Barbra Streisand Net Worth - Pulptastic

May 31, 2024

What is Barbra Streisand’s Net Worth?

Barbra Streisand, a singer, songwriter, actress and filmmaker from Brooklyn, New York, has a net worth of $400 million. Her career began in her teens and she gradually worked her way up to becoming a globally-recognized star after her breakout role in Funny Girl. Streisand is one of the most successful recording artists in history, with over ten top-10 albums and multiple Grammy Awards. When she tours, she can easily be one of the highest-earning female musicians in the world, making $60-80 million.

Early Life of Barbra Streisand

Barbara Joan “Barbra” Streisand was born on April 24, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. Her family fell into near-poverty after her father passed away shortly after her first birthday. Streisand’s mother chose a career as a school secretary over music, although she continued to sing as Streisand grew up. Streisand has an older brother, as well as a younger half-sister from her mother’s remarriage in 1949.

From a young age, Streisand became familiar with struggle. Together with her mother, they recorded some songs on tape when Streisand was 13 on a trip to the Catskills, a moment Streisand credits as her “first moment of inspiration”. Her paternal grandparents had emigrated from Galicia (Poland-Ukraine), and maternal grandparents from the Russian Empire.

Despite having been a soprano in her youth, Streisand’s mother chose a career as a school secretary over music, although she continued to sing as Streisand grew up.

Streisand’s Early Success in Show Business

Streisand’s mother’s criticism of her show business dreams only made her more determined to succeed. Initially aspiring to be an actress, Streisand’s success as a singer helped her gain recognition and eventually led to her breakthrough role in the musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale. Her performance earned her a Tony nomination and the New York Drama Critic’s Best Supporting Actress prize.

Barbra Streisand’s Rise to Fame

From 1961 to 1963, Streisand appeared on popular television shows such as The Tonight Show and The Ed Sullivan Show. Her first album, The Barbra Streisand Album, earned her three Grammy Awards and a spot in the Billboard top 10. She followed up with The Second Barbra Streisand Album later that same year. Streisand married Elliott Gould in 1963.

The Broadway production of Funny Girl in 1964 propelled Streisand to international fame, with songs like “People” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade” becoming her signature tunes. She even graced the cover of Time magazine.

Barbra Streisand’s Career in Film

Barbra Streisand’s dream was to become an actress, and her first film was a 1968 reprise of Funny Girl. She won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in this film, sharing it with Katharine Hepburn in a rare tie for the award. Her next two movies were also musical adaptions, Holly, Dolly! (1969) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970), and her fourth film was based on Broadway play The Owl and the Pussycat (1970).

In 1969, Streisand formed the First Artists Production Company with Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, and Steve McQueen. The company was created so actors could develop their own movie projects. As of 2012, Streisand has only appeared in 19 films, but she has also tried her hand at other aspects of film production.

She was producer, director, and star of the 1983 film Yentl, and she also scripted the film. Despite the limited number of films she appeared in, from 1969 to 1980 Streisand appeared a total of ten times in the Top Ten Money Making Stars Poll.

Barbra Streisand’s Impressive Discography and Tour Success

Barbra Streisand has an extensive discography, with 36 studio albums, 9 compilation albums, 7 live albums, 15 soundtracks, and 117 singles. Her talent has led her to become one of the best-selling female musical artists of all time, with 52 gold and 32 platinum albums. She has also won eight Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Legend Award.

One of Streisand’s best-selling albums was Guilty (1980), a collaboration with Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, which sold around 15 million copies globally. As of September 2016, she was ranked number 10 in the Recording Industry Association of America’s list of Top Selling Artists, and is the only woman in the top 10 on the list.

In addition to her success in the recording studio, Streisand has set box-office records for her tours. Her 2006 American Streisand: The Tour, which consisted of 20 shows, grossed $92,457,062.

Marriages and Philanthropy

Barbra Streisand’s first husband was actor Elliott Gould, with whom she was married from 1963 until 1971. They have one son together, Jason Gould. Her second husband is actor James Brolin, whom she married on July 1, 1998. The couple has no children together, but Brolin has two children from previous marriages.

Streisand is an active philanthropist and established The Streisand Foundation in 1986. The foundation has contributed over $16 million in grants to various causes, including voter education, women’s issues, and the environment. In 2009, she donated a $5 million endowment to the Barbra Streisand Women’s Cardiovascular Research and Education Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Barbra Streisand’s $100 Million Southern California Real Estate Portfolio

Barbra Streisand owns at least $100 million worth of real estate in Southern California. Her homes could be worth as much as $200 million depending on the real estate market at a given moment.

Barbra’s bluff top Malibu compound alone could be worth $100 million. It consists of three parcels that she acquired over several transactions starting in the 1990s. The main house is 10,500 square feet and has 8 bedrooms. One house next door is 2,000 square feet, the other is 6,000 square feet.

To salute the compound’s Art Deco style, she bought a 1926 Rolls-Royce and 1933 Dodge to display in the garage. The compound has a total of 47,000 square feet of property, with 5 structures including a barn.

She previously owned a penthouse in Manhattan and a large mansion in Beverly Hills.

Barbra Streisand’s Valuable Art and Furniture Collection

Barbra Streisand is known to have a valuable art collection, although its total worth is unknown. In 2015, she donated a piece by artist John Singer Sargent to the LA County Museum of Art that has since been valued at $20 million based on comparable sales of Sargent’s works.

In addition to her art collection, Streisand also began collecting furniture in 1992 after visiting the White House and being drawn to its works dating to the 18th and 19th century.