Connie Francis Net Worth

What was Connie Francis's Net Worth?

Connie Francis was an American singer who had a net worth of $25 million at the time of her death. Connie Francis died on July 16, 2025, at the age of 87.

Connie Francis was one of the most popular and versatile pop vocalists of the late 1950s and early 1960s, known for her emotional ballads, youthful charm, and remarkable linguistic range. Between 1958 and 1964, she was the most successful female singer in the United States, scoring 35 Top 40 hits, including three No. 1 singles: "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," "My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own," and "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You." Her breakout hit came with "Who's Sorry Now," a 1920s standard she reluctantly recorded at her father's urging—only for it to become a million-seller after debuting on "American Bandstand" in 1958.

Francis quickly became known for her emotionally charged renditions of slow ballads like "Where the Boys Are," "My Happiness," and "Among My Souvenirs," as well as upbeat tracks such as "Stupid Cupid," "Lipstick on Your Collar," and "Vacation." She was one of the first American pop stars to build an international following by recording songs in multiple languages. Albums like "Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites," "Connie Francis Sings Jewish Favorites," and "Connie Francis Sings Irish Favorites" showcased her global appeal.

She appeared in several films, most notably "Where the Boys Are" (1960), followed by "Follow the Boys," "Looking for Love," and "When the Boys Meet the Girls." Her career waned with the British Invasion, but she remained a major draw for older audiences and continued performing for decades. Despite personal tragedies and health struggles, Francis staged multiple comebacks, including a return to the stage in the 1980s and a Vegas headlining performance in 2004. She officially retired in 2018, capping off a turbulent but trailblazing career in American pop music.

Early Life

Connie Francis was born as Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero on December 12, 1937, in Newark, New Jersey, to Italian-American parents George and Ida. She grew up in the Ironbound neighborhood, and thanks to her Italian-Jewish community, became fluent in Yiddish. Her father, a roofer and concertina player, put an accordion in her hands at age 3 and closely managed her musical development from childhood. At age 4, she made her stage debut at Olympic Park in Irvington, New Jersey, singing "Anchors Aweigh" while accompanying herself on accordion.

She became a regular on the local TV show "Marie Moser's Starlets" by age 11, and later appeared on "Ted Mack's Original Amateur Hour" and "Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts." Godfrey suggested she change her last name to Francis. She also spent four years as a child entertainer on the NBC anthology series "Startime Kids." As a teenager, she attended Newark Arts High School and graduated from Belleville High School in 1955.

Career Beginnings

Francis began working as a demo singer, often imitating stars like Patti Page and Rosemary Clooney. After dubbing the singing voices for Tuesday Weld in "Rock, Rock, Rock!" and Freda Holloway in "Jamboree," she signed with MGM Records and released 10 flop singles. She later joked in her memoir "Who's Sorry Now?" that bombing had become her trademark.

Just as she was preparing to abandon show business to attend college on a scholarship, her father convinced her to record "Who's Sorry Now?"—a song she hated and sang without trying to imitate anyone. That emotional authenticity became her signature. The track aired on "American Bandstand" on January 1, 1958, and sold a million copies in six months.

Commercial Breakthrough and International Stardom

After her breakthrough, Francis collaborated with Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield on hits like "Stupid Cupid" and "Where the Boys Are." Her success continued with "My Happiness," "Among My Souvenirs," "Frankie," and "Lipstick on Your Collar." Her album "Connie Francis Sings Italian Favorites" became her best-selling LP, leading to a series of "favorites" albums in various languages.

Francis was one of the first American artists to systematically re-record her hits in multiple languages, and she topped charts in Germany, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere. Her early 1960s hits included "Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart," "When the Boy in Your Arms (Is the Boy in Your Heart)," and "Second Hand Love." In 1960, "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" made her the first female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.

Film and Television Career

Francis made her film debut in "Where the Boys Are" (1960), based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout. Though she disliked her performance, she starred in three more lighthearted films: "Follow the Boys," "Looking for Love," and "When the Boys Meet the Girls." She was also a popular guest on television variety shows and found success performing in nightclubs like the Copacabana and in Las Vegas.

Challenges and Health Struggles

Her final Top 40 hit was 1964's "Be Anything (but Be Mine)." In 1967, nasal surgery left her unable to sing in air-conditioned venues, essentially ending her casino career. A second surgery in the 1970s temporarily cost her voice entirely.

In 1974, she was raped and robbed at knifepoint after a concert at the Westbury Music Fair. She sued the motel chain and won a then-record $2.5 million in damages. The attack led to years of reclusion, drug addiction, and multiple misdiagnoses of manic depression. She was institutionalized in the early 1980s and later stated she had been suffering from PTSD.

In 1981, she lost her brother George Jr. to a Mafia-related murder. That same year, after successful vocal cord surgery, she returned to the Westbury Music Fair for a highly symbolic comeback concert.

Later Career and Legacy

Francis resumed performing in the late 1980s and early 2000s, appearing in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Manila. Her later albums included "Who's Happy Now?," "I'm Me Again," "Where the Hits Are," and "With Love to Buddy," a tribute to Buddy Holly. She appeared on the "American Bandstand" 30th anniversary special and continued to record and perform sporadically.

In 2017, she released a second autobiography, "Among My Souvenirs." She officially announced her retirement in 2018.

In 2025, her 1960s song "Pretty Little Baby," which she had forgotten recording, went viral on TikTok and reappeared on Spotify's Viral 50 charts worldwide, introducing her to a new generation.

Relationships

Francis was married four times. She had short-lived marriages to Dick Kanellis in 1964, Izzy Marion in 1971, and Bob Parkinson in 1985. Her longest marriage was to restaurateur Joseph Garzilli, with whom she adopted a son named Joey before divorcing in 1977. She was once romantically involved with Bobby Darin, a relationship that ended when her father reportedly chased Darin away with a gun. She later expressed deep regret over not marrying him.

Real Estate

In 1997, Connie paid $444,000 for a home in Parkland, Florida. She continued to own this home for the rest of her life.

Final Years and Death

Francis spent her later years in Florida and largely stayed out of the spotlight following her retirement. She passed away on July 16, 2025, at age 87. Her publicist did not disclose a cause of death.

As Francis once put it:

"I'd like to be remembered not for the highs I've reached but for the depths from which I've risen." Her career was marked by incredible peaks, devastating lows, and a legacy that remains firmly etched in the history of American pop music.

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