Inside Teena Marie's Fortune: Teena Marie & Career Highlights Net Worth 2026: Career Earnings & Assets

As one of the most talked-about figures, Teena Marie has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.

What was Teena Marie's Net Worth?

Teena Marie had her biggest commercial success yet with her fourth album, 1981's "It Must Be Magic," which featured her hit single "Square Biz" and was certified Gold by the RIAA. For the album, she earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. However, after her many successes at Motown, Teena Marie became involved in a legal battle with the label in 1982. She filed a lawsuit over her contract terms that resulted in the so-called Brockert Initiative, which rendered it illegal for a record company to hold an artist under contract without releasing new material by the artist. Teena Marie subsequently left Motown; at the time, she was the label's most successful white solo act.

In 1986, Teena Marie had a change of pace with her seventh studio album, the rock-influenced concept album "Emerald City." The direction of the album baffled fans and critics, leading to a poor commercial performance. Teena Marie returned to her signature R&B sound for her 1988 album "Naked to the World," which received much better reviews. The album included one of her biggest chart hits, "Ooo La La La," which became her only single to top the Hot Black Singles chart. Teena Marie released her last album for Epic Records, "Ivory," in 1990.

1985-Funk/soul singer Teena Marie is shown in a close-up studio portrait. (Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

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Rise to Fame at Motown Records

In 1976, Brockert met Motown Records executivesHal DavisandBerry Gordy, who signed her as a solo act. She recorded unreleased material over the subsequent years until she became acquainted with Motown label mate Rick James, who decided to collaborate with her. Their collaboration resulted in the 1979 album "Wild and Peaceful," on which Brockert was credited for the first time under her stage name Teena Marie. The album spawned her first top-ten R&B single, a duet with James called "I'm a Sucker for Your Love." Teena Marie released her second album, "Lady T," in early 1980; it included the successful single "Behind the Groove." That summer, she released her third album, "Irons in the Fire," which launched the hit single "I Need Your Lovin'."

In late 1982, Teena Marie signed with Epic Records. Her first album for the label, "Robbery," was released the following year; it was unable to recapture the commercial success of her previous albums at Motown. Teena Marie fared much better with her next album, 1984's "Starchild," which became the best-selling album of her career. It included her biggest hit song, "Lovergirl," which reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Teena Marie, whose real name was Mary Christine Brockert, was born on March 5, 1956 in Santa Monica, California to home renovator Mary Anne and construction worker Thomas. She began singing at an early age, and later she taught herself how to play the guitar, bass, and congas. With her younger brother Anthony and their cousin, Brockert, formed an R&B group. The family moved to the Venice area of Los Angeles in the early 1970s, and settled in the historically African-American enclave of Oakwood. There, Brockert was heavily influenced by Berthalynn Jackson, who became her godmother. As a student at Venice High School, Brockert starred in a production of "The Music Man" and fronted a local rock band. After graduating, she studied English literature at Santa Monica College.

Teena Marie was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer who had a net worth of $3 million. Known for her work in the R&B and soul genres, Teena Marie released 14 studio albums between 1979 and 2013 and had such hit songs as "Behind the Groove," "I Need Your Lovin'," "Square Biz," "Lovergirl," and "Ooo La La La." Teena Marie frequently collaborated with fellow singer-songwriterRick Jamesduring her career.

Ultimately, Teena Marie's financial journey is a testament to their success.

Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.