What is Celia Cruz's Net Worth?
Celia Cruz, born Úrsula Hilaria Celia de la Caridad Cruz Alfonso de la Santísima Trinidad, was a Cuban-American salsa singer and performer with a net worth of $1 million. Born on October 21, 1925, in Havana, Cuba, she rose to prominence as one of the most influential salsa artists of the 20th century. Cruz garnered twenty-three gold albums and was awarded the National Medal of Arts. She was celebrated worldwide as the Queen of Salsa, La Guarachera de Cuba, and The Queen of Latin Music.
Throughout her career, Cruz made significant impacts both in the United States and various Latin American countries. Growing up in Cuba's vibrant musical environment of the 1930s, she was inspired by artists like Fernando Collazo, Abelardo Barroso, Pablo Quevedo, and Arsenio Rodríguez. Despite her mother's objections, Cruz learned santería songs from a neighbor. She later collaborated with Mercedita Valdes, a notable Akpwon santería singer, to study Yoruba songs and recorded several religious tracks.
During her teenage years, her aunt introduced her to cabarets, igniting her passion for singing. Although her father hoped she would pursue teaching, Cruz followed her calling in music. She gained recognition by singing on Havana's Radio Garcia-Serra's popular broadcast, Hora del Té, where she performed tangos and won first place. This success led to winning numerous contests and her first recordings in Venezuela in 1948.
On July 16, 2003, Celia Cruz passed away from brain cancer at her home in Fort Lee, New Jersey, at the age of 77. In honor of her legacy, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative postage stamp on March 16, 2011, featuring Cruz alongside other Latin music greats like Selena, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda, and Carlos Gardel. Additionally, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, in collaboration with photographer Robert Weingarten, unveiled a portrait of Celia Cruz on October 3, 2012.
