Tom Jones Net Worth

What is Tom Jones' Net Worth?

Tom Jones (officially Sir Thomas John Woodward OBE) is a Welsh singer who has a net worth of $300 million. Tom Jones' powerful voice, charismatic stage presence, and genre-spanning career have made him one of the most enduring performers in popular music history. Rising to international fame in the mid-1960s with hits like "It's Not Unusual," "What's New Pussycat," and "Delilah," Jones quickly established himself as a dynamic showman with a soulful, commanding baritone that crossed musical boundaries. His early recordings blended pop, R&B, and rock, earning him comparisons to artists like Elvis Presley, with whom he developed a lasting friendship. Jones became a major television personality as well, hosting the variety show "This Is Tom Jones" from 1969 to 1971, which introduced him to millions of viewers around the world.

Through the 1970s and 1980s, Jones maintained a steady career with a mix of pop hits, Las Vegas residencies, and television appearances, building a reputation as a consummate live performer. His ability to reinvent himself across decades proved critical to his longevity. In the 1990s, he staged a major comeback with the Prince cover "Kiss," produced by Art of Noise, and his 1999 album "Reload," featuring duets with younger artists like Robbie Williams and the Cardigans, became one of the best-selling albums of his career.

In the 2000s and beyond, Jones received numerous honors, including a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his services to music. He later gained a new generation of fans as a coach on the British version of "The Voice." With a career spanning more than six decades, over 100 million records sold, and a catalog that ranges from soul to pop to gospel, Tom Jones remains one of the defining vocalists of the modern era—an artist whose talent and vitality have transcended changing musical trends.

Early Life

Tom Jones was born Thomas John Woodward on June 7, 1940, in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, South Wales. He was raised in a working-class family by his mother, Freda, his father, Thomas, a coal miner, and his sister, Sheila. Music was part of his life from an early age, and he began singing at weddings, local clubs, and family gatherings long before he ever dreamed of fame. He attended Wood Road Infants School, Wood Road Junior School, and Pontypridd Central Secondary Modern School, where he joined the school choir and participated in drama.

At age twelve, Jones contracted tuberculosis, forcing him to spend nearly two years confined to bed while recovering. The long illness deepened his love of music, which became both comfort and inspiration during his isolation. He later said that those years taught him patience and strengthened his determination to make something of himself.

When he was sixteen, Tom married his childhood sweetheart, Linda Trenchard, after discovering she was pregnant with their son, Mark. The couple wed in March 1957, just one month before Mark was born. Jones left school and took jobs in construction and at a glove factory to support his young family, singing in local pubs at night. Though his early life was marked by hardship, his powerful voice and magnetic stage presence soon made him one of the most talked-about performers in South Wales.

Career

Tom Jones's professional career began in 1963 when he joined a Welsh beat band called Tommy Scott and the Senators as lead vocalist. The group gained a small following and recorded several tracks with producer Joe Meek, but the songs failed to attract a record label's interest. Everything changed in 1964 when London-based manager Gordon Mills discovered Jones performing at a nightclub in Cwmtillery. Mills was impressed by his voice and charisma, quickly taking him to London and rebranding him as "Tom Jones," inspired by the popular 1963 film of the same name.

Jones signed with Decca Records later that year and released his debut single, "Chills and Fever," followed by "It's Not Unusual." The latter became an international smash, reaching number one in the U.K. and breaking into the U.S. Top 10 in early 1965. The success launched Jones into superstardom. That same year, he recorded theme songs for the films "What's New Pussycat?" and the James Bond movie "Thunderball," solidifying his reputation as one of pop's most distinctive voices. In 1966, he won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist and topped the charts again with "Green, Green Grass of Home." More hits followed throughout the late 1960s, including "Delilah," "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," and "I'm Coming Home."

By the late 1960s, Jones had become an international sensation, known for his energetic live performances and charismatic swagger. He began performing in Las Vegas in 1967, debuting at the Flamingo Hotel. His residencies became a major draw for decades, and his friendship with Elvis Presley—whom he met in Hollywood in 1965—cemented his place among the legends of the era. Jones continued performing annually in Las Vegas until 2011, making him one of the Strip's most enduring headliners.

From 1969 to 1971, Jones starred in the ABC variety show "This Is Tom Jones," which aired in both the U.S. and U.K. and ran for three seasons. The show was a huge success, earning him approximately $9 million over its run and a Golden Globe nomination in 1970. During the 1970s, he appeared in television specials including "The Special London Bridge Special" (1972) and "On Happiness Island" (1974), while maintaining a steady recording career.

