• Katy Perry is an American singer
  • She released her debut album in 2001 at age 16
  • Perry recently went on an all-female space mission to space
Katy Perry net worth
Katy Perry in 2024. Credit: IMAGO / imageSPACE

Well, she just made her debut in space, and everyone is talking about Katy Perry. Perry, 40, made headlines as the first pop star in space on the all-female space mission aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. She may’ve only been in space for 11 minutes, but the adventure inspired a meme fest online which we won’t soon forget. In music, Perry is not forgettable either, she built her net worth on releasing pop hits.

When she took off, Perry joined Lauren Sánchez and four other women on a short journey to space. Though fans found the crossover unexpected, Perry helped make history. The group became the first all-female crew in space in 63 years, and officials commended them for their efforts.

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However, Perry gained more recognition for her work on the ground. In 2001, she released her debut album under her real name, Katy Hudson. But she didn’t achieve mainstream success until 2008, when she dropped One of the Boys. She followed it up with hit singles like I Kissed a Girl and Hot N Cold, steadily building her net worth.

Now Perry is a certified pop legend, but how did she get there, and what is her net worth? Read on to find out.

Katy Perry – What is her net worth?

Katy Perry net worth
Perry performing. Credit: Imago

Even though we know about Perry, we must go back to her early life and career to build up to her fortune.

Early life

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson was born on 25 October 1984 in Santa Barbara, California. Both of Perry’s parents were Pentecostal pastors. The singer has two siblings, a sister and a brother. Perry’s parents raised her with strict religious practices that heavily influenced her childhood.

As a child, she moved around because of her parents’ jobs and attended religious schools. Much of her childhood was spent observing religious requests from her parents.

From a young age, she discovered popular music by taking CDs from her friends. Eventually, Perry took vocal lessons to develop her voice and wrote and performed tracks for her parents. Yes, they had their daughter sing in the ministry from age nine until 17, which trained a young Perry.

Three years early at 15, Perry acquired her GED and left high school to pursue music.

Music career beginnings

After beginning to pursue a music career, Perry was ready for her big break. She played the guitar and wrote songs, and released her debut album, Katy Hudson, in 2001. Katy Hudson was a contemporary Christian recording, miles away from her image today.

Unfortunately, her Christian era did not last, and her move to LA made her focus more on secular music. In the mid-2000s, she signed to Columbia Records and worked on material for her album Fingerprints, and some songs made it onto One Of The Boys, although she was dropped by the label in 2006.

Finally, Perry signed to a label – Capitol Records in 2007. The label had her work with producer Dr Luke to co-write her future hit singles. Before any album, Perry’s EP Ur So Gay hit the stands.

In April 2008, I Kissed A Girl released to huge success, even if it was controversial. One Of The Boys was released that June and sold seven million copies. Leading into 2009, she had more success with Waking Up in Vegas and Thinking of You.

2009 was a big year for Perry. For that year, she toured to support the album and featured on two singles, including one with Timbaland. Notably, Perry dated comedian Russell Brand in 2009, and they became engaged at the end of the year, which raised her status.

Established career

Katy Perry net worth
Katy Perry attends the 10th annual Breakthrough Prize ceremony at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. Credit: IMAGO/ UPI Photo

2010 saw Perry become a pop icon with the release of her third album, Teenage Dream. The record became a cultural reset, and its singles like Firework, California Gurls, and Teenage Dream dominated the charts. This era lasted longer, and Perry released the Part Of Me concert film in 2012.

Brand and Perry divorced in 2012 after two years of marriage, and the following year she released Prism. Again, Prism was a massive success with singles like Roar. Next, Perry released Witnes in 2017, which received a mixed reception, but she began judging American Idol the following year, keeping her in the cultural sphere. And as a side note, she began dating Orlando Bloom in 2016.

Though Perry’s next album, Smile, also had mixed reviews, she spent the next two years performing at her Las Vegas residency, Play from 2021 to 2023. 2024 saw the singer release 143, once again to mixed reviews.

However, Perry had a career highlight in April 2025 when she went to space, something no other pop star can say they’ve done…yet.

What is her net worth?

Katy Perry net worth
Katy Perry will go into space on 14 April. Credit: IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Perry’s net worth is $400 million. Not too shabby!

What are Katy Perry’s earnings?

There are details on Perry’s salary and earnings. For example, Celebrity Net Worth reports she earned “between $30 and $50 million from album sales, merchandise, touring, and endorsements” from 2009 until 2014. In later calendar years, she earned from $40 million a year to $135 million a year, depending on the time.

At her peak and on the California Dream tour, ticket sales made $59.5 million globally.

How much did Katy Perry earn from American Idol?

Sources say Perry was paid $25 million a year to be a judge on American Idol from 2018 until 2023. In her first year, her salary was lower.

What about selling her music catalogue?

In September 2023, Perry sold her music catalogue to Litmas Music for $225 million.

Katy Perry’s real estate

As a certified pop icon, Perry has had multiple residences, and we’re not talking Vegas. Recently, Perry was in a legal dispute for a Montecito property she purchased in 2020, and in 202,3 it was resolved. Before the dispute, she had purchased the mansion for $15 million.

In 2023, she purchased the Sierra Towers Penthouse in West Hollywood for $11 million. She and Bloom also bought a compound-style home in Villa De La Vista, Montecito $14.2 million.

Previously, Perry had properties in Beverly Hills, Los Feliz, and Runyon Canyon Park Estate.

Katy Perry – Endorsement deals and sponsorships

Pop icons are some of the most marketable people out there, and Perry is no exception. In the early years of fame, she had a few deals, but her first big one was with Pepsi in 2012, which partnered with the singer on her film Part Of Me. Again, she worked with them for her 2015 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance.

The 40-year-old has produced multiple fragrances with fragrance manufacturer Coty, which developed several of her fragrances, like Killer Queen.

Although Perry has had some iconic fashion moments, she’s not necessarily a fashion girlie, but she was the face of a 2017 Moschino campaign. She was also an ambassador in 2015 for clothing brand H&M.

In 2022, Perry had a starring role in an advert for food delivery service Just Eat, complete with her own jingle. Did somebody say Just Eat?

No doubt, the Just Eat contract paid Perry well, adding more to her incredible net worth.

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Sophie Humphrey
Sophie Humphrey is a freelance writer and journalist. Sophie has seven years experience in journalism and has a keen interest in pop culture and entertainment. Sophie has worked for the likes of Time Out London, The Upcoming and Screen rant.