This Is How Much Susan Boyle Is Actually Worth

The world first fell in love with Susan Boyle back in 2008, when she appeared on the third season of reality show Britain's Got Talent. In spite of looking like your kindly grandmother (the one with a constant supply of Werther's Originals in her handbag), Boyle had the voice of an angel and left the judges — including the infamously nasty Simon Cowell — gobsmacked. In spite of massive public support, the Scottish lass didn't go on to win the show, but a star was very much born.

In the 11 years since she first shot to fame, Boyle has stayed true to her humble roots, remaining in the small town of Blackburn, West Lothian, where she was born and where she's frequently spotted wandering about as though her audition hasn't racked up millions of views on YouTube. Although the singer clearly still lives within her means, Boyle's considerable fortune just can't be disputed.

Boyle's debut album, I Dreamed A Dream, stormed the U.K. charts in 2009, selling a whopping 410,000 copies in its first week alone, making it the biggest first-week sales for a debut album in UK history, per The Guardian. The Scot's sales were also the fourth-best of all time, behind only the likes of juggernauts Coldplay, Oasis, and Take That. I Dreamed A Dream soon topped the U.S. charts too, putting Boyle in the same illustrious company as none other than The Beatles.

In 2010, she entered the Guinness World records book, not once but three times. As reported by BBC News, Boyle's chart-conquering debut was the fastest selling album by a U.K. female, it became the most successful first week sales of a U.K. debut album, and she was the oldest person to hit number one with a debut album. The elated singer described it as a "real honor," saying, "I used to read this book as a wee girl. I never dreamt that one day I would actually appear in the Guinness Book of Records. I only ever wanted to sing and perform. This is truly fantastic."

Rather than resting on her laurels, Boyle came back with a vengeance with her next two records, releasing them in quick succession. First came The Gift in 2010, which was immediately followed by Someone To Watch Over Me in 2011. According to Express, the Scottish singer earned around $2.4 million from sales of the former and a further $425,000 from the latter. The Gift reached No. 1 in the U.S. and U.K. album charts consecutively, following in the footsteps of her debut and making her the first woman to ever do so (via Time).

Boyle told the publication at the time, "I've never felt happier in all my life. This is an amazing result and one I never expected." Mr. Nasty himself, Simon Cowell, was even more elated, noting, "I'm thrilled for Susan. She has once again defied the odds. She is my superwoman." Boyle's chart success is nothing new of course, with The New York Times reporting she beat none other than Taylor Swift with sales of her debut album.

Back in 2010, hot off her reality show success and with the funds from her successful debut album burning a hole in her pocket, Susan Boyle purchased what would forever become known as "the posh house." As reported by Celebs Now at the time, the singer bought a £350,000 (approximately $458,000) mansion in her hometown of Blackburn, West Lothian. The impressive property boasted five bedrooms, three bathrooms, and electronic security gates.

It was just moments away from the council house where Boyle grew up, which she actually bought prior for £35,600 (around $46,000), and which the reality star wasn't pushed to leave, as her brother Gerry explained to Sunday People (via Celebs Now). "It's going to be a wrench to leave her council home, but Susan can't wait to move in with Pebbles," he said, referring to Boyle's beloved cat.

Gerry also revealed his sister was shopping around for leather sofas, but she was mostly focused on decking out Pebbles' bedroom with the very best in blankets and feline accessories.

It seems her brother's words were more prescient than he realized as Susan Boyle's time in the so-called "posh house" was short. The Daily Mail reported that the singer was soon back in her childhood council house, after finding her five-bedroom mansion too big for her humble lifestyle. Boyle's friends were actually the ones who christened it the "posh house." At the time, she shared, "I love my house, it's where I grew up," noting, "It is my home and where I feel safe." Regarding her home, Boyle went on, "I love my neighbours, they are the most beautiful group of people who always look out for me and make sure I am OK. It's where I grew up with my mum and dad and it has memories."

