Roberta Flack’s name rings through the corridors of music history like a softly played yet profoundly moving melody. The North Carolina-born icon, who graced the world with her voice from February 10, 1937, until her passing on February 24, 2025, left behind not just a legacy of soul-stirring music but also a remarkable financial footprint. With a net worth estimated at $20 million at the time of her death, Flack’s financial journey mirrored the steady crescendo of her career—a slow but undeniable rise to greatness, driven by pure talent, strategic collaborations, and an innate ability to touch hearts.
Roberta Flack’s Net Worth Was $20 Million At the Time of Her Death in February 2025
Roberta Flack’s career took off in 1968 when she signed with Atlantic Records, but it was in 1972 that Flack truly became a household name. Clint Eastwood, captivated by her rendition of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, used the song in his directorial debut, Play Misty for Me. The exposure catapulted the song to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for six consecutive weeks, becoming the best-selling single of the year. That track alone, which won her a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1973, sold over 1.9 million copies in the U.S. and contributed significantly to her growing fortune.
Flack—whose marriage ended in 1972—repeated her Grammy success the following year when she won the same prestigious award for Killing Me Softly with His Song. The single, which has been covered countless times, remains one of the most iconic tracks in modern music history. The financial windfall from the song’s royalties lasted decades, especially after The Fugees’ 1996 version reignited its popularity, earning Flack even more in royalties. Her 1974 single, Feel Like Makin’ Love, became her third No. 1 hit, further cementing her place in the industry and ensuring a steady stream of income through continued airplay and licensing.
But Roberta Flack’s financial success wasn’t merely a result of her chart-topping singles. She was a savvy businesswoman, investing in real estate and making strategic decisions that secured her wealth. In the 1970s, she purchased a nine-room apartment in New York City’s legendary Dakota building, an iconic address that also housed John Lennon and Yoko Ono. The property, overlooking Central Park, became her sanctuary for decades until she sold it in 2018 for $5.8 million—a lucrative investment that added to her fortune.
Her wealth was further bolstered by lucrative recording contracts, extensive touring, and collaborations with artists like Donny Hathaway, Peabo Bryson, and Maxwell. The royalties from her duets—such as Where Is the Love (1972) and The Closer I Get to You (1978)—continued generating income long after their initial release. By the time she won her Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, her estate was already a financial powerhouse, thanks to her music catalog’s enduring popularity on streaming platforms, radio stations, and film soundtracks.
Even as her health declined—she suffered a stroke in 2018 and was diagnosed with ALS in 2022—her wealth remained intact. Her music school, The Roberta Flack School of Music, which she founded in the Bronx, showcased her commitment to giving back, but she maintained careful financial management to ensure her estate remained secure. Her catalog, still in high demand, saw her songs featured in commercials, films, and tributes, ensuring that even in her final years, she was still earning.
At the time of her passing, Roberta Flack’s net worth was estimated at around $20 million. While the exact breakdown of her assets remains private, there is no doubt that her financial success matched her artistic achievements. With over 20 million records sold worldwide and a career spanning six decades, Flack’s fortune reflects the lasting power of genuine talent, wise investments, and an unyielding passion for music. Even in death, her voice continues to generate wealth, proving that true artistry never fades—it only appreciates in value.
