Gloria Estefan (born Gloria Maria Milagrosa Fajardo Garcia on September 1, 1957) is a Cuban and American singer, actress, and businesswoman. She began her career as the lead singer in the group Miami Latin Boys, which subsequently became Miami Sound Machine.
In 1985, she achieved global popularity with “Conga,” which became Estefan's hallmark song and helped Miami Sound Machine win the Grand Prix at the 15th annual Tokyo Music Festival in 1986. With the theme “Anything for You,” she and the band had their first number-one hit in 1988.
She is regarded as the Latin musician who broke down the borders of Latin music in the international market, allowing numerous Latin artists such as Shakira, J.Lo, Ricky Martin, and Selena to enter.
Early Life of Gloria Estefan
She was born Gloria María Milagrosa Fajardo Garcia on September 1, 1957, in Havana, Cuba, and her family fled to the United States during the Cuban Revolution. Her father joined the US Military, fought in the Vietnam War, and participated in the Bay of Pigs invasion.
Her mother worked as a school teacher for the Dade County Public School System. Upon his return from Vietnam, Estefan's father became ill with multiple sclerosis, attributed to the Agent Orange poisoning he had suffered in the war. Gloria became a naturalized US citizen in 1974.
Gloria Estefan graduated with a psychology BA and a French minor from the University of Miami. Because of her language abilities, she was once approached by the CIA about a potential employment opportunity. She was a translator at the Miami International Airport in the Customs Department for a time.
READ MORE:
- Ben Shapiro's Net Worth 2022: Who Is Married to Shapiro?
- Rick Caruso Net Worth 2022: Who Is David Caruso Married to Now?
- Natalie Portman Net Worth: How Rich Is She And Is She Vegan?
Singing Career of Gloria Estefan
Estefan and her cousin Mercedes Navarro met Emilio Estefan Jr., Estefan's future husband, in 1975 while performing in a church ensemble. Emilio had recently started the Miami Latin Boys band and met Gloria through a mutual friend.
Gloria and Merci so pleased the Miami Latin Boys with their performances that they were invited to permanently join the band, altering the name to Miami Sound Machine. Miami Sound Machine began producing and releasing records in 1977 and quickly gained fame in the United States and worldwide. Gloria and Emilio married the following year.
The band's first Epic/Columbia album, “Eyes of Innocence,” was released in 1984, and its popular follow-up, “Primitive Love,” was released in 1985. This album yielded three Billboard Top 10 hits: the instant hit “Conga,” “Words Get in the Way,” and “Bad Boy.”
That year, they recorded the song “Summer Nights,” featured in the viral film “Top Gun.” In 1987, Miami Sound Machine's following album, “Let It Loose,” went multi-platinum and sold three million copies in the United States alone.
This one featured “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” possibly their most well-known tune. They achieved worldwide chart success with “Anything for You” in 1989. Following that, the band dropped its group name, and Estefan has since been labeled a solo artist.
What is Gloria Estefan's Net Worth?
Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and businesswoman. She is widely regarded as the most successful crossover performer in music history and has lived in Miami, Florida, for many years. She has sold over 130 million records globally as of this writing. Gloria Estefan has a $500 million net worth.
Education of Gloria Estefan
Estefan was raised Catholic and attended Miami's St. Michael-Archangel School and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She graduated from the University of Miami in 1979 with a psychology BA and a French minor.
While attending university, Estefan worked as an English/Spanish/French translator at the Miami International Airport Customs Department and was once approached by the CIA as a possible employee because of her linguistic skills.
In 1984, she was inducted into the Iron Arrow Distinction Society, the University of Miami's highest honor.
Personal Life of Gloria Estefan
In 1976, she began dating the bandleader of the Miami Sound Machine, Emilio Estefan, and the couple married in 1978. Emilio Estefan was her first and only boyfriend, she proudly acknowledged. They have one son and one daughter and continue to reside in the Star Island neighborhood of Miami Beach, Florida.
Real Estate
Emilio and Gloria paid $1.84 million for a 1.4-acre waterfront home on Star Island near Miami in 1993. Emilio's mother lived on the land for many years. After she died in 2013, the Estefans rented out the guest house for $30,000 per month.
They listed the mansion for $40 million in 2015, but no one bought it. They reduced the asking price to $27.5 million in May 2020. On a more positive note, the house was finally sold in August 2021 for $35 million!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the age of Gloria Estefan?
Gloria Estefan has reached the age of 64 (September 1, 1957).
Q2. What is the Salary of Gloria Estefan?
The amount of money that Gloria Estefan makes in a year is reported to be $41 million.