Lionel Richie, an immensely talented musician, and producer, gained popularity as a member of The Commodores before achieving great success as a solo artist. With a net worth of $200 million, he is considered one of the wealthiest American singer-songwriters as per celebritynetworth.
In 1968, Lionel Richie joined The Commodores as a singer and saxophone player, and after signing a one-record deal with Atlantic Records, he moved to Motown Records, where he became a well-known R&B group member.
Career
Hits such as “Brick House,” “Machine Gun,” “Easy,” and “Three Times a Lady” helped to cement his popularity.
In the late 1970s, Richie started writing songs for other musicians, including “Lady” for Kenny Rogers, a number-one hit in 1980.
Richie also sang the duet “Endless Love” with Diana Ross for the movie of the same name in 1981, which was nominated for an Academy Award and became one of Motown’s biggest hits.
This success motivated Richie to pursue a solo career, which he launched in 1982 with the release of his self-titled debut album.
The album, which sold over four million copies, featured hit singles such as “Truly,” “You Are,” and “My Love,” and stylistically resembled the music of The Commodores.
In 1983, Richie released “Can’t Slow Down,” which sold twice as many records as his debut album and won two Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.
The album’s standout single, “All Night Long,” was performed by Richie at the closing ceremony of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.
Throughout the 1980s, Richie continued to produce several Top 10 hits, including “Hello,” “Stuck on You,” “Running with the Night,” and “Penny Lover.”
In addition to his solo career, Richie continued to write and perform music for movies, including “Endless Love” and “White Nights.”
His song “Say You, Say Me” from the latter won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1985 and was number one in the US for four weeks.
He also collaborated with Michael Jackson on “We Are the World” and released the album “Dancing on the Ceiling” in 1986, which produced five Top 20 songs.
Houses
Lionel Richie has used a portion of his wealth to invest in multiple real estate properties throughout the United States, each boasting lavish amenities anyone could desire.
Beverly Hills, California House
In 1999, Lionel Richie purchased a massive mansion for $6 million, which now has an estimated value of over $11.4 million.
The mansion, built in 1929, holds historical significance and is situated on a hill overlooking a country club.
Despite the challenge of purchasing an outdated property, Lionel renovated the mansion to feature luxurious amenities, such as 28 rooms spanning over 17,000 square feet, vintage and contemporary interior design, Cyprus trees, limestone terraces, a large swimming pool, and a stone pool house.
The mansion also boasts a fancy dining room with original carved wood and plaster ceiling, a library with oak bookshelves, a velvet sofa, and Italian chairs, and Lionel’s five Grammys awards.
The Main Suite has a beautifully decorated bed, fireplace, and sitting area with garden views, while the ensuite bathroom features oak flooring, original molding, and a limestone fireplace. Notably, fellow judges from American Idol had the pleasure of dining in Lionel’s mansion.
London House
In addition to his Beverly Hills residence, Lionel Richie owns a mansion in London that he acquired for over 5 million pounds. The classic-style property he lived in at one point in his career is situated just outside London and includes lavish amenities, such as a large swimming pool.
Cars
Lionel Richie has an impressive assortment of contemporary and vintage automobiles in his garage. A few we have mentioned below!
Ferrari Scaglietti
The Ferrari Scaglietti boasts impressive exterior and interior design, including hand-stitched leather seats, a top-of-the-line sound system, and state-of-the-art infotainment technology.
Known for its speed, the car can reach a top speed of 320 km/h and rev from 0 to 60 km/h in just 4.2 seconds, making it an Italian masterpiece and head-turner with a hefty price tag of $250,000.
Mercedes S 550
Another addition to Lionel Richie’s impressive car collection is the Mercedes S 550, the top-of-the-line trim level from German automaker Mercedes-Benz.
This sleek machine boasts a 4.7-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of generating 455 brake horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, and luxurious amenities like an auto-detection system for bumps and road irregularities, a custom navigation system, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, and an ambient LED interior.
The vehicle can reach a top speed of 155 miles per hour and accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 4.8 seconds.
Range Rover L322
Lionel Richie’s car collection includes a luxurious SUV from British automaker Land Rover, the Range Rover Sport.
This SUV is equipped with a supercharged inter-cooled 16-valve V8 engine, producing 510 brake horsepower, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and reaching a top speed of 220 km/h.
It features a six-speed automatic transmission and air suspension system, a high-end leather interior, and full safety features with airbags and electronic crash prevention aides.
Porsche 930
Lionel Richie also owned a sleek Porsche 930, known for its speed and equipped with a 3.2-liter engine generating 300 brake horsepower, capable of reaching a top speed of 162 miles per hour and accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 5.2 seconds. Unfortunately, the car was stolen from a car park.