In the 1980s, Jones shifted toward country music, landing nine singles on the U.S. country charts, and found renewed pop success in 1988 with his cover of Prince's "Kiss" alongside Art of Noise. The song became a worldwide hit and earned him an MTV Video Music Award. A decade later, his 1999 album "Reload"—a collection of duets with artists like Robbie Williams, The Cardigans, and Van Morrison—reached number one in the U.K. and became one of the best-selling albums of his career.

On New Year's Eve 1999, Jones performed at the White House's millennium celebration at the invitation of President Bill Clinton, marking a fitting tribute to his status as a global icon. He went on to perform at major charity events such as the 2007 "Concert for Diana" and the 2010 "Help for Heroes" show in London.

In 2012, Jones joined the U.K. edition of "The Voice" as a coach, a role that introduced him to a new generation of fans. He remained with the show until 2015, returning again in 2017. That same year, he appeared in the "Playhouse Presents" television anthology in an episode titled "King of the Teds." Over his career, Jones has released more than 40 studio albums, sold over 100 million records, and received numerous honors, including a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his contributions to music. His 2015 memoir, "Over the Top and Back," offers an intimate look at his remarkable rise from a Welsh mining town to global stardom.

(Photo by Anthony Harvey/Getty Images)

Personal Life

Tom Jones married his childhood sweetheart, Melinda "Linda" Trenchard, on March 2, 1957, when he was just sixteen years old. Their son, Mark Woodward, was born a month later, on April 11, 1957. Despite the challenges of young parenthood and Jones's rapid rise to fame, the couple remained married for nearly six decades until Linda's death from cancer in 2016. Their relationship was marked by deep loyalty but also by turbulence, as Jones became known for his affairs and open admissions of infidelity.

At the height of his fame, Jones was a global sex symbol and claimed to have had relationships with "hundreds" of women during his touring years. Among the more publicized were reported flings with TV personality Charlotte Laws and singer Mary Wilson of The Supremes. In 1987, he had a brief affair with model Katherine Berkery that resulted in the birth of a son, Jonathan. Jones initially denied paternity, even after a DNA test confirmed he was the father. He later acknowledged Jonathan as his son in 2008, though the two have never developed a personal relationship.

Despite his reputation for excess, Jones has often spoken about his enduring bond with Linda, describing her as the grounding force in his life. After her passing, he sold their longtime Los Angeles home and moved back to London, saying he wanted to be closer to family and his roots in the U.K. His son Mark, who has served as his manager since the 1980s, remains one of his closest confidants.

Awards and Honors

Over his long and celebrated career, Tom Jones has received dozens of major honors recognizing his impact on music and entertainment. In 1966, he won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist, while his breakout hit "It's Not Unusual" earned nominations for Contemporary Rock & Roll Male Vocal Performance and Contemporary Rock & Roll Single. Four years later, his variety series "This Is Tom Jones" brought him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy.

In 1970, Jones received the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for International Artist of the Year, and in 1989, his video for "Kiss" won the MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video. His sustained success into later decades earned him two Brit Awards: Best British Male in 2000 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 2003. That same year, he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his influence on popular culture across both sides of the Atlantic.

Jones was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 for his contributions to music, formally becoming Sir Tom Jones. The honor capped one of the most remarkable and enduring careers in modern pop history—a rare acknowledgment for an artist whose appeal has spanned generations and genres.

Real Estate

At the height of his fame in the 1970s, Tom Jones began acquiring high-end real estate in Los Angeles. In 1976, he and Linda purchased Dean Martin's former Beverly Hills mansion for $500,000, a lavish estate that served as their main home for more than two decades. They sold the property in 1998 to actor Nicolas Cage for $6.47 million.

That same year, the couple bought an 8,143-square-foot Mediterranean-style villa in the exclusive Mulholland Estates neighborhood for $2.65 million. The gated community is home to numerous celebrities, and Jones lived there until Linda's passing in 2016. After her death, he decided to leave Los Angeles, selling the Mulholland home and an adjoining vacant lot for a combined $11.28 million.

Following the sale, Jones relocated permanently to London, where he continues to reside. The move marked a symbolic return to his roots after decades in the United States, allowing him to remain closer to family and to the British music scene that first made him a star.

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