What is Andrew Ridgeley’s Net Worth?

Andrew Ridgeley, an English singer/songwriter, guitarist, and record producer, has a net worth of $40 million.

Ridgeley is best known for being a member of the popular ’80s band Wham! with George Michael. Wham! produced hits such as “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” and “Careless Whisper” and has sold over 35 million records. The duo released three albums together, with “Make It Big” being the first album in the ’80s to have three #1 hits in America.

Ridgeley also released a solo album called “Son of Albert” in 1990. After retiring from the music industry, he opened a restaurant called Bar 92 in England. In 2019, Ridgeley published the memoir “Wham! George Michael & Me.”

Early Life and Career

Andrew Ridgeley was born in Windlesham, Surrey, England in 1963. His mother is of Scottish descent and his father comes from an Italian/Egyptian heritage. He attended Bushey Meads School in Hertfordshire, where he met his future Wham! bandmate George Michael. Ridgeley took Michael under his wing and the two played in several bands together before forming Wham! in 1981.

Andrew’s younger brother, Paul, is a drummer who has toured with Bananarama. Ridgeley’s parents both worked in education and technology, with his mother teaching at Bushey Heath Primary School and his father working for Canon.

Wham! Career and Aftermath

Wham! was a British pop duo consisting of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. They signed a contract with Innervision Records and later moved to Epic Records/CBS. Their debut studio album, “Fantastic,” reached #1 on the charts in the U.K. and New Zealand, and their follow-up “Make It Big” topped the charts in numerous countries. Their singles “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,” “Careless Whisper,” and “Freedom” were #1 singles in the U.K., and “Careless Whisper” sold around six million copies and reached #1 in more than 20 countries. In 1985, Andrew and George participated in Live Aid, with Michael performing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” with Elton John while Ridgeley provided back-up vocals with Kiki Dee and several other singers. Wham!’s final album, “Music from the Edge of Heaven,” was released in July 1986, and the single “Last Christmas” went 2× Platinum in the U.K. and U.S. and 4x Platinum in Australia. Wham!’s last show took place at Wembley Stadium on June 28, 1986, and it was attended by 72,000 fans.

After Wham! disbanded, Andrew moved to Monaco and took up Formula Three motor racing, then he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career before moving back to Britain in 1990. On May 7, 1990, Ridgeley released the solo album “Son of Albert,” which peaked at #130 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. In January 1991, Ridgeley performed with Michael during the Rock in Rio festival, and in 1994, he appeared on the BBC’s “Fantasy Football League.” In 2019, he served as a guest judge in two episodes of “The Great British Menu” and had a cameo in the film “Last Christmas,” which features several Wham! and solo George Michael songs.

Sadly, Michael passed away from heart and liver disease on Christmas in 2016. When he heard the news, Ridgeley tweeted, “Heartbroken at the loss of my beloved friend Yog.”

Personal Life and Charity Work

Andrew Ridgeley began a relationship with Keren Woodward of Bananarama in 1990, and they lived together in Cornwall until their split in 2017. They reportedly reconciled in late 2019. Ridgeley has participated in the charity bike ride Dallaglio Cycle Slam multiple times, benefiting Dallaglio Rugby Works, an organization that uses rugby to improve the aspirations of young people. Ridgeley had surgery in 1984 to straighten his septum, and his nose was broken when he was nine years old.

Ridgeley spoke out about the death of his former bandmate and close friend George Michael, stating that the news of Michael’s death on Christmas Day in 2016 was devastating. Ridgeley had just sent Michael a message wishing him a happy Christmas five minutes before learning of his passing. The loss was so profound that Ridgeley was brought to his knees in tears and felt like nothing could have prepared him for the pain of Michael’s death.

Wham! Achievements and Awards

Wham! received two Grammy nominations, including Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” (1985) and Best Music Video, Long Form for “Wham!: The Video” (1986).

At the American Music Awards, Wham! was named Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group Video Artist in 1986, and “Careless Whisper” was nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Single. They also received six Brit Award nominations, winning British Group in 1985 and Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1986.

“Careless Whisper” won the Most Performed Work award and received a nomination for Best Song Musically and Lyrically at the 1985 Ivor Novello Awards, while “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” was nominated for International Hit of the Year. “Make It Big” was also nominated for International Album of the Year at the 1985 Juno Awards, with “Careless Whisper” and “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” receiving nominations for International Single of the Year.

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