What Was Karen Carpenter's Net Worth?
Karen Carpenter, the legendary American singer and drummer, had a net worth of $6 million at the time of her untimely death in 1983. Adjusted for inflation, this amount is equivalent to approximately $14 million today. However, she only had around $2,000 in cash in her bank account at her time of death. Most of her fortune was tied up in illiquid assets, which led to significant tax burdens, ultimately consuming over 60% of her net worth due to final expenses and taxes.
Karen Carpenter gained fame as one half of the iconic music duo, the Carpenters, alongside her brother Richard Carpenter. During the 1970s, they enjoyed tremendous success with hit singles such as "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," and "Top of the World."
The Carpenters had numerous number-one singles including "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "We've Only Just Begun," "For All We Know," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Sing," "Yesterday Once More," "Top of the World," "I Won't Last a Day Without You," "Please Mr. Postman," "Only Yesterday," "Solitaire," "There's a Kind of Hush," "I Need to Be in Love," and "Touch Me When We're Dancing."
Tragically, Karen Carpenter struggled with anorexia nervosa, leading to her death from heart failure in 1983.
Early Life and Education
Karen Carpenter was born on March 2, 1950, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Harold and Agnes Carpenter. Her only sibling, Richard, was a piano prodigy. Karen was passionate about dancing from an early age and took ballet and tap classes starting at the age of four. She also developed an interest in baseball and softball. In 1963, the family moved to Downey, California, where Karen attended Downey High School. There, she joined the school band and discovered her love for drumming. Convincing her parents to buy her a drum kit, Karen taught herself to play. After graduating in 1967, she enrolled at California State University, Long Beach, as a music major and performed in the college choir with her brother.
Career Beginnings
In high school, Karen, her brother Richard, and his friend Wes Jacobs formed the Dick Carpenter Trio in 1965. They performed in nightclubs and appeared on the television talent show "Your All-American College Show." In 1966, bassist Joe Osborn invited the trio to an audition where Karen's exceptional voice led Osborn to sign her to his label, Magic Lamp Records. The following year, Karen momentarily left the trio to attend the Juilliard School before returning to form the group Spectrum with her brother.
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The Carpenters
In 1969, Karen and Richard Carpenter signed with A&M Records as the Carpenters. Initially, Karen doubled as the drummer and co-lead singer. Their debut album, originally titled "Offering" and later renamed "Ticket to Ride," found moderate success with a cover of the Beatles' song by the same name. Their second album, "Close to You" (1970), was a major hit, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 and producing hit singles like "(They Long to Be) Close to You" and "We've Only Just Begun," which peaked at number one and number two, respectively. This success led to eight Grammy Award nominations, including two wins.
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The Carpenters continued their success with subsequent albums like their self-titled third album and "A Song for You" in 1972, featuring the number-one hit "Top of the World." With their fifth studio album, "Now & Then" (1973), Karen focused more on singing. While their 1975 album "Horizon" didn't crack the U.S. top five, it achieved number one in the U.K. and Japan.
Despite personal struggles, the Carpenters released several more albums, including "Passage," "Christmas Portrait," and "Made in America." Posthumously, four additional albums were released: "Voice of the Heart," "An Old-Fashioned Christmas," "Loveliness," and "As Time Goes By."
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Solo Career
Karen Carpenter's solo career began in 1967 with the release of her first record, "Looking for Love / I'll Be Yours." During Richard's break to address his addiction in 1979, Karen recorded a self-titled solo album. Despite her efforts, the album was shelved by A&M Records and was only released in 1996.
Relationships
Early in her career, Karen expressed indifference towards romance, claiming she would remain single while performing. Nevertheless, she dated several celebrities, including Tony Danza, Mark Harmon, Alan Osmond, and Steve Martin. In 1980, she married real estate developer Thomas James Burris. Their marriage faced conflict, especially when Karen expressed her desire for children, which Burris, having had a vasectomy, was unwilling to accommodate. This led to their divorce after 14 months of marriage.
Health Issues and Death
Karen Carpenter's struggles with anorexia nervosa began long before the disorder was widely understood. Dissatisfied with her appearance, she embarked on various diets that drastically reduced her weight. By 1975, she weighed a mere 91 pounds. In the early 1980s, she resorted to thyroid medication and laxatives to maintain her low weight. Her condition worsened, resulting in a stay at Lenox Hill Hospital. Although she regained some weight, her heart remained weak. Karen Carpenter made her last public appearance in early 1983 at a gathering of Grammy Award-winning artists. A month later, she collapsed at her parents' house and was declared dead.
