What Was Sonny Bono's Net Worth?
Sonny Bono was an American recording artist, record producer, actor, restaurateur, and politician with a net worth of $4 million at the time of his death in 1998. Bono gained fame through his partnership with pop star Cher before transitioning into a significant political career. From 1988 to 1992, he served as the mayor of Palm Springs, California. Between 1995 and his death, Bono was a congressman representing California's 44th district.
Estate Value and Royalties
Sonny’s relatively low net worth was partly due to multiple divorces during the peak of his career and a quieter professional period in the late '70s, '80s, and '90s. Upon his death, Sonny did not leave a will, prompting Cher to sue his estate for $1.6 million in unpaid alimony from their 1974 divorce. His wife at the time, Mary Bono, assumed his congressional seat, serving for 15 years. More than two decades later, Mary continued to earn royalties from Sonny's songwriting credits, reportedly between $250,000 and $1 million annually.
Early Life
Sonny Bono was born Salvatore Philip Bono on February 16, 1936, in Detroit, Michigan, to Italian parents Santo and Zena Bono. Raised in Inglewood, California, he had two older sisters. Opting to pursue a songwriting career instead of finishing high school, Sonny's mother affectionately called him "Sono," which evolved into "Sonny."
Early Career
Bono's music industry journey began as a songwriter at Specialty Records. In the early 1960s, he worked as a percussionist and assistant for Phil Spector. During this period, Sonny juggled various odd jobs, ranging from being a butcher to a deliveryman, while trying to kickstart his own music career.
Sonny and Cher
At age 27, while working for Spector, Sonny met 16-year-old Cher at a coffee shop in 1962. The duo quickly formed a bond, with Cher singing background for Spector thanks to Sonny. They released their first regional hit as Sonny & Cher in 1964. Their big break came with the 1965 single "I Got You Babe," which sold over 100 million copies and propelled their debut album "Look At Us" to #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.
Their popularity soared, appearing on numerous television shows and embarking on a worldwide tour for their second album, "The Wondrous World of Sonny & Chér," known for its distinctive stage costumes. Their third album, "In Case You're in Love," performed better in Europe despite their first feature film, "Good Times," flopping. The early '70s saw them focus on television, with "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" airing in 1971 and receiving seven Emmy nominations over four seasons. Despite their professional success, personal differences led to their split in 1974.
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Independent Career and Politics
Post-divorce, Sonny launched a brief comedy show in 1974 and appeared in minor film and TV roles throughout the late '70s and early '80s. In 1985, he opened Bono's Restaurant in Palm Springs, California, featuring eleven tennis courts. His disputes with local zoning authorities spurred his 1988 mayoral run, which he won by leveraging his fame and a $100,000 campaign fund. As mayor, Sonny aimed to make the city more business-friendly. He introduced a film festival to boost tourism, while also implementing regulations to control spring break crowds. Although he lost the 1992 Senate primaries, he won California's 44th District’s House of Representatives seat in 1994 and was re-elected for a second term in 1996.
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Personal Life and Controversy
Sonny's personal life included several marriages. He married Donna Rankin in 1954, with whom he had a daughter before divorcing in 1962. After meeting Cher in 1962, they married in 1964 and had a child, Chastity (now Chaz Bono), in 1969. They divorced in 1974. He later married Susie Coelho in 1981, a union that lasted until 1984. His last marriage was to Mary Whitaker in 1986, with whom he had two children.
Although identified as a Roman Catholic publicly, Sonny showed interest in Scientology, attending classes with Mary. Rumors suggested Tom Cruise's ex-wife, Mimi Rogers, brought him to Scientology, and Mary claimed the church wouldn’t allow him to leave. She also alleged he was addicted to valium and painkillers, although none were found in his system at his death.
Death and Legacy
Sonny Bono passed away on January 5, 1998, at 62, after a skiing accident in South Lake Tahoe, California. His widow, Mary, won his congressional seat, serving until 2012. Sonny Bono's impact remains notable in both the entertainment and political spheres.
