Gemma Chan
$8 million
Paul Anka’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, accumulated over a seven-decade career as one of pop music’s most enduring singer-songwriters. Born Paul Albert Anka on July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, he became a teen idol at age 16 with the 1957 hit “Diana,” went on to write some of the 20th century’s most-licensed songs—including Frank Sinatra’s signature “My Way”—and has continued recording and touring into his 80s.
Updated March 2026: According to CBS News, Paul Anka released his new album “Inspirations of Life and Love” in February 2026 with the lead single “Anytime,” and is currently on his “A Man and His Music” 2026 US tour, demonstrating continued productivity and concert-revenue generation at age 84.
Paul Albert Anka was born on July 30, 1941, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Lebanese-Canadian parents Andy and Camelia Anka. His father Andy ran a restaurant in Ottawa; his mother passed away when Paul was relatively young. Anka showed musical talent early, joining a local doo-wop group called the Bobby Soxers while still in junior high school. At age 14, he traveled unaccompanied to New York to pursue a record deal, demonstrating an entrepreneurial confidence that would define his career. He paid for his first trip to New York by collecting Campbell Soup labels, which he redeemed for prize money. His persistence paid off when he signed with ABC-Paramount Records in 1957.
Paul Anka’s debut single “Diana,” released in 1957 when he was 15, became a No. 1 hit in multiple countries and sold an estimated 9 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles of the 1950s. Follow-up hits “Lonely Boy” (No. 1, 1959) and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (No. 2, 1959) confirmed his status as a teen idol. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Anka wrote his own material from the start, giving him a songwriting catalog that would generate royalties for decades.
In 1962, he composed “The Tonight Show Theme” for Johnny Carson’s version of the program, a song that aired nightly for 30 years and generated an estimated $800,000–$900,000 annually in royalties at peak rates, per Biography.com. In 1969, he wrote the English lyrics to a French melody, creating “My Way” for Frank Sinatra—a song that became one of the most covered and performed songs in Western popular music history, earning Anka royalties into the present day. He also wrote “She’s a Lady” for Tom Jones (1971) and co-wrote several songs with Michael Jackson, including “This Is It,” which was released posthumously in 2009.
Anka’s “(You’re) Having My Baby” reached No. 1 in 1974; he has charted songs in every decade from the 1950s through the 2010s, making him one of only a handful of artists with Billboard Hot 100 presence across seven decades. His catalog exceeds 900 songs. He has released more than 130 albums, including “Rock Swings” (2005), “Duets” (2013), and “Making Memories” (2021). Honors include induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1993), Canada’s Walk of Fame (2005), and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1984).
Paul Anka has been married three times and is currently single. He was married to Anne de Zogheb from 1963 to 2001; together they had five daughters: Alexandra, Amanda (married to actor Jason Bateman), Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia. His second marriage, to Anna Åberg, lasted from 2008 to 2010; they have a son together, Ethan, born in approximately 2006. His third marriage, to Lisa Pemberton, ran from 2016 to 2020.
Anka is an active philanthropist, supporting the Canadian Liver Foundation and St. Jude’s Ranch for Children. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Canada in 2004 for his contributions to the arts and charity. The “Paul Anka: His Way” documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, providing a comprehensive look at his life and career.
Paul Anka’s net worth is estimated at $80 million, derived from more than seven decades of music royalties, songwriting income, Las Vegas performances, and real estate holdings. His Tonight Show theme royalties and “My Way” publishing rights have been particularly durable income sources. No recent Tier 1 financial publication has published a specific updated figure.
Paul Anka was born on July 30, 1941, making him 84 years old as of March 2026. He was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and rose to fame at age 15 with the 1957 hit “Diana.” He remains active in music and touring as of 2026, per CBS News.
Paul Anka stands 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm). His relatively modest stature was at odds with his outsized presence as a performer—a contrast that was often noted by entertainment writers during his 1950s and 1960s teen idol years.
Paul Anka is currently single following three marriages. He was married to Anne de Zogheb (1963–2001), Anna Åberg (2008–2010), and Lisa Pemberton (2016–2020). His daughter Amanda is married to actor Jason Bateman, per People.
Paul Anka has six children. With his first wife Anne de Zogheb, he has five daughters: Alexandra, Amanda, Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia. With his second wife Anna Åberg, he has a son named Ethan (approximately 20 years old as of 2026). Amanda Anka is married to actor Jason Bateman.
Paul Anka has a home in Westlake Village, California, which he purchased for $3.9 million in 2007. In 2024, he listed the property for sale at $10 million, per TMZ. He has historically maintained residences in both California and Las Vegas, where he performed for decades.
Paul Anka wrote “My Way” (1969) for Frank Sinatra, “The Tonight Show Theme” for Johnny Carson (1962), “She’s a Lady” for Tom Jones (1971), and co-wrote “This Is It” with Michael Jackson. His own hits include “Diana” (1957), “Lonely Boy” (1959), “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (1959), and “(You’re) Having My Baby” (1974). He has written more than 900 songs across his career, according to Biography.com.