Berry Gordy’s Net Worth 2024: Age, Wife, Kids, Divorce
How much is Berry Gordy‘s net worth?
Berry Gordy is an African-American record producer, film producer, songwriter, and TV producer. As of 2024, Berry Gordy’s net worth is estimated at $450 million.
Quick Bio
| Net Worth in 2024 | $450 million |
| Income Source | Motown Records |
| Real Name | Berry Gordy III |
| Famous Name | Berry Gordy Jr |
| Birth Place | Detroit, Michigan, United States |
| Birthday | 28 November 1929 |
| Age/How old? | 94 years old |
| Height/How tall? | 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) |
| Occupation | Record producer, Film producer |
| Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
| Nationality | American |
| Wife | Grace Eaton (m. 1990–1993), Ray Singleton (m. 1960–1964), Thelma Coleman (m. 1953–1959) |
| Children | 8 |
Who is Berry Gordy?
Berry Gordy is a 94-year-old African-American record producer, record executive, film producer, songwriter, and television producer. He is known for being the founder of Motown record label.
As of January 2024, Berry Gordy’s net worth is $450 million.
For decades, he has been running the highest-earning African-American business in the world of music.
In 1953, he began his career by opening a record store named 3-D Record Mart. Unfortunately, the business ran in losses.
Later, he started co-writing songs for various musical artists.
Berry’s first international success came with the “Reet Petite” song for Jackie Wilson. The song topped the UK chart in 1986.
After that, he composed numerous classic hits including, “Do You Love Me”, “Lonely Teardrops”, “That’s Why”, and “Shop Around”.
Berry also launched acts like the Miracles as a producer.
Moreover, he is behind the career of various musical celebrities like Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Stevie Wonder, The Contours, Jimmy Ruffin, The Jackson 5, and The Temptations.
Among accolades, Berry received the National Medal of Arts by President Barack Obama in 2016. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.
Berry Gordy’s Age & Birthday
Berry was born on 28th November 1929 in Detroit, Michigan, and named Berry Gordy III. According to his date of birth, Berry Gordy is 94 years old.
He was born to Berry Gordy II. He grew up with his seven siblings, being the second youngest in the family.
The family earned their living from a grocery store with a plastering and carpentry business and a printing shop. However, Berry’s interest was in boxing.
He dropped out his school to pursue a career as a professional boxer. He boxed until 1950 and got drafted by the United States Army for service in the Korean War in 1951.
After returning from the war, Berry started his record store named 3-D Record Mart, selling jazz albums.
Meantime, he utilized his free time to write songs considering his work on “Reet Petite”, which became a hit for singer Jackie Wilson.
Education
Berry Gordy went to a local high school but ended up dropping out in the eleventh grade. He later received a General Educational Development degree after serving in the Korean War.
Berry Gordy’s Net Worth
Berry Gordy has an estimated net worth of $450 million as of January 2024.
He has accumulated all his wealth from his successful record producer and songwriter career.
As a founder of Motown record label, he became one of the most influential music figures of all time.
How did Berry Gordy earn millions?
Berry Gordy‘s Net Worth:
$450 million
Career Journey
Berry Gordy initially started his career as a professional boxer. He boxed until 1950 and then got drafted by the United States Army in the Korean War.
After returning from the war in 1953, Berry became interested in music and started an unsuccessful record shop named the 3-D Record Mart.
In 1957, he co-wrote “Reet Petite” with sister Gwen and writer Billy Davis for Jackie Wilson. The song became his first international hit.
Later, Gordy started producing albums and tracks for various upcoming artists such as The Miracles, led by Smokey Robinson.
On the advice of Smokey, Berry took a loan of $800 from his family to launch Tamla Records, an R&B label, in 1959.
Under Tamla Records, he released Marv Johnson’s “Come to Me”, which became a success.
He later released “Bad Girl” by the Miracles under the Motown record label.
Soon the Miracles became the label’s first star with a million-selling hit single “Shop Around” followed by “Mickey’s Monkey”, “I’ll Try Something New”, and “What’s So Good About Goodbye”.
In April 1960, Berry merged the Tamla and Motown labels into Motown Record Corporation.
Later, the corporation generated $20 million in revenue in 1966 and became the most successful independent record company during the 1960s and 1970s.
Entry Into the Film Industry
Aside from music, Gordy also successfully produced films like Lady Sings the Blues (1972), Mahogany (1975), and The Last Dragon (1985).
In 1988, Berry sold his stakes in Motown to MCA and Boston Ventures for $61 million. He also sold his interests in Jobete publishing to EMI publishing.
He later received $330 million for the songs after Polygram bought the Motown catalog.
In addition, Berry Gordy published an autobiography, “To Be Loved”, in 1994.
He also developed a Broadway musical about Motown in 2011.
Berry Gordy in Real Estate
Berry sold his Malibu mansion for $6 million to Michael Ovitz in 1997.
In 2014, he sold his condo in Century City, California, for $2 million. Moreover, Gordy had a Bel-Air residence purchased in 1976.
After that, he bought three contiguous parcels creating one 4-acre compound. The property has a main house of 10,000 square feet containing 13 bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
Berry also owns a nearby parcel of 5,000 square feet. Together his Bel-Air property is worth $50-70 million.
Berry Gordy’s Wife & Kids
Berry Gordy got married three times.
Thelma Coleman (m. 1953–1959)
His first marriage was with Thelma Louise Coleman in Toledo, Ohio, in 1953.
With Coleman, he has three children Hazel Joy Gordy, Berry Gordy VI, and Terry James Gordy. In 1959, the two got divorced.
Ray Singleton (m. 1960–1964)
A year later, Berry married Raynoma Mayberry Liles. He has a son named Kerry Gordy with Liles. The marriage lasted till 1964.
Grace Eaton (m. 1990–1993)
In 1990, he got married to Grace Eaton. Unfortunately, the marriage ended up in 1993.
Berry also has a daughter Sherry Gordy with Jeana Jackson and a son, Kennedy William Gordy, with Margaret Norton, his then-mistress.
Who has Berry Gordy dated?
From 1965 to 1970, he was in a relationship with Motown artist Diana Ross.
He had a daughter named Rhonda Suzanne with Diana. Berry’s youngest child is a son named Stefan Kendal Gordy with Nancy Leiviska.
Summary
Berry Gordy is a successful African-American record executive and producer. He is known for being the founder of Motown Records.
As of January 2024, Berry Gordy has a net worth of $450 million.
His career went from being a professional boxer to serving in the United States Army to finally in the world of music.
Berry also earned well from composing and co-writing songs for various musical artists.
He is behind the career of developed artists through his record label Motown Records.
Is Berry Gordy Dead or Alive?
As per our current Database, Berry Gordy is still alive.
Quick Recap
Berry Gordy (born 28 November 1929), known simply as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American record producer, record executive, film producer, songwriter, and television producer who has a net worth of $450 million.
Currently, Berry Gordy’s net worth in 2024 is estimated at $450 million.
Being born on 28 November 1929, Berry Gordy is 94 years old as of today’s date 3 January 2023.
Berry Gordy stands at 5 feet 9 inches (1.76 m) tall.
Berry Gordy has been married three times and has 6 children from his previous marriages he also has one daughter and a son from his relationships. In total, he has 8 children.
Source of Information
