “Alfie,” “Trains and Boats and Planes,” and “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself.” “Do You Know the Way to San Jose?” emerged as a top 10 hit across various countries, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Japan, and Mexico. It was followed by a string of hits like “Who Is Gonna Love Me,” “(There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me,” “Promises, Promises,” “This Girl’s in Love with You,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” “Make It Easy on Yourself,” “Let Me Go to Him,” and “Paper Mache.”

In 1971, Warwick departed from Scepter Records to join Warner Bros. Records under a groundbreaking $5 million contract, the most substantial deal ever awarded to a female vocalist during that period. Although her early and mid-’70s career saw fewer major hits, she did achieve success with “Then Came You” in 1974. Subsequently, Warwick produced five albums under Warner before transitioning to Arista Records in 1979, marking the commencement of another fruitful phase studded with hit records and albums well into the late 1980s. Her notable works during this period included tracks like “I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” “How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye,” and the 1985 charity single for the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), “That’s What Friends Are For,” featuring Gladys Knight, Elton John, and Stevie Wonder.

In the 1990s, Warwick ventured into hosting infomercials for the Psychic Friends Network, with psychic Linda Georgian. The 900-number psychic service operated from 1991 to 1998 and reportedly stood out as one of the most prosperous infomercials in that era, earning Warwick over three million dollars annually as the face of the network.

Personal Journey

In 1966, Dionne tied the knot with actor William David Elliott, and the marriage ended in divorce in May 1967. They remarried in Milan, Italy, in August 1967, and welcomed their first son, David, in January 1969. Another son, Damon, was born in 1973. The couple eventually parted ways in December 1975.

In 2002, Warwick faced legal issues after being apprehended at Miami International Airport for possessing marijuana. Reportedly, she was found with 11 marijuana cigarettes concealed in a lipstick case within her carry-on luggage, amounting to less than five grams of marijuana.

Financial Challenges

By March 2013, Dionne Warwick had declared complete financial insolvency, with an estimated $10 million debt in unpaid taxes. Her bankruptcy filing disclosed assets valued at a mere $25,000 alongside debts exceeding $10.2 million. The filing also outlined her monthly income at $20,000, against monthly expenses totaling $21,000.

In October 2007, Warwick found her name listed among the Top 250 Delinquent Taxpayers due to unpaid taxes exceeding $2.7 million. It was revealed that a substantial share of her tax liabilities resulted from an accounting discrepancy. The IRS proceeded to relieve $1.2 million of the tax lien in 2009.

Property Matters

At the time of filing for bankruptcy in 2013, Warwick resided in a rented standalone residence in South Orange, New Jersey.