Toni Braxton is a successful American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. As of 2023, her net worth is estimated to be $10 million.

Early Life

Toni Michelle Braxton was born on October 7, 1967, in Severn, Maryland. She grew up in a religious and musical family, with both of her parents involved with their local Methodist church. Her father worked at the power company, while her mother was a former opera singer who later worked in a beauty salon. Toni’s maternal grandfather was also a pastor. She is the oldest of six siblings, with one brother and four younger sisters. Braxton’s first singing performance was in her church choir. She attended Bowie State University in Maryland with the intention of becoming a teacher, but her career plans changed after composer and producer William Pettaway Jr. heard her singing to herself while she was pumping gas. Pettaway convinced her to give a singing career a shot.

Career

In the late 1980s, Braxton and her sisters formed a group called The Braxtons and signed a deal with Arista Records in 1989. The group released their first single, “Good Life,” in 1990. The song didn’t find much success on the radio, but it did get the attention of producers Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. The duo asked Toni to record a demo tape of the song “Love Shoulda Brought You Home,” a tune they wrote for Anita Baker to sing on the soundtrack of the Eddie Murphy movie “Boomerang.” Baker suggested that Braxton sing it instead. Toni’s version was included on the final soundtrack along with a duet between Braxton and Edmonds. L.A. and Babyface signed Braxton to their LaFace records and got right to work on her debut solo album.

“Toni Braxton” was released in July 1993 and peaked at number one on the albums chart. “Another Sad Love Song,” the first single from Toni’s debut album, was the very first number one song on the then brand new Adult R&B charts. Braxton’s debut album spawned five singles and won three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and two consecutive awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. In the summer of 1996, Braxton released her second album “Secrets.” It is her most successful album to date. The first single “You’re Makin’ Me High” was Braxton’s first number one hit on the Hot 100 charts. The second single, “Un-Break My Heart,” became the biggest hit of Braxton’s career, spending 11 weeks at the top of the Hot Dance Singles chart.

Braxton released several more albums during a period of health issues and contract disputes, including “More Than a Woman” in 2002, “Libra” in 2005, and “Pulse” in 2010. In 2014, Braxton and Babyface released “Love, Marriage, & Divorce,” which won them the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. Braxton’s most recent album, “Sex & Cigarettes,” was released in 2018.

In addition to her music career, Braxton has also appeared on Broadway, starring as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast” in 1998. She has also dipped her toes in the water of reality TV with “Braxton Family Values,” which has aired on WeTV since 2011, and “Tamar and Vince,” which starred her youngest sister Tamar.

In 2006, Braxton became the headliner at the Flamingo Las Vegas in “Toni Braxton: Revealed.” The show was so popular that her run was extended through August 2008. However, the later dates of the show were canceled when Braxton was diagnosed with a heart condition. Despite her health challenges, she has continued to perform and tour extensively.

Personal Life

Toni Braxton met musician Keri Lewis when his group Mint Condition opened for her on tour. They married on April 21, 2001, and welcomed their first child, a son named Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis, later that year. In 2002, Braxton was pregnant with their second child and was confined to bed rest. Her second son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, was born in March 2003. Diezel is autistic, and Braxton is involved with Autism Speaks as their International Spokesperson.

Braxton and Lewis divorced in July 2013. She started dating rapper Birdman in May 2016, and they announced their engagement in February 2018. In January 2019, the couple called off the engagement. However, in April 2019, both Braxton and Birdman confirmed that they were still together.

Health Issues

Toni Braxton has experienced several health challenges throughout her career. In 2008, she had a benign lump removed from her breast. Later, while appearing on Season 7 of “Dancing with the Stars,” she stated that she had been diagnosed with microvascular angina (small vessel disease). On November 18, 2010, Braxton revealed to CBS News that she had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease.

Toni Braxton’s Net Worth

Toni Braxton has a net worth of $10 million dollars, according to Celebrity Net Worth. She has earned her wealth through her successful career as a singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. Braxton has sold over 67 million records worldwide and is one of the best-selling female R&B artists in history. She has won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and two consecutive awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

Despite her commercial success, Braxton has had a long history of money problems. She first filed for bankruptcy in 1998 when she was $5 million in debt. Her financial situation showed some signs of recovery after Toni released her hit album “The Heat” in 2000, which went on to sell over two million copies. Unfortunately, she was forced to file for bankruptcy again in October 2010, reportedly owing as much as $50 million in debt. She owed money to a wide range of creditors, including the IRS, Tiffany & Co, AT&T, and Neiman Marcus, among others. However, a bankruptcy court wiped away a good chunk of her debt, and she has been able to rebuild her finances through live shows, personal appearances, and her reality show “Braxton Family Values.”

Real Estate

In 2014, Braxton bought a 5,323-square-foot home in The Oaks neighborhood of Calabasas, California, for $2.9 million. The four en-suite bedroom home was considered an “affordable” option for someone looking to move into this coveted neighborhood. She sold it in 2016 for $3.4 million.