What Is Peter Cetera's Net Worth?
Peter Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer who has a net worth of $40 million. Best known as a founding member of the band Chicago, Cetera later had a thriving solo career. During his tenure with Chicago from 1968 to 1985, he penned and performed hits such as "If You Leave Me Now" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry." Cetera led the band's transition from jazz-rock to a more pop-centric sound. His inaugural solo album, "Solitude/Solitaire" reached the top ten on the "Billboard" 200 chart. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, some of his most successful albums include "Chicago 17" and his solo "One More Story." Top singles such as "Glory of Love" and "The Next Time I Fall" further cemented his legacy.
Early Life
Peter Paul Cetera was born on September 13, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, as the second of six children. At eleven, he began playing the accordion and soon discovered his singing talent. By his teens, he had picked up the acoustic guitar and later the electric bass. In high school, Cetera decided to pursue a career in music seriously. He graduated from Mendel Catholic Prep High School in 1962, where he is listed among the "Notable Alumni."
Chicago
In his late teens, Cetera performed with various bands before joining The Exceptions, recording two albums with them. In 1967, captivated by the innovative sound of The Big Thing, he left The Exceptions to join them. The group soon renamed itself The Chicago Transit Authority, later shortened to Chicago. The band's 1969 self-titled debut album put them on the map, with Cetera sharing lead vocals on three tracks. Their follow-up album, "Chicago," skyrocketed them to international fame, with the major hit "26 or 4 to 6." Other notable members of Chicago include James Pankow, Robert Lamm, Walter Parazaider, Jason Scheff, Lee Loughnane, and Danny Seraphine.
Cetera became a prolific songwriter for Chicago during the '70s. His crowning achievement with the band came in 1976 with "If You Leave Me Now," which earned Chicago their first Grammy Award and topped the charts. Another significant hit was "Baby, What a Big Surprise" from "Chicago XI," reaching #4 on the charts. However, the band's popularity waned towards the late '70s with the rise of disco, culminating in the poorly received "Chicago XIV."
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In 1981, Cetera attempted a solo career with his self-titled debut album, which flopped commercially. Chicago's fortunes revived in 1982 with "Chicago 16," featuring the gold-certified hit "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," which was co-written by Cetera and nominated for a Grammy. "Chicago 17" followed in 1984, becoming the band's most commercially successful album, selling over six million copies in the U.S. alone. By this time, Cetera's rising fame and public image led him to leave Chicago after recording 17 studio albums with the group.
Solo Career
After leaving Chicago, Cetera’s first solo hit was “Glory of Love,” the theme song for “The Karate Kid Part II,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and garnered several award nominations. This track was part of his successful album "Solitude/Solitaire." His third solo album, "One More Story," was released in 1988, followed by "World Falling Down" in 1992, which produced hits like "Restless Heart." Cetera’s other albums include "One Clear Voice" (1995) and a duet collection, "You're the Inspiration: A Collection" (1997). His later works were "Another Perfect World" (2001) and "You Just Gotta Love Christmas" (2004).
In 2010, Cetera formed a new band called The Bad Daddies and continued to perform until his retirement in 2019. His solo career yielded six Top 40 singles and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Chicago in 2016. Besides music, he appeared in films like "Electra Glide in Blue" and "Memories of Midnight."
(Photo by Daniel Reinhardt/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Personal Life
Cetera was married to Janice Sheely from 1968 to 1973 and later to Diane Nini, with whom he shares a daughter, Claire. The couple divorced in 1991. In 1997, Peter welcomed his second daughter, Senna, with Blythe Weber. Since the mid-1980s, Cetera has resided in Idaho.
Real Estate
Peter Cetera owns multiple properties, including a home in Ketchum, Idaho, and another in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2019, he listed a property in Hailey, Idaho for $2.2 million but later pulled it off the market. He sold another Ketchum property in 2020, valued around $6 million at the time of sale.
