William Martin Joel is a pianist, vocalist, and songwriter from the United States. Formerly known as the “Piano Man” due to his influential 1973 single of the same name, Joel has maintained a prosperous solo career since the 1970s.
Twelve studio albums spanning the genres of pop and rock were published between 1971 and 1993. In 2001, he released a one-time studio album comprised of classical music compositions. With over 160 million records sold globally, Joel is the fourth-best-selling solo artist in the United States and one of the best-selling musicians in the world. Greatest Hits – Volume I & Volume II, a compilation album released in 1985, is among the most popular albums in the United States.
Early Life, Family And Education of Billy Joel
His family relocated to the hamlet of Oyster Bay, in the Long Island suburb of Hicksville, when he was a year old. There, he and his adopted cousin Judy grew up in a neighborhood of Levitt houses. The businessman and classical pianist Howard (born Helmut) Joel (1923–2011), Joel’s father, was raised in Switzerland after receiving his education. He was born into a Jewish family in Nuremberg, Germany, the son of manufacturer and trader Karl Amson Joel.
Joel’s mother insisted that he take piano lessons at age four, despite his reluctance. Timothy Ford, a musician, and renowned American pianist Morton Estrin served as his teachers. Joel clarifies that he was not brought up in a Jewish home despite the fact that both of his parents were. I was not raised in a religiously affiliated manner as a Jew.
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Joel didn’t graduate with his class from Hicksville High School, but he did attend until 1967. He was supporting his mother, sister, and himself by playing at a piano bar. The night before, he had performed late at a piano bar, which caused him to miss an important English exam.
Is Billy Joel Married and Does He Have Children?
The initial spouse of Billy Joel was Elizabeth Weber Small. She was married to Billy’s music collaborator Jon Small, with whom she shared a son, at the time of their courtship.
In 1973, following their marriage, Weber and Joel appointed her as his manager. She influenced the compositions “She’s Got a Way” and “She’s Always a Woman” by Joel, in addition to the hostess character in “Piano Man.” The year of their divorce was 1982.
In March 1985, Joel entered into matrimony once more to Christie Brinkley, a model. Alexa Ray Joel, their daughter, was born in December 1985. Alexa was bestowed with the middle name Ray in honor of one of Billy’s musical idols, Ray Charles. In 1994, Joel and Brinkley subsequently divorced.
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Billy wed chef Katie Lee, his third wife, in 2004. Joel was 55 years old and Lee was 23. The year of their separation was 2009. In 2015, Joel wed Alexis Roderick, a former Morgan Stanley executive and equestrian, for the fourth time. Della Rose Joel, the couple’s daughter, was born in the same year. In 2017, the couple welcomed their second daughter, Remy Anne Joel.
What is Billy Joel’s Net Worth?
The net worth of American singer-songwriter Billy Joel is $225 million. Billy Joel has sold over 160 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. His career reached its height in the 1970s and 1980s, when he put out a number of hit albums and singles that are now considered masterpieces.
Real Estate Owned By Billy Joel
Over the years, Billy Joel has acquired and divested several noteworthy properties across the nation, including those located in Long Island, New York, and Florida. Formerly, he sold residences to Sting, Jerry Seinfeld, Mickey Drexler, a retail executive, and Sting himself. He has declared himself in jest the “realtor to the stars.”
Billy paid $22.5 million in 2002 for the mansion Middlesea, which is situated on 14 acres of Centre Island in Oyster Bay, New York. By making a number of supplementary acquisitions, he ultimately augmented the property’s size to 26 acres.
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Upon his 2002 acquisition, the original property showcased a mansion spanning 14,000 square feet. In due course, he grew the space by 20,000 square feet. Additionally, a beach house, a helipad, and two pools are present on the property. Billy put this property up for sale in May 2023 at a price of $49 million. Another property is owned by Billy in Sag Harbor, New York.
He paid just under $12 million in 2014 for two adjacent properties in Manalapan, Florida, totaling four acres. While one lot remained undeveloped, the other accommodated a mansion spanning nearly 9,000 square feet.
In 2015, he put the combined compound up for sale at a price of $29 million. Disregarding the undeveloped site, he put forth the mansion in its entirety for $19.5 million. January 2020 saw his final acceptance of $10.3 million. The undeveloped parcel comprising approximately three of the four acres of the property was not sold by him.
In 2006, Billy acquired a condominium in New York City for $5.9 million. He bequeathed this property to his ex-wife, Katie Lee, during their divorce. It was sold for $12.9 million in 2011.