Pia Zadora Net Worth
Pia Zadora is an accomplished actress and singer who has amassed substantial wealth through her career. Her ability to navigate controversy while making wise decisions has contributed greatly to her financial success.
She began acting at age five and made her film debut as Girmar in 1964’s Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, alongside Tallulah Bankhead in Midgie Purvis and playing Bielke in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.
Early Life and Education
Pia Zadora is a versatile actress, singer and philanthropist who has dedicated much of her time and talent to various community-oriented organizations in Nevada including the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation and Aid for AIDS of Nevada. Through these contributions she has helped strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and local communities while improving their quality of life.
Zadora first achieved fame as a child actress, appearing in Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964). Following her marriage to Israeli businessman Meshulam Riklis in 1977 and becoming known as The Dubonnet Girl due to print advertisements for Dubonnet wine brand, her acting and singing careers flourished further.
Professional Career
Pia Zadora has amassed great wealth through her acting and singing career, boasting endorsement deals, property ownerships and wise stock investments to her name.
After appearing in various understudy roles on Broadway and road companies, Zadora made her cinematic debut with the controversial film ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’ (1964). Although critically panned, her film made its mark.
Her subsequent films proved unsuccessful. While she received the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year, she quickly became an object of ridicule from nightclub comedians to Johnny Carson.
So she began focusing on singing and recorded albums featuring some well-known tunes with orchestra accompaniment – two albums reached the Top 40 and she received a Grammy nomination.
Achievement and Honors
Pia Zadora is a woman of many talents and has received many awards and honors throughout her career. Additionally, she has three children from three marriages: Meshulam Riklis of business fame as her first husband; two daughters by Michael Jeffries after their second union; and finally one son from Meshulam Riklis as their sole surviving parent.
Born May 4 in Hoboken, New Jersey and bearing the sign of Taurus, she made an early debut in acting, making appearances in such Broadway productions as Midgie Purvis with Tallulah Bankhead and Fiddler on the Roof as Bielke (younger sister). Later performances showcased her talent for soulful ballads and showstopping numbers that engaged audiences of all ages; several albums featuring popular standards accompanied by symphonic orchestras were later released under her name.
Personal Life
Pia Zadora was born Pia Alfreda Schipani in Hoboken, New Jersey to Polish mother Mary Schipani and Italian father Thomas Schipani. As a child she began acting in regional theater productions as well as Broadway plays. Zadora made her film debut with Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964). Butterfly received widespread critical acclaim and garnered her Golden Globe and Golden Raspberry Awards nominations as New Star of the Year before she decided to concentrate solely on music instead of acting.
Zadora has released multiple albums of popular standards, with her songs receiving rave reviews from critics. Additionally, she has made appearances on several television programs – such as Celebrity Wife Swap.
She married twice: first to businessman Meshulam Riklis from 1977 to 1983; with him she gave birth to their two children Kady Zadora and Kristofer Barzie; they owned Pickfair Manor which they later sold for $17,650,000 to Korean businessman Corry Hong; her second marriage lasted from 1995 until 2001 with writer-director Jonathan Kaufer (from 1995 – 2001).
Net Worth
Pia Zadora has built up quite an impressive fortune through her stellar career. She has left an indelible mark on the industry through her acting and musical talent, as well as being adept at managing controversy and making strategic decisions which has contributed to her financial success.
Her first marriage, to businessman Meshulam Riklis in 1977, lasted until 1993 and she later wed American writer and director Jonathan Kaufer in 1995; this union eventually disintegrated by 2001.
She now resides with Michael Jeffries and their three-child family in Summerlin, Nevada in a palatial home. From previous marriages she has two children – Kady and Kristofer from her first and second husband respectively; plus one stepson by her second husband; her personal life has been full of love, relationships and challenges.
