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What is Paul Anka’s Net Worth?

Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor Paul Anka has a net worth of $80 million. He became famous in the 1950s with hits like “Diana,” “Lonely Boy,” and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” Anka also wrote the theme music for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and “She’s a Lady” for Tom Jones. Later, he co-wrote Michael Jackson’s “This is It” and “Love Never Felt So Good,” which became popular after Jackson’s death.

Early Life of Paul Anka

Paul Anka was born in 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to parents of Lebanese Christian descent. His mother, Camelia, was an immigrant from Lebanon while his father, Andrew, hailed from Syria. Anka sang with the St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral choir as a youth and studied piano under Winnifred Rees. He was part of a vocal trio known as the Bobby Soxers while attending Fisher Park High School. At the age of 14, Anka recorded his first single, “I Confess.”

Paul Anka’s Early Successes

In 1956, Anka auditioned for Don Costa at ABC Records and performed the song “Diana,” which would soon become one of his biggest hits. The song reached number one on both the US and Canadian music charts, making it one of the top-selling singles ever by a Canadian artist. Anka continued his success in 1958, releasing four songs that hit the top 20, solidifying his position as one of the most prominent teen idols of the time. He toured in the UK and Australia, performing alongside Buddy Holly, for whom he wrote the song “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”

Aside from his music career, Anka also wrote the famous theme for “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” and wrote songs for films, including “Lonely Boy” in “Girls Town” and the theme to the war film “The Longest Day.” By the end of the 60s, Anka’s career was largely derailed by the British Invasion, prompting him to focus primarily on contemporary and big-band standards and perform regularly at Las Vegas casinos.

Paul Anka’s Career Highlights

In the early 70s, Anka signed with Buddah Records and released two albums: “Paul Anka” and “Jubilation.” Anka wrote “She’s a Lady” for his 1971 album, although Welsh singer Tom Jones’s version became a huge hit later that year.

After over a decade without a top 25 hit, Anka made a comeback with the number one hit “(You’re) Having My Baby” in 1974, a duet with singer Odia Coates. Two more duets, “One Man Woman/One Woman Man” and “I Don’t Like to Sleep Alone,” also cracked the top 10. Another duet, “(I Believe) There’s Nothing Stronger Than Our Love,” hit number 15.

In 1975, Anka recorded “Times of Your Life,” a jingle for Kodak that became a full song and made it to number seven on the US pop chart. Anka wrote “Anytime (I’ll Be There)” for Frank Sinatra and had another hit with “Hold Me ‘Til the Mornin’ Comes” in 1983, which was his final top 40 hit in the US.

Anka’s Music Career

Paul Anka released his album “A Body of Work” in 1998, which featured contributions by Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, and Kenny G. This was his first new American studio release since 1983’s “Walk a Fine Line.”

In 2005, Anka released “Rock Swings,” an album consisting of big-band arrangements of modern rock songs. He also released “Songs of December,” which peaked at number 58 in Canada, and “Duets” in 2013.

Paul Anka’s Acting Career

Paul Anka made his first appearance in a major film in 1962’s “The Longest Day,” playing an army private. Later on, he guest-starred in the made-for-television Perry Mason movie “The Case of the Maligned Mobster,” and played a yacht broker in the Kurt Russell comedy film “Captain Ron.”

In 1995, he played himself in the annual “Treehouse of Horror” episode of “The Simpsons,” and the next year, appeared in the ensemble crime comedy film “Mad Dog Time.” Later credits include the 2001 film “3000 Miles to Graceland,” the NBC series “Las Vegas,” and the dramedy series “Gilmore Girls,” on which he played a version of himself.

Personal Life

Paul Anka was married to Anne de Zogheb, the daughter of a Lebanese diplomat, for 38 years from 1963 to 2001. They have five daughters: Amelia, Anthea, Alicia, Amanda, and Alexandra. In 2008, Anka married Swedish model and actress Anna Åberg, who was also his personal trainer. However, they divorced in 2010 with Anka taking full custody of their son.

In 2016, Anka got engaged to Lisa Pemberton in Beverly Hills.

Paul’s daughter Amanda is married to actor Jason Bateman.

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