Lady Gaga spends her fortune on lavish homes in London, LA and more, prized items from the late Michael Jackson and Alexander McQueen and a US$1.8 million car collection
The talented artist earns millions from her hit songs, Las Vegas residency, make-up and fragrance business ventures, as well as endorsement deals with brands like Versace
Lady Gaga’s career is going from strength to strength, and so is her bank account! The House of Gucci star and genre-defying musician turned 36 this week, but she boasts an enormous personal fortune that belies her young age.
Lady Gaga arrives at the recent 75th British Academy Film Awards in London, on March 13, for her role in House of Gucci. Photo: AP
Reports vary as to how much Gaga – whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta – is actually worth. Forbes places her value at US$150 million while other sources estimate it’s really closer to US$320 million. Either way, it’s clear that Mother Monster is worth a mint.
Let’s take a closer look at how this self-made starlet amassed such a vast fortune, and what she likes to spend all those stacks on.
Record and tour sales
Lady Gaga performs Shallow at the 61st annual Grammy Awards in February 2019, in Los Angeles. Photo: AP
Since she burst onto the scene in 2008 with her iconic first album “The Fame”, this pop powerhouse is considered one of the bestselling artists ever, having released five solo albums plus collaborations and movie soundtracks.
And that translates to some serious cash flow. According to RIAA, the Poker Face singer has earned at least US$80.5 million from digital singles alone. She made US$3.5 million from her first world tour, The Fame Ball, while her later tours – Born This Way and Monster Ball – earned her US$167 million and US$227 million, respectively.
Her Las Vegas residency
Lady Gaga announced nine new shows of her Las Vegas residency Jazz & Piano at Park MGM in April. Photo: Live Nation/MGM Resorts
Lady Gaga joined an elite club in 2017 when she announced her 74-show residency in Las Vegas. She reportedly made US$1 million per show, bringing her career total gross for live performances to over half a billion dollars. That’s something only four other women have achieved: Madonna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears and Beyoncé.
Lady Gaga. Photo: @ladygaga/Instagram
Not to rest on her laurels, Queen Gaga recently announced her 2022 Las Vegas residency from April 14 till May 1, with tickets running from US$145-US$2,000 a pop.
Beauty brands
Lady Gaga announces the launch of her nine new shadow palettes from Haus Laboratories, her own beauty brand. Photo: @ladygaga/Instagram
Nobody goes glam like Gaga, so it makes perfect sense she would get into the beauty biz. In 2019, she launched her own cosmetics brand, Haus Labs, which earned a cool US$141 million in 2020 – the third bestselling celebrity make-up brand behind Rihanna’s Fenty and Kylie Jenner’s Kylie.
Lady Gaga at the Lady Gaga Fame fragrance launch event in 2012, in New York. Photo: AP
Back in 2012 and 2014, the Grammy Award winner also released two fragrances – the first of which earned at least US$1 billion in sales.
Her luxury property portfolio
Lady Gaga now owns this Malibu compound that was previously owned by Warner Bros. exec Dan Romanell. Photo: Google Map
Lady Gaga threw down US$22.5 million for her sprawling Malibu estate in 2014, which she lovingly calls her “gypsy palace”. The luxury 10,270 sq ft property boasts an 800-bottle wine cellar, saltwater infinity pool overlooking the ocean, horse stables and its very own bowling alley.
Until recently, Gaga also owned an eclectic Tudor-style mansion in the Hollywood Hills worth US$5.25 million, previously owned by Frank Zappa and featuring its own recording studio. (She sold the property to Mick Jagger’s daughter last year.) In 2012, she also bought a flat in London’s wealthy Fitzrovia neighbourhood, and a stunning Chelsea town house for US$30 million in 2018.
Celebrity fashion memorabilia
Michael Jackson and the iconic crystal glove from his music video. Photos: Handout, AP Photo
Gaga made headlines in 2012 when she spent around US$1 million acquiring 55 items of Michael Jackson’s most famous memorabilia, including his crystal glove and the jacket he wore in his iconic music video for the song Bad. That’s not all – the Star Is Born actress also successfully bid US$133,000 on a gown by deceased fashion designer (and close friend) Alexander McQueen at a charity auction.
An enviable classic car collection
Instagram post shared by @ladygaga
Turns out that Gaga’s exceptional taste level extends to automobiles too. While many celebs are content to drive around in the latest supercar (and of course, Gaga has her fair share of those), this discerning superstar loves to acquire rare, vintage cars. She’s been snapped driving around in a restored 965 Lincoln Continental convertible, worth an estimated US$330,000, and a 1969 Chevrolet Nova SS, valued at US$275,000. Her car collection could be worth as much as US$1.8 million.
Fancy pets
The stables that came with her Malibu mansion came in handy when Lady Gaga acquired her first horse, Arabella, in 2015. The recording artist is also proud fur mama to three French bulldogs – which may be worth as much as US$10,000 each – and once spent US$60,000 on 27 koi fish imported from Japan.
Acting roles
A scene from A Star is Born shows Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Photo: Warner Bros Pictures
Let’s not forget Gaga’s impressive acting resume. For her role in A Star Is Born, the Oscar winner pulled in anywhere between US$5-US$10 million. She also likely pulled in a seven-figure fee for her 12-episode run on American Horror Story.
Brand endorsements and collaborations
Lady Gaga arrives to attend the Atelier Versace spring-summer 2014 haute couture fashion collection in 2014, Paris. Photo: AP Photo
Last but not least, Lady Gaga knows how to leverage her fame. She’s signed lucrative endorsement deals with major brands such as Versace, Google Chrome and Bud Light.
Lady Gaga partnered with Dom Perignon to launch limited edition rosé and champagne. Photo: Dom Perignon
She has also landed some massive collaborations, including Dom Perignon, Oreo (who can forget those Chromatica biscuits!) and the creative director of Polaroid.