Who Is Pat Benatar? Age, Biography and Wiki
Born on January 10, 1953, Pat Benatar is currently 72 years old. With a career that spans over four decades, she has become one of rock music's most recognized figures. Pat rose to fame in the late 1970s and 1980s with hits like "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Love is a Battlefield." Her unique blend of rock and pop, coupled with her emotional performances, has earned her numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2022, marking a significant milestone in her illustrious music career.
| Occupation | Autobiographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 10, 1953 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Pat Benatar's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Pat Benatar stands at a height of 5 feet 2 inches (157 cm). Her weight is reported to be around 115 pounds (52 kg). While specific measurements are rarely disclosed, she has always maintained a fit and energetic appearance, reflective of her dynamic stage presence.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Pat Benatar is married to her longtime husband, Neil Giraldo, whom she wed in 1982. The couple has two daughters, Hana and Haley, both of whom are pursuing their paths in the entertainment industry. Over the years, Pat and Neil have demonstrated a strong partnership, both personally and professionally, collaborating on several musical projects. While there have been rumors about her personal life in the past, Pat has maintained a low profile, focusing on her career and family.
Benatar's 1979 debut album, In the Heat of the Night, was her breakthrough in North America, especially in Canada where it reached No. 3 on the album chart. Two hit singles from the album were released: "Heartbreaker" and "We Live for Love", the latter written by her lead guitarist and future husband, Neil Giraldo.
Her second album, 1980's Crimes of Passion, was her most successful work, peaking at No. 2 in North America and France, being certified 4× and 5× platinum in the US and Canada, respectively. The single "Hit Me with Your Best Shot" reached the top 10 in the US and Canada and is considered to be her signature song.
Her third album, Precious Time (1981), was another success, topping the US Album Chart and becoming her first top 10 album in Australia. Its single "Fire and Ice" charted highly in the US and Canada. Her next release, Get Nervous (1982), sold less well than her previous two albums, but did include the North American hit "Shadows of the Night".
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Pat Benatar's net worth is estimated to be around $40 million. This impressive figure is a result of her successful music career, lucrative tours, and various business ventures. Pat's enduring popularity has allowed her to accumulate wealth over the years, making her one of the wealthiest female rock artists.
She has released only one album of new material since 1997's Innamorata, which is 2003's Go (US number 187). The album included the 9/11 charity single "Christmas in America" as a bonus track.
A video was produced for the single "Have It All", but was never released until it was leaked on YouTube in 2012; the only video from this album is for the bonus track. They reunited with Holly Knight with Neil and Holly cowriting the tune "Girl". The hard rock title track "Go!" became a popular performance song for Benatar's future concerts.
According to SoundScan, the album has now sold nearly 34,000 copies.
Career, Business and Investments
Pat Benatar's career is marked by a series of groundbreaking albums and hits. She has released several multi-platinum albums, including Crimes of Passion and Seven the Hard Way. In addition to her music, Pat has ventured into various business opportunities, including acting and producing. She has also been involved in philanthropy, supporting several charitable organizations focused on music education and animal rights. Her investments in property and other ventures have further solidified her financial status.
Benatar quit her job to pursue a singing career after being inspired by a Liza Minnelli concert she saw in Richmond, Virginia. She had a gig at a Holiday Inn and got a job as a singing waitress at a nightclub named the Roaring Twenties.
At the Roaring Twenties, she met and formed a duo with pianist Phil Coxon, which soon expanded to a ten-person lounge band called Coxon's Army, a regular at Sam Miller's basement club. The band gained in popularity and was the subject of a never-aired PBS special; its bassist Roger Capps was later the original bass player for the Pat Benatar Band.
The period also yielded Benatar's first single: "Day Gig" (1974), written and produced by Coxon and given a limited local release. Her last significant gig in Richmond was a two-hour performance at Thomas Jefferson High School.
Social Network
Pat Benatar actively engages with her fans through social media platforms. You can follow her on:
- Instagram: @patbenatar
- Twitter: @PatBenatar
- Facebook: PatBenatar
By 1983 she had established a reputation for singing about "tough" subject matters, best exemplified by one of the biggest hits of her career, "Love Is a Battlefield" (penned by noted hit songwriter Holly Knight with Mike Chapman), released in December 1983.
By then, her sound had mellowed from hard rock to more atmospheric pop and the story-based video clip for "Love Is a Battlefield" was aimed squarely at MTV, even featuring Benatar in a Michael Jackson-inspired group dance number, using Jackson's Beat It director Bob Giraldi and choreographer Michael Peters.
This new pop/rock direction was a huge commercial success, with the single remaining today as her biggest hit in most countries.
This included it peaking at number 5 on the US Hot 100, number 1 for four weeks on the US Rock Tracks chart, number 2 in Canada, number 1 in the Netherlands (for four weeks ending as the number 2 song for the year), her first Top 30 hit there, and at number 1 in Australia for seven consecutive weeks, her first Top 25 hit there, number 3 in West Ger
many, number 5 in Switzerland, number 6 in New Zealand, and number 17 in the UK, her first Top 50 song there.
It was her first song to chart in Switzerland, reaching number 11 there. The song also netted Benatar her fourth consecutive Grammy Award for "Best Female Rock Vocal Performance".
Education
Pat Benatar attended Juilliard School for a short time before embarking on her music career. Though she initially pursued a career in music without formal training, her passion and talent eventually led her to success in the industry. She often emphasizes the importance of education in the arts and encourages aspiring musicians to pursue their dreams.
As we look forward to the future, Pat Benatar remains a significant figure in the music industry. Her contributions continue to inspire new generations of artists and