Patti LaBelle Net Worth

What is Patti LaBelle's Net Worth?

Patti LaBelle is a prolific singer, actress, author, and businesswoman who has a net worth of $50 million. Patti LaBelle is one of the most celebrated vocalists in American music history, known for her soaring voice, electrifying stage presence, and remarkable longevity across six decades. Rising to fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of the girl group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, she achieved her first major hit with "Down the Aisle (The Wedding Song)." The group later reinvented itself as the trailblazing funk-rock trio Labelle, breaking barriers in sound, fashion, and subject matter. Their 1974 single "Lady Marmalade" became a worldwide smash, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and establishing LaBelle as a powerhouse performer.

After Labelle disbanded in 1976, Patti launched a solo career that solidified her as a soul and R&B icon. Her 1980s and 1990s albums, including "I'm in Love Again," "Winner in You," and "Burnin'," spawned hits like "If Only You Knew," "New Attitude," and "On My Own," the latter a chart-topping duet with Michael McDonald. LaBelle's dynamic performances and ability to blend gospel, pop, and soul influences made her a crossover star and earned her numerous Grammy Awards and lifetime achievement honors. She has sold more than 50 million albums.

Beyond music, LaBelle has built a wide-ranging career as an actress, author, and entrepreneur. She appeared in films and television series such as "A Soldier's Story," "A Different World," and "American Horror Story," and became a beloved presence in the culinary world through her bestselling cookbooks and Patti's Good Life food brand. Known affectionately as the "Godmother of Soul," Patti LaBelle remains a defining influence on generations of artists, from Whitney Houston and Beyoncé to Mary J. Blige. Her combination of vocal mastery, emotional honesty, and resilience has made her not just a singer but a cultural institution whose legacy continues to inspire.

Catalog Sale

In October 2025, Patti LaBelle finalized a landmark partnership with Primary Wave Music that solidified her status among the most influential performers of her era. The deal covers her artist royalties from an expansive catalog encompassing 18 studio albums, three live albums, 14 compilations, and 47 singles—representing more than six decades of groundbreaking music and over 50 million records sold worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but based on comparable catalog sales, the value was likely worth at least $50 million and perhaps as much as $100 million.

Under the agreement, Primary Wave will help manage and promote LaBelle's catalog, which includes some of her most enduring hits such as "Lady Marmalade," "If Only You Knew," "New Attitude," and "On My Own." "Lady Marmalade" originally topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974 with Labelle and returned to No. 1 nearly three decades later when reimagined for "Moulin Rouge." "On My Own," her 1986 duet with Michael McDonald, also reached the top of the charts and earned a Grammy nomination.

Primary Wave executives praised LaBelle as a true icon and cultural trailblazer, emphasizing their intent to expand her music's global reach through film, television, and brand collaborations. The partnership places LaBelle alongside an elite roster that includes Bob Marley, Stevie Nicks, Whitney Houston, and Prince. For LaBelle, the move ensures that her artistic legacy—and the soul, power, and storytelling that define it—will continue to resonate with audiences for generations to come.

Early Life

Patricia Louise Holte was born on May 24, 1944, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She has four siblings and is the daughter of Henry and Bertha Holte. Her father worked as a railroad worker and club performer, and her mother worked as a domestic helper. Her parents divorced when she was twelve years old.

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Early Career and The Bluebelles

Patti LaBelle began her professional singing career in the early 1960s as the lead vocalist of the group Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles, alongside Cindy Birdsong, Sarah Dash, and Nona Hendryx. The group earned modest chart success with soulful renditions of songs such as "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Danny Boy" in 1964. Their harmonies and LaBelle's powerhouse voice made them popular on the touring circuit, but the group struggled to break into mainstream pop stardom.

After their original label, Cameo-Parkway, folded in 1965, the group signed with Atlantic Records in New York. However, their commercial momentum faltered following Birdsong's departure to join The Supremes. By 1970, the Bluebelles had lost their manager and record deal, and their future looked uncertain. That same year, British producer Vicki Wickham took over management and encouraged the group to modernize both their image and sound. The women shortened their name to Labelle and shifted toward a more daring blend of funk, rock, and psychedelic soul — a transformation that would define the next stage of LaBelle's career.

Breakthrough with Labelle

As Labelle, the group signed with the Warner Music imprint Track Records and released their self-titled debut album "Labelle" in 1971, followed by "Moon Shadow" in 1972. Although both records received positive reviews, mainstream success remained elusive until their move to Epic Records and the release of "Nightbirds" in 1974. The album was a commercial and critical breakthrough, fueled by the chart-topping single "Lady Marmalade."

"Lady Marmalade" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than a million copies, instantly cementing Labelle's place in pop culture. The group became known for their futuristic costumes, socially conscious lyrics, and dynamic performances, even gracing the cover of Rolling Stone in 1975. Despite releasing two more albums — "Phoenix" (1975) and "Chameleon" (1976) — the trio couldn't replicate the success of "Nightbirds." Creative differences eventually led to their breakup later in 1976.

Solo Stardom

LaBelle signed with Epic Records as a solo artist in 1977 and released her self-titled debut album the same year. The project featured songs such as "Joy to Have Your Love," "Dan Swit Me," and "You Are My Friend," which became a fan favorite and a staple of her live performances. Throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, LaBelle's solo output was well received, but her major crossover moment arrived in 1984 with "New Attitude" and "Stir It Up," two high-energy tracks featured on the "Beverly Hills Cop" soundtrack.

Her growing visibility was amplified by high-profile performances at "Motown Returns to the Apollo" and "Live Aid" in 1985, which introduced her to a new generation of fans. That same year, she starred in her own television special, further solidifying her mainstream appeal.

Commercial Peak and Later Success

LaBelle's 1986 album "Winner in You" became the biggest success of her career, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and selling over two million copies. The album's lead single, "On My Own," a duet with Michael McDonald, topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and became one of her signature songs. The follow-up single, "Oh People," also performed well on both the pop and R&B charts.

She continued releasing successful albums through the 1990s, including "Burnin'" (1991), which earned a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and "Gems" (1994), which went gold and featured the hit "The Right Kinda Lover." Beyond the studio, LaBelle became known for her electrifying live shows, earning a reputation as one of the most powerful and enduring voices in soul and R&B.

(Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

Other Work and Ventures

In addition to her successful music career, LaBelle has been involved in numerous other ventures and projects. She has acted on Broadway, first in 1982 in the musical "Your Arms Too Short to Box with God," in 2010 in the musical "Fela!", and in 2014 in the Tony Award-nominated musical "After Midnight". She has also acted in films and television shows. She has appeared in films like "Sing" (1989), "Idlewild" (2006), "Semi-Pro" (2008) and "Mama, I Want to Sing!" (2012), and the television shows "A Different World" (1990-1993), "Out All Night" (1992), "Cosby," "American Horror Story: Freak Show" (2014), and "Empire," to name a few. She hosted her own variety show, "The Patti LaBelle Show," in 1985 and competed as a contestant on season 20 of the reality competition show "Dancing with the Stars" in 2015. 

Personal Life

In 1969, LaBelle married Armstead Edwards, a longtime friend. He became her manager after she started her solo career. They separated in the late 1990s and finalized their divorce in 2003. Together, they have one son, Zuri Kye Edwards (born 1973), who has since become her manager. She has two grandchildren.

Philadelphia Mansion

In 1978, Patti and her then-husband, Armstead Edwards, paid $115,000 for a historic home in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The home, which sits on an acre, was built in 1920 and spans 3,600 square feet. This continues to be her primary home, and it is likely worth $2-3 million.

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