Chris de Burgh Net Worth

What is Chris de Burgh's Net Worth?

Chris de Burgh is a British-Irish singer, songwriter, and musician who has a net worth of $50 million. Chris de Burgh had his biggest international hit with his 1986 song "The Lady in Red," which charted in the top five in multiple countries and was certified Gold in the UK. De Burgh's other successful singles have included "Don't Pay the Ferryman," "High on Emotion," and "Missing You."

Early Life and Education

Chris de Burgh was born Christopher Davison on October 15, 1948 in Venado Tuerto to Maeve and British diplomat and engineer Charles. His maternal grandfather was Sir Eric de Burgh, a British Indian Army officer who served as Chief of the General Staff in India from 1939 to 1941. Because of his father's line of work, de Burgh spent his childhood in several places, including Malta, Nigeria, and the Belgian Congo. The family eventually settled in County Wexford, Ireland, where Sir Eric de Burgh had purchased the 12th-century Bargy Castle. The young de Burgh was educated at Marlborough College in Wiltshire, England before going on to attend Trinity College Dublin.

Music Career

In 1974, de Burgh signed with A&M Records and released his debut album, "Far Beyond These Castle Walls." Although it failed to chart in the UK, it was a major hit in Brazil. De Burgh experienced similar results with his next three albums, "Spanish Train and Other Stories," "At the End of a Perfect Day," and "Crusader," all of which were more popular in other countries than the UK. He was especially popular in Norway, where his 1980 album "Eastern Wind" reached number one. De Burgh finally broke through in the UK with his 1981 compilation album "Best Moves." He had an even bigger hit with his 1982 album "The Getaway," which peaked at number 30 in the UK, number two in Norway, and number one in Germany. Featuring the hit single "Don't Pay the Ferryman," the album also performed well in the US, reaching number 43 on the Billboard 200. De Burgh continued his success with his 1984 album "Man on the Line," which reached number 11 in the UK and topped the charts in Germany and Switzerland. It spawned the single "High on Emotion," a top-five hit in Ireland and Switzerland.

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De Burgh had the biggest commercial hit of his career with his 1986 ballad "The Lady in Red." A worldwide smash, it topped the charts in multiple countries and peaked inside the top five in many others, including the United States. The success of the single boosted the international sales of the album it was on, "Into the Light." De Burgh's next album, "Flying Colours," became his first and only album to top the UK Albums Chart, which it did upon its debut in 1988. Its biggest single was "Missing You," which peaked at number three in the UK and number one in Ireland. In the 1990s, de Burgh had further hits in the UK with the albums "Power of Ten" and "This Way Up," as well as the compilation album "The Love Songs." His commercial success declined after those, although albums such as "Beautiful Dreams" and "Quiet Revolution" still performed well. De Burgh had a comeback of sorts with his 2008 album "Footsteps," featuring cover versions of songs that had inspired him as an artist. It reached number four on the UK Albums Chart. A sequel, "Footsteps 2," was released in 2011. De Burgh's subsequent albums have included "The Hands of Man," "A Better World," and "50."

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Personal Life

De Burgh married his wife Diane in 1977. They have two sons named Hubie and Michael, and a daughter named Rosanna who won Miss World 2003.

De Burgh sparked controversy in 1994 when it was discovered that he had been having an affair with his children's 19-year-old nanny, Maresa Morgan, while his wife was in the hospital recovering from a broken neck. He eventually expressed contrition and reconciled with his wife.

De Burgh is a noted collector of wine, and in 2011 he sold bottles from his vintage cellar for over $500,000. He is also a World War history enthusiast, and in 2006 he bought a rare World War I letter penned by an anonymous soldier.

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