In a photoshoot for the Mail, Boyle posed both outside the mansion itself and in her new (old) house, which Boyle had previously purchased with her first set of royalties. The singer appeared happier and more settled back home. She even revealed to the publication an extravagant purchase (by her standards, at least) of a new dress for an upcoming show, but she refused to divulge the price. A photo from 2018 of the singer outside her home seemed to confirm she's still in a good place, both literally and figuratively.

Boyle may not be posh enough, by her own admission, to live in a massive mansion, but that doesn't mean she's above expanding her property portfolio. As reported by Express, in 2014, she purchased the house next door to her own for £110,000 (approximately $144,000), which was £40,000 (about $52,000) above market value in the area. The singer planned to knock through the walls of the new home so she could convert the two properties into one massive, six-bedroom "dream" house.

Boyle had been renting the place for months while the price was worked out with the landlords, but she was so keen to secure the property that the singer was willing to pay more than it was worth. Locals were thrilled the hometown hero was making her dreams come true, with one neighbor noting, "This will give her a bit more space and prevent her getting any hassle from neighbors through the wall." The unnamed local advised that nobody would be upset at Boyle's purchase of the second house, as, "Susan is popular with people in the street."

In spite of her insane chart success and newfound fame, in 2014, it was widely reported that Boyle had actually applied for a minimum wage job in her hometown. According to the deputy manager of Ladbrokes betting parlor in Blackburn, Scotland, Boyle "walked into the shop and inquired about the job advertised in our window," as reported by The Sun (via Page Six). The manager noted, "We were all in shock."

The job in question, a cashier position, paid a paltry $10.65 per hour, which pales in comparison to the big bucks Boyle would've been raking in from her blossoming music career. However, a customer at the establishment shared that the Britain's Got Talent star was deadly serious, noting, "She explained she was really keen on working there and everyone knows who she is and that she lives nearby."

The unidentified man suggested that maybe Boyle was a bit lonely and was looking to get out of the house and to keep busy. No word on whether she was actually offered the 16-hour per week position.

The Britain's Got Talent star naturally makes the majority of her money by using her stunning voice. However, she's a smart businesswoman in her own right too, particularly when it comes to managing her bulging finances. As reported by local paper Edinburgh Evening News, by 2015, Boyle was in control of four separate companies which pulled in a combined total of £2.5 million (approximately $3.2 million) in the previous financial year.

The singer's main company, Duil Ltd. ("Duil" is the Gaelic word for "hope") generated around £1,535,651 (approximately $2 million) in the preceding 12 months, while Speur Ltd. and Speur Business (the word "speur" is Gaelic for "sky") earned a combined total of £718,766 (about $941,000) for the same period. Her fourth firm, Speur Films, was set up when plans for a movie based on her life began circulating and generated profits of £121,656 (around $159,000).

Boyle has been in full control of her financial affairs since 2011. She operates as the director and owner of all shares in her companies, which predominantly cover income from music and merchandising. 

Boyle's first appearance in a Hollywood movie was The Christmas Candle, alongside the likes of Hans Matheson, Sylvester McCoy, Samantha Barks, and Lesley Manville. The film, an adaptation of the novel by Max Lucado, was directed by John Stephenson. It grossed over $2 million at the global box office, according to records from Box Office Mojo. Boyle's paycheck isn't publicly known, but she most likely got a decent amount for a film of that scale and for one that did so well at the box office.

The singer later appeared in the comedy sequel Zoolander 2 as herself, with that film grossing a whopping $56 million at the global box office. Although we don't know what Boyle was paid for her on-screen appearances, or any of her public appearances really, as a source told Edinburgh Evening News, it's likely what she has in the bank far exceeds public records. "[The] Susan Boyle brand continues to be a big cash generator. She will be receiving revenue through other means ... and the amount of money in [her] accounts may only be a fraction of her total earnings," explained the insider.

Given the feelgood nature of her rise to fame, it was no surprise when a jukebox musical based on Boyle's life was brought to the stage. Named I Dreamed A Dream after the song that made Boyle famous, the touring production was hugely successful even if, as noted by Express, its subject didn't know what to make of it at first. The singer explained, "It's funny when you see people playing people who you knew. It's very surreal. To begin with it was upsetting because I was not used to it."

However, once she got acquainted with the material, Boyle thought it was hilarious watching another actress embodying her. The Scottish singer even made a few cameo appearances herself in the show. Fox Searchlight reportedly acquired the life rights to Boyle's story, along with the rights to the musical itself, for an undisclosed sum all the way back in 2012. The studio plans to combine the two into a film, as reported by Deadline. At the time of this writing, the movie is currently categorized as "in development" on IMDb, and there are suggestions Meryl Streep could even play the star, according to The Independent.

The year 2019 marked a decade since the world first fell for Susan Boyle, and the singer — or, at least, her management — went into overdrive with celebrations. Her album Ten was put up for preorder on April 11, 2019, and an online store full of brand-new merchandise celebrating the milestone was launched. As reported by the Irish Mirror, the Scottish singer is expected to embark on a tour at some point too.

Boyle's take on "I Dreamed A Dream" will appear on the album, but she was coy about what else fans could expect. "I'm a lady who likes to surprise," she stated at the time, according to the publication. "Which is why I want to keep the four new songs a secret for now and give you something to look forward to! We live in a time where there are very few surprises any more." Given that the singer has sold over 23 million albums, Boyle's companies are surely set to burst with the amount of money that will be rolling in following the culmination of her big ten-year celebration.

In spite of her many massive paydays, Susan Boyle remains a frugal, humble breed of millionaire. As noted by the Edinburgh Evening News, when the singer appeared on Piers Morgan's Life Stories all the way back in 2010, she revealed a few hundred quid a week would do her. "I've only just learnt how to go in a taxi. I don't flash the cash," she said at the time. Boyle also noted she's always careful with money, and she gives herself an allowance because "it's pocket money" to her.

The singer's brother, Gerry, confirmed to Celebs Now that his sister only really splashed out on furnishings and other home details. In fact, according to Express, the most expensive items Boyle owns are a fur coat and a bottle of Chanel No. 5. She admitted to the Sunday Post, "My goals are simple now." She went on, "To have good friends and family around me and enjoy some of the money I have earned within reason and ensure I never have to worry about paying my gas and electric again," adding, "My biggest fear is going back to that, which is why I strive to be sensible."

In keeping with her no-nonsense financial outlook, Susan Boyle has partaken in numerous charity events over the years, raising money for everything from Comic Relief (via Daily Mail) to Haiti, performing at a gala to raise funds for the struggling area (via Glamour). She supported her local team at the Special Olympics and also performed at the opening ceremony, noting, "I am honored to have been asked to perform ... This event is a fantastic opportunity for athletes to show that disability does not need to hold you back in life and you can achieve your dreams with hard work and determination" (via Able magazine).

Boyle also recorded a charity Christmas single of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," featuring the late Elvis Presley, in support of Save the Children. The singer was quoted on the charity's official site at the time enthusing, "That this is able to raise money and help children is simply fantastic. ... To see the money raised in action and the difference it makes to these families is wonderful." In fact, the Scot is so committed to her charitable endeavors she even donated her famous audition dress in aid of the asthma charity the Laura McPhee Memorial Fund. 

At the time of this writing, Celebrity Net Worth puts Susan Boyle's value at approximately $40 million, with most of that figure having predominantly derived from concerts, royalties, and advances from her music career. Considering the reality TV star has a bulging property portfolio, as well as a new album and an accompanying tour in the cards, with a successful musical and possible movie spin-off on the horizon, that figure is pretty much guaranteed to rise considerably as Boyle's entertainment career continues.

She may not be too into the finer things in life, and it's unlikely villagers will spot the singer swanning around West Lothian in a fur coat any time soon. But, by the same token, she probably won't be behind the cashier's counter in her local betting parlor either (not for lack of trying on her part, however). The millions may keep on rolling in, but Susan Boyle will always be Susan Boyle, just chilling in her six-bedroom dream home with the waft of Chanel No. 5 in the air and Pebbles the Cat sitting happily on her lap.