What is Belinda Carlisle’s net worth?
Belinda Carlisle, the American singer, has a net worth of $14 million. She gained fame as the lead singer of the rock band the Go-Go’s, one of the most successful female bands ever. Carlisle later had a successful solo career, with hits including “Mad About You,” “Leave a Light On,” and “Heaven is a Place on Earth.”
Early Life and Childhood
Belinda Carlisle was born in 1958 in Los Angeles, California to Joanne, a homemaker, and Harold, a gas station worker. She has three brothers and three sisters, all younger than her. At the age of five, Carlisle’s father left the family, leaving her to spend most of her childhood in poverty. Later, her mother got remarried to Walt Kurczeski, an alcoholic with whom Carlisle had a turbulent relationship. The family moved often throughout her early life, before settling in Burbank.
Interest in Music and Career Beginnings
When she was ten, Carlisle started expressing her interest in music. Following a move to Thousand Oaks as a teenager, she went to Colina Junior High School; subsequently, she went to Newbury Park High School, where she was a cheerleader. After her graduation, Carlisle worked at a fabric store, and then as a photocopier for Hilton Hotels. She took night classes at a beauty college, but dropped out during her first year.
Carlisle had her first professional music gig in 1977, when she became a drummer for the punk rock band the Germs. However, her tenure with the band was curtailed when she contracted mononucleosis.
The Go-Go’s: A Successful American Band of the 80s
Belinda Carlisle co-founded the Go-Go’s after departing from the Germs. The band consisted of untrained musicians, including Carlisle, Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock. The Go-Go’s became popular in the United States and were the first all-female group to play their own instruments and write music to score a number one album with their debut “Beauty and the Beat” in 1981. The album sold over two million copies and spawned hit singles “We Got the Beat” and “Our Lips Are Sealed.” The band released “Vacation,” which went gold, and “Talk Show.” However, the latter was a relative commercial disappointment in 1984 and was the band’s last original album until 2001.
Belinda Carlisle’s Successful Solo Career
After the Go-Go’s disbanded in 1985, Belinda Carlisle embarked on a solo career. Her debut album, “Belinda,” was certified gold in the US, with the single “Mad About You” reaching number three in the US and topping the charts in Canada. The album also featured successful singles “I Feel the Magic” and a cover of “Band of Gold.”
Carlisle’s second solo album, “Heaven on Earth,” was released in 1987 and was a huge success. Its first single, “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” topped the charts in both the US and UK, while “I Get Weak” reached number two in the US and number ten in the UK. Other hit singles from the album included “Circle in the Sand” and “World Without You.”
“Runaway Horses,” Carlisle’s third solo album, was released in 1989 and made it to the top five in both the UK and Australia, going double platinum in the latter. The album’s first single, “Leave a Light On,” was a top five hit in the UK, Australia, and Canada. Other successful singles from the album included “Summer Rain,” “La Luna,” and “(We Want) the Same Thing.”
Belinda Carlisle’s Music Career
Belinda Carlisle’s fourth solo album, “Live Your Life Be Free,” was released in 1991 and included singles like “Do You Feel Like I Feel?,” “Half the World,” and “Little Black Book.” Her following albums, “Real” and “A Woman and a Man,” were released in 1993 and 1996 respectively. “A Woman and a Man” revived her career in Europe, producing hits like “In Too Deep,” “Always Breaking My Heart,” “Love in the Key of C,” and “California,” which peaked at number 12 in the UK and earned gold certification. In 1999, Carlisle released “A Place on Earth: The Greatest Hits” in the UK, featuring her hits and three new tracks. Her later albums included “Voila” and “Wilder Shores,” which featured Sikh chants.
The Go-Go’s Reunite and Tour in the 2000s
The Go-Go’s reunited in 2001 for the album “God Bless the Go-Go’s,” which included the single “Unforgiven.” The album received mixed reviews but managed to make it onto the US Billboard 200, peaking at number 57.
In the next decade, from 2011 to 2012, Carlisle and the Go-Go’s embarked on a tour of the United States, performing at iconic venues such as the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theatre.
Personal Life
In the early 80s, Carlisle was in a relationship with drummer Bill Bateman, with whom she broke up to be with baseball player Mike Marshall. Later, in 1986, Carlisle wed politician and movie producer Morgan Mason; they have one son, Duke. Following the 1994 earthquake in Northridge, California, the family moved to Fréjus in France. In 2017, Carlisle and Mason moved to Bangkok, Thailand.
Struggle with Addiction
Carlisle developed a severe addiction to cocaine and alcohol during her early years with the Go-Go’s. At the same time, she was dealing with an eating disorder. After her substance abuse reached its peak in 2005, Carlisle swore to pursue sobriety, which she has maintained ever since.
Belinda Carlisle’s Advocacy Work
Belinda Carlisle has been vocal about her support for LGBTQ rights since her 14-year-old son came out. She is also passionate about helping women and animals, having cofounded the Animal People Alliance in 2014. The nonprofit, based in Kolkata, India, raises funds and trains impoverished women to care for animals found on the street.
