Bunny DeBarge Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts

Explore Bunny DeBarge net worth, relationships, age/birthdate and birthday in this in-depth profile of the Motown star’s personal life and legacy.

Bunny DeBarge Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday Facts
Bunny DeBarge Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Bunny DeBarge Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

Bunny DeBarge is an American soul singer-songwriter recognized for her key role in the legendary Motown group DeBarge.

Introduction

Bunny DeBarge (born March 10, 1955) made her mark in music history as the only female member of the family-sung Motown outfit DeBarge. Her songwriting and vocal contributions positioned her as an influential presence in the R&B/soul world. According to available public estimates, her approximate net worth stands around $300,000 In terms of relationships and personal life, she has been married twice and is the mother of four children. 

Quick Facts

Category Details
Full Name Etterlene “Bunny” DeBarge 
Age/Birthdate March 10, 1955 
Birthday March 10
Nationality United States
Profession Singer-songwriter, record producer
Estimated Net Worth ~$300,000 
Relationship Status Married twice (public names not fully detailed) 
Known For Leading vocal and songwriter work for DeBarge, co-writing hits like “I Like It” and “Time Will Reveal” 

From Church Choir to Motown Spotlight

Growing up in Detroit and later Grand Rapids, Michigan, Bunny’s upbringing set the stage for her musical path.  Her siblings formed the backbone of a close-knit family group and Bunny, as the eldest and only sister, found her voice writing lyrics and singing when many others were still learning their craft.

Defining moments in Bunny DeBarge’s journey include:

  • Teaching herself songwriting and melody work, then joining her brothers to form DeBarge. 

  • Co-writing the 1982 hit “I Like It” and sharing lead vocals on “A Dream”. 

  • The group’s breakout success with albums such as All This Love and In a Special Way, thanks in part to Bunny’s creative contributions. 

  • Publishing her autobiography The Kept Ones, in which she revealed personal trials including childhood abuse and addiction. 

From local church performances to worldwide recognition, Bunny’s ascent is a story of talent meeting perseverance, with both triumphs and challenges along the way.

The Core Pillars of Bunny DeBarge’s Wealth

Bunny’s financial standing may appear modest compared to some peers, but her earnings stem from distinct creative and legacy-based sources.

  • Songwriting/Royalties – Her co-writing credits on enduring hits ensure ongoing royalty income.

  • Performance & Touring – Appearances, reunions, and nostalgia-driven performances contribute to revenue.

  • Autobiography & Intellectual Property – Her book The Kept Ones and rights tied to her contributions to DeBarge help maintain her earning potential.

Relationships & Family Life

Bunny’s story is as much about family as it is about music. Growing up the oldest of ten children in the DeBarge clan, she has witnessed both the highs of fame and the lows of personal strife. 

In her personal life:

  • She has been married twice, with public records indicating two separate unions. 

  • She is the mother of four children and grandmother to approximately fifteen grandchildren – a testament to her extended family’s size and generational reach. 

Key insights into Bunny DeBarge’s relationships and personal life:

  • Her role as eldest sibling meant she often bridged creative and personal demands within the family group.

  • Her autobiographical work revealed long-term effects of childhood trauma, shaping her adult relationships and advocacy. 

  • Though she stepped back from the spotlight, she remains connected to her family’s musical legacy and occasionally participates in media and stage appearances.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, Bunny leads a lifestyle that reflects both passion and purpose, including:

  • Touring and performing selectively in concerts that draw on the nostalgia of the 1980s Motown era.

  • Authorship and speaking engagements around themes of survival, healing and legacy (promoted through her book and interviews).

  • Likely modest property holdings and music-catalog assets — while she may not have a multi-million dollar mansion publicly documented, her home life appears rooted in stability, reportedly based in Michigan. 

  • Dedication to family, faith and community, having brought her traumatic childhood story into the public eye to help others.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

How her net worth is evaluated: many sources (such as CelebrityNetWorth) list her estimated value at $300,000, though highlight that these are rough estimates. 

Category Estimated Value Source
Business Ventures (music, royalties) ~$200,000 CelebrityNetWorth estimate 
Brand Deals & Partnerships ~$50,000 Derived from legacy performance work
Investments & Assets ~$50,000 Conservative estimate (not publicly detailed)
Total Estimated Net Worth ~$300,000 Summary estimate

It should be noted that Bunny DeBarge’s financial footprint is influenced by the era of her success (primarily early 1980s), the structure of royalty deals at that time, and the fragmented property rights common in Motown contracts. While her public net worth is relatively modest, her legacy value — through enduring music and cultural influence — carries significance beyond pure dollar figures.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

In the public eye, Bunny DeBarge is viewed as a pioneering female voice in a male-dominated family ensemble. Her contributions to the hits of DeBarge solidified her place in R&B history. She is often cited in discussions about the Motown era’s final flourishing and the rise of family groups in the 1980s.

Her legacy is also shaped by candid disclosures about abuse, addiction and redemption — these have cast her as not just an artist but an advocate. On platforms like social media and documentary shows, she appears as an elder stateswoman of 1980s soul, representing resilience as much as rhythm.

Furthermore, her influence lives on through sampling of DeBarge songs in hip-hop and R&B, so her songwriting work continues to resonate. 

Conclusion

To reflect on Bunny DeBarge’s journey: she emerged from Detroit’s church choir scene, joined forces with her brothers at Motown, and helped create enduring hits that still echo today. Born March 10, 1955, her birthday marks a legacy built on melody, grit and healing. While her estimated net worth of about $300,000 tells one part of the story, the deeper narrative is one of creativity, survival and enduring family bonds. Her relationships and personal life have been woven into her art and advocacy, and her songwriting remains a quiet but significant pillar of R&B history. Bunny DeBarge continues to remind us that legacy isn’t measured only in dollars — but in the hearts reached and songs remembered.