Neil Sedaka Net Worth - Pulptastic

What Is Neil Sedaka’s Net Worth?

Neil Sedaka is an American singer, pianist, composer, and record producer with a net worth of $100 million. He has written or co-written over 500 songs, including hits like “Calendar Girl” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” Sedaka has released over 25 studio albums, with his most recent being “The Music of My Life” in 2010.

In addition to his successful music career, Sedaka published his autobiography “Laughter in the Rain: My Own Story” in 1982. He also hosts the monthly Sirius XM radio show “In The Key of Neil” since late 2019.

Early Life of Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka was born on March 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Eleanor, was of Russian-Jewish and Polish descent, and his father, Mordechai, was a Sephardi Lebanese Jew who worked as a taxi driver. Neil grew up in Brighton Beach and began taking piano lessons in second grade, thanks to a suggestion from his choral teacher. In 1947, he earned a scholarship to attend the Juilliard School of Music’s Preparatory Division for Children on weekends.

At age 13, Sedaka started writing songs with his neighbor’s teenage son, Howard Greenfield, who was an aspiring lyricist. The duo eventually became composers at the Brill Building in Manhattan. Sedaka graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1956.

Neil Sedaka’s Music Career

After leaving high school, Neil formed the Linc-Tones and had regional hits before going solo in 1957. He signed with RCA Victor and had hits like “The Diary” and “Oh! Carol” in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sedaka released several albums in the ’70s, including “Laughter In The Rain” and “Sedaka’s Back.” He provided backing vocals on Elton John’s #1 single “Bad Blood” and Captain & Tennille’s hit “Love Will Keep Us Together.” In the ’80s and ’90s, he continued releasing albums and even served as a guest judge on “American Idol.” Sedaka began performing free mini-concerts on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic and joined Cameo in 2021 to offer custom video messages.

Neil Sedaka’s Personal Life

Neil Sedaka married Leba Strassberg in 1962, and they had two children, Dara and Marc. Dara is a singer who performed with Sedaka on the hit “Should’ve Never Let You Go,” while Marc is a screenwriter. In March 2021, Sedaka had a benign skin tumor removed from his nose.

In a 2017 interview with the “Daily Mail,” Sedaka revealed that he never enjoyed drugs, preferring alcohol instead. He stated, “I’m a boozer. Give me a vodka and a glass of wine at dinner and I’m fine.”

Neil Sedaka’s Accolades

Neil Sedaka has earned five Grammy nominations throughout his career. He was nominated for Best Performance By A “Top 40” Artist in 1959, Best Rock & Roll Recording for “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” in 1962, Song Of The Year for “Love Will Keep Us Together” in 1975, Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for “Bad Blood” in 1975, and Song Of The Year for “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” in 1976.

In addition to his Grammy nominations, Sedaka has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He received the Art Gilmore Career Achievement Award from the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters in 2013. Sedaka also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978.