Annie Leibovitz Net Worth

What is Annie Leibovitz’s net worth and salary?

Annie Leibovitz is a renowned American portrait photographer with a net worth of $50 million. Her iconic photographs of celebrities like John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Queen Elizabeth II, LeBron James, Demi Moore, and Miley Cyrus have earned her worldwide recognition. She became the first woman to feature in an exhibition at Washington’s National Portrait Gallery.

Leibovitz started her career as a musician and painter, completing her graduation from the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 60s. After dedicating a few years to photography, she returned to the US and made an immensely successful career in the field. She became a staff photographer for Rolling Stone, climbed the ranks to become Chief Photographer, and held the position from 1983 to 1993.

Leibovitz’s famous works include the last portrait of John Lennon before his assassination, the cover photo of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” album, and Whoopi Goldberg in a bathtub full of milk. She has also photographed The Rolling Stones, Sting, Dolly Parton, Cyndi Lauper, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, among others.

In the late 2000s, Leibovitz faced severe financial troubles and had to put up everything she owned, including the rights to many of her famous photos, for sale. However, she managed to retain the rights to her images and continues to create captivating portraits.

Leibovitz’s Financial Struggles

Annie Leibovitz had an archive worth around $50 million, but her incautious financial dealings caused significant economic problems. In 2009, she borrowed $15.5 million from the Art Capital Group, putting up several houses and relinquishing the rights to all of her photographs as collateral. The loan eventually became $24 million, leading to a lawsuit from Art Capital Group for failing to repay the loan. Leibovitz was also sued by Brunswick Capital Partners for failure to pay for its financial services. To avoid losing her life’s work, Leibovitz worked to restructure her debt and pay back the loan. In 2012, she sold her New York City Townhouse for $28.5 million and purchased an $11.25 million apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in 2014, signaling that her financial problems had finally been settled.

Annie Leibovitz’s Early Life and Education

Annie Leibovitz was born on October 2, 1949 in Waterbury, Connecticut. Her father was a lieutenant colonel in the US Air Force, and her mother was a modern dance instructor. Due to her father’s service, the family moved frequently. In the Philippines during the Vietnam War, Leibovitz began taking photographs. She attended Northwood High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she developed her interest in the arts. Leibovitz went on to study painting at the San Francisco Art Institute, switching her major to photography.

Annie Leibovitz’s Career as Rolling Stone’s Chief Photographer

In 1970, Annie Leibovitz started her photography career as a staff photographer for Rolling Stone magazine. After three years, she was promoted to chief photographer, a position she held for the next decade. During her tenure, she became renowned for her intimate celebrity portraits, which helped define the image of Rolling Stone.

Leibovitz’s most famous portrait was the one she took of John Lennon and Yoko Ono just five hours before Lennon’s murder. The picture, which went on to grace the cover of Rolling Stone, depicts the couple lying on the floor with a naked Lennon curled up around Yoko, kissing her on the cheek. Her other notable subjects include David Cassidy, Dolly Parton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the members of Fleetwood Mac.

Annie Leibovitz’s Career Highlights

Leibovitz joined Vanity Fair after leaving Rolling Stone magazine. She took highly publicized photographs of Demi Moore, including a nude and pregnant shot. Her work for a global 1987 American Express ad campaign won her a Clio Award. Leibovitz was the first woman and second living portraitist to have a feature exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC in 1991. She began working regularly for Vogue in the late 90s, photographing celebrities including Lady Gaga, Adele, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

A retrospective of Leibovitz’s work was held at the Brooklyn Museum in 2007, subsequently traveling to other cities. In the same year, she was hired by Disney to do a series of celebrity photographs for a Walt Disney Parks and Resorts ad campaign. Leibovitz had exhibitions in Moscow, New York, and Los Angeles in the 2010s, and continued to photograph celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Reese Witherspoon. She was the principal photographer for the 2016 Pirelli calendar featuring Amy Schumer, Patti Smith, and Serena Williams, among other women.

Controversies Surrounding Annie Leibovitz

Leibovitz has faced criticism for some of her photographs over the years. In 2008, her photograph of LeBron James and Gisele Bündchen on the cover of Vogue drew backlash for its racial connotations. Also in 2008, Leibovitz was accused of photographing a topless 15-year-old Miley Cyrus. However, it was later revealed that Cyrus was actually wrapped in a bedsheet.

Leibovitz’s Relationship with Susan Sontag

In 1989, Annie Leibovitz began a relationship with writer and activist Susan Sontag. The relationship lasted until Sontag’s death in 2004. It has never been fully disclosed whether it was a romance or a close friendship, although Leibovitz has asserted that “lover” is an accurate descriptor for Sontag’s role in the relationship.

Leibovitz has three daughters: Sarah and twins Susan and Samuelle.

Annie Leibovitz’s Real Estate Ventures

In 2002, Annie Leibovitz purchased her first townhouse in New York City’s West Village neighborhood for $4.2 million, which allowed her to acquire two more townhomes for $1.9 million. She then spent the next seven years renovating the three homes, one of which was turned into a photography studio. In December 2012, she listed the combined property for $33 million and ultimately sold it for $28.5 million to David Lauren, son of Ralph Lauren.

In June 2014, Annie purchased an $11.25 million apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. And in October 2022, she paid $6.5 million for a condo in the West Village.

Annie Leibovitz Net Worth - Pulptastic