Diana Ross is one of the greatest soul icons of all time and after over sixty years in the industry, she continues to grace the stage. Her career kicked off when she was just 15 when she joined the Primettes. Following the success of the group’s live performances, they auditioned for Motown and were signed, ultimately changing their name to The Supremes in 1961. Two years later, they landed their first hit, When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes. The single peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart and Ross would become the lead singer of The Supremes shortly after.
From there, Ross’ career skyrocketed, with her touring worldwide and even starring in several films. Now at age 80, Diana Ross’ net worth and legacy are solidified. Let’s explore her lengthy career and how she managed to accumulate such a massive empire that is likely to keep growing.
Ross Had Much Success With Motown, Both in a Group and on Her Own
As the lead singer of The Supremes, alongside Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson, Ross became the frontwoman of Motown, though this was rumored to cause friction within the group. In 1964, they landed their first Billboard number one with Where Did Our Love Go? By May 1967, the group had secured ten number ones, becoming the label’s most successful act at that time. It was around this time that Ballard was replaced with Cindy Birdsong and was rebranded as “Diana Ross & the Supremes.” She reportedly wanted more money, though it’s unknown exactly how much more Ross was compensated in comparison to her group members.
Her solo singing career kicked off in the late 1960s when she began performing outside her group on television specials. However, still the lead singer, Ross was with them for their final number-one Billboard single, Someday We’ll Be Together, and made her exit officially in 1970. In May of that year, the diva released her self-titled debut solo album. The project included her timeless classics Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand) and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. The latter became Ross’ first number-one solo single, selling over one million copies in the United States, and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Ross didn’t waste time releasing her follow-up albums, Everything Is Everything, also in 1970, and Surrender in 1971, both of which sold over 200,000 units. As her music swept the airways, the singer began working on her first film.
Her First Film Earned Ross Endless Acclaim
Ross’ first movie, Lady Sings the Blues was unveiled in 1972. Loosely based on the life of jazz musician Billie Holiday, Ross portrayed the lead character and earned both Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Actress. The soundtrack of the same name, which Ross sang, was also a success, shooting to number one on the Billboard 200, selling over two million copies.
Her next film, Mahogany, was released in 1975 and was another success. The theme song, Do You Know Where You’re Going To, was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards. Her next movie, The Wiz, arrived three years later. The soulful rendition of The Wizard of Oz starred Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow. It’s unknown how much Ross was paid for this role, but Jackson reportedly got $100,000. With Ross having a bigger role, it’s likely her payday was higher. Throughout her career, she has appeared in several other productions, including Out of Darkness and Double Platinum.
The Superstar Got a Big Payday With Another Label
Toward the end of 1980, Ross began negotiating her Motown departure. She received a $250,000 severance and took her talents to RCA Records. The new label paid her $20 million for a seven-year contract. Her first release with the company was Why Do Fools Fall in Love in 1981, selling over a million copies. Other RCA releases included Swept Away and Eaten Alive.
She made her way back to Motown in 1988. This time, the label was sold to MCA Records, with Ross becoming part-owner. Much of her earnings stem from music royalties and performing. Some sources claim Ross earns around $150,000 per performance, though others have her booking rate at over $400,000. With such an illustrious entertainment profession, it comes as no surprise that Ross’ net worth is $250 Million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
