Richard Stephen Sambora, born on July 11, 1959, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and producer. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013, where he and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwriting unit for the band.

Early Life of Richie Sambora

Sambora learned to play the accordion at the age of six and later started learning to play the guitar at 12 years old after Jimi Hendrix died. Sambora also plays the piano, bass guitar, saxophone, and drums. His first performance was at a Catholic Youth Organization dance during his teen years. Sambora attended Woodbridge High School, where he was on the basketball team. In 1975, when Sambora was a sophomore, his high school team won the New Jersey State Title. Sambora graduated from high school in 1977.

Career of Richie Sambora

Prior to joining Bon Jovi, Sambora was part of a band called Message, which released its debut album “Lesson” in 1982. He also owned his own record label Dream Disc Records and co-owned a club in New Jersey at 19 years old. His first professional tour was as an opening act for Joe Cocker in the early 1980s.

Sambora joined Bon Jovi in 1983 after approaching Jon Bon Jovi after one of his shows. Sambora replaced Bon Jovi’s original lead guitarist Dave Sabo. The two immediately hit it off as friends, and by the time Jon arrived at Sambora’s first rehearsal with the band, the band was sounding better than they did without Sambora, and he was hired on the spot.

Bon Jovi released their first two albums in 1984 and 1985. The band found global success with the 1986 release of their third album, “Slippery When Wet.” That album spawned three iconic Bon Jovi hits: “Wanted Dead or Alive,” “You Give Love a Bad Name,” and “Living on a Prayer.” The last two became number one hits, and “Slippery When Wet” remains the band’s most successful album.

The band’s next album, “New Jersey,” gave the world the hits “Born to Be Your Baby,” “Lay Your Hands On Me,” and “I’ll Be There For You,” among others. As of this writing, Bon Jovi has released 14 studio albums.

Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi were the primary songwriting unit of the band. Sambora left the band prior to a concert in Calgary during 2013’s Because We Can Tour, and since then has only played with Bon Jovi at their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2018.

In addition to his work with Bon Jovi, Richie has also released three solo albums: 1991’s “Stranger in This Town,” 2998’s “Undiscovered Soul,” and 2012’s “Aftermath of the Lowdown.” He has co-written four #1 hit singles, 20 Top 10 singles, and almost 40 Top 40 singles.

Richie Sambora’s Net Worth

Richie Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who has a net worth of $150 million. He is most famous for being the lead guitarist and one of the primary songwriters for the highly successful rock band, Bon Jovi.

Personal Life and Real Estate of Richie Sambora

Sambora has also made headlines for his personal life. He was married to actress Heather Locklear from 1994 to 2007, and the couple has one daughter, Ava Elizabeth. Sambora has also struggled with alcoholism and addiction to painkillers, checking into rehab multiple times throughout his career.

In terms of real estate, Sambora owns houses in Point Pleasant Boro, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Calabasas, California, and Laguna Beach, California. In 2008, he purchased a 2,600 square foot, three-bedroom, three and a half bathroom condo in a downtown Philadelphia high-rise for $3.58 million. He also paid $4 million to buy a 10,204 square-foot Mediterranean-style house in Calabasas, California from San Diego Padres starting pitcher Randy Wolf.