|
Full Name |
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross |
|
Date of Birth |
March 26, 1944 |
|
Age (in 2026) |
82 years old |
|
Place of Birth |
Detroit, Michigan, United States |
|
Nationality |
American |
|
Ethnicity |
African American |
|
Height |
5 feet 4 inches (1.64 m) |
|
Profession |
Singer, Actress, Record Producer, Songwriter |
|
Years Active |
1959 to present |
|
Husbands |
Robert Ellis Silberstein (1971 to 1977), Arne Naess Jr. (1985 to 2000) |
|
Children |
Five (Rhonda, Tracee, Chudney, Ross, Evan) |
|
Famous Group |
The Supremes |
|
Biggest Solo Hits |
Upside Down, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’m Coming Out |
|
Net Worth (2026) |
$250 million to $260 million |
Diana Ross is one of those names that needs no real introduction. The voice behind The Supremes, the woman who turned Motown into a global brand, and the solo star who gave us songs like Upside Down and Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. More than sixty years into her career, she is still touring, still selling out venues, and still loved by fans across generations.
Diana Ross Net Worth in 2026
Icon Polls estimates that Diana Ross’ net worth in 2026 sits between $250 million and $260 million. That kind of money does not come from one source, and her case is a perfect example. She has been making music since she was a teenager, and the royalties from her Supremes years and her solo catalogue still bring in serious cash every single year.
Touring has also been a massive part of her income. Even in her late seventies and now into her eighties, she has been pulling in crowds at festivals, arenas and special events around the world. Add to that her acting paychecks from films like Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany and The Wiz, and you start to see how the numbers add up. Smart real estate investments and a long-running fragrance line have only added to the pile.
She is widely considered one of the wealthiest female recording artists in history, and after sixty plus years in the game, that title feels well earned.
Diana Ross Husband and Marriage History
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Diana Ross has been married twice in her life, and as of 2026 she is single. Her first husband was a music executive named Robert Ellis Silberstein. They tied the knot in January 1971 and stayed married until 1977. Robert raised her oldest daughter Rhonda as his own, even though her biological father was Motown founder Berry Gordy. The two of them also had two daughters together, Tracee and Chudney.
Her second marriage was to Arne Naess Jr., a Norwegian shipping magnate she met in 1985 and married the following year. They had two sons together, Ross Arne and Evan. The marriage ended in 2000, and sadly Arne died in a climbing accident in 2004.
She has not remarried since, and she seems pretty content with that. In recent interviews she has spoken about loving her independence and being surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Diana Ross Songs That Defined Her Career
Trying to pick a favourite Diana Ross song is almost impossible. The woman has been giving us hits since 1963. With The Supremes, she gave us Where Did Our Love Go, Baby Love, Stop! In the Name of Love, You Can’t Hurry Love and dozens more. The Supremes ended up with twelve number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100, which is wild when you actually sit down and think about it.
As a solo artist she somehow managed to do it all over again. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough was her first solo number one in 1970. Then came Touch Me in the Morning, the Theme from Mahogany, Love Hangover, Upside Down, I’m Coming Out, and her duet with Lionel Richie called Endless Love. That one is still played at weddings everywhere, even now.
She is actually the only recording artist in history to have number one hits as a solo artist, as part of a duo, and as a member of a trio. Icon Polls considers that one of the most underrated music records out there.
Diana Ross Age and Early Years
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Diana Ross was born on March 26, 1944, which makes her 82 years old in 2026. She grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects. Her family was not wealthy. Her dad was a former soldier and her mum was a school teacher. There were six kids in the house, and Diana was the second oldest.
Funny enough, her mother actually named her Diane, but a clerical error on her birth certificate listed her as Diana, and the name stuck. Family and close friends still call her Diane though.
Diana Ross Ethnicity and Background
Diana Ross is African American. She was born and raised in Detroit, and her rise to fame in the 1960s came at a time when Black artists were still fighting for mainstream airplay and respect. She and The Supremes broke through that wall in a huge way, becoming one of the first Black acts to dominate American pop charts and television.
Her success during the civil rights era made her a powerful symbol of Black female excellence, and that legacy still shapes how artists today, from Beyonce to Rihanna, build their careers.
Diana Ross Children and Family Life
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Diana Ross has five children, and they are all doing pretty well in their own right. Rhonda Ross Kendrick, her oldest, is a singer and actress and was actually fathered by Berry Gordy. Tracee Ellis Ross, her second daughter, is the most famous of the bunch, known for the sitcom Black-ish and the show Girlfriends.
Chudney Ross, the youngest daughter, works as a television producer and writes children’s books. Then there are her two sons, Ross Arne Naess and Evan Ross. Ross is a producer and TV personality, while Evan is an actor and musician who is married to singer Ashlee Simpson.
She is also a proud grandmother to five grandchildren. Whenever she is interviewed about her family, you can tell she absolutely lights up. They are clearly her biggest pride and joy.
Upside Down: The Song That Took Over the World
If you had to pick one Diana Ross song that captures her solo era, Upside Down would probably be it. Released in June 1980 as the lead single from her album Diana, the song was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic. It is built on that funky disco bassline that just refuses to quit.
The song shot to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for four weeks. It went platinum, became one of the biggest selling singles of 1980, and is still being sampled and remixed today. You hear it in movies, TV shows, ads, and pretty much every retro disco playlist on the internet.
It also marked a fresh, more independent sound for Diana, and the album as a whole became her best selling solo studio record. Icon Polls research shows Upside Down is still one of her most streamed tracks worldwide in 2026.
Awards, Achievements and Legacy
The list of awards Diana Ross has picked up over the years is honestly a bit ridiculous. She has a Golden Globe, a Tony Award, two Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom which Barack Obama gave her in 2016.
She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of The Supremes back in 1988, and she has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is something only a handful of performers can claim. The Guinness Book of World Records once named her the most successful female music artist in history.
More than the awards though, her real legacy is influence. Pretty much every female pop star you can name has cited her as an inspiration, from Mariah Carey to Beyonce to Rihanna. She did not just open doors. She built the doors.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diana Ross
1. What is Diana Ross’ net worth in 2026?
Icon Polls estimates Diana Ross’ net worth in 2026 to be between $250 million and $260 million. The figure comes from her music royalties, world tours, acting work, fragrance line, and real estate investments built up over six decades.
2. How old is Diana Ross in 2026?
Diana Ross is 82 years old in 2026. She was born on March 26, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan.
3. Who is Diana Ross’ husband?
Diana Ross is currently single. She has been married twice in her life, first to music executive Robert Ellis Silberstein from 1971 to 1977, and then to Norwegian shipping magnate Arne Naess Jr. from 1986 to 2000.
4. What is Diana Ross’ ethnicity?
Diana Ross is African American. She was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she grew up in the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects.
5. How many children does Diana Ross have?
Diana Ross has five children. Her three daughters are Rhonda, Tracee and Chudney, and her two sons are Ross Arne and Evan.
6. Who is the father of Diana Ross’ first daughter?
Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, is the biological father of Diana’s oldest daughter Rhonda. Diana was already in a relationship with Robert Silberstein when she found out she was pregnant, and Robert raised Rhonda as his own.
7. When did Diana Ross release Upside Down?
Upside Down was released in June 1980 as the lead single from her album Diana. It was written and produced by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, and it spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
8. Is Diana Ross still performing in 2026?
Yes, Diana Ross is still performing. Even at 82, she continues to headline concerts, festivals and special events around the world, and her shows still sell out venues across the United States and Europe.
9. What is Diana Ross’ most famous song?
It is hard to pick just one, but most fans point to Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Upside Down, I’m Coming Out, and her duet Endless Love with Lionel Richie as her most famous and most loved tracks.
10. How many number one hits has Diana Ross had?
Combined with The Supremes and as a solo artist, Diana Ross has been part of 18 number one singles on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Supremes alone had twelve number one hits during the 1960s.
11. What movies has Diana Ross starred in?
Diana Ross starred in three major films during the 1970s, namely Lady Sings the Blues in 1972, Mahogany in 1975, and The Wiz in 1978 alongside Michael Jackson. Her role in Lady Sings the Blues earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
12. What is Diana Ross’ real name?
Her full birth name is Diana Ernestine Earle Ross. Her mother actually intended to name her Diane, but a clerical error on her birth certificate recorded the name as Diana.
13. How tall is Diana Ross?
Diana Ross stands at 5 feet 4 inches tall, which is roughly 1.64 metres.
14. Where did Diana Ross grow up?
She grew up in Detroit, Michigan, in the Brewster-Douglass Housing Projects. She attended Cass Technical High School where she actually studied fashion design and pattern making before pursuing music full time.
15. Has Diana Ross won a Grammy?
Surprisingly, Diana Ross has never won a competitive Grammy Award. However, she has received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award twice, once in 2012 as a solo artist and again in 2023 as a member of The Supremes, making her the first woman to win the lifetime award twice.
16. Who were The Supremes?
The Supremes were Motown’s most successful act of the 1960s. The original lineup featured Diana Ross as lead singer, along with Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson. They became the best charting female group in American history.
17. Why did Diana Ross leave The Supremes?
Diana left The Supremes in early 1970 to launch her solo career. Berry Gordy and Motown wanted to position her as a major solo star, and that decision paid off almost immediately when her first solo single Ain’t No Mountain High Enough hit number one.
18. Did Diana Ross date Berry Gordy?
Yes, Diana Ross and Berry Gordy were in a romantic relationship during the late 1960s. Their relationship resulted in the birth of their daughter Rhonda in 1971, although Diana was already married to Robert Silberstein by the time Rhonda was born.
19. What awards has Diana Ross received?
Among her many honours, Diana Ross has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, a Golden Globe, a special Tony Award, two Grammy Lifetime Achievement Awards, the American Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
20. Where does Diana Ross live now?
Diana Ross is known to spend most of her time at her estate in Greenwich, Connecticut, although she has also owned homes in Los Angeles and New York over the years. She mostly keeps her current residence private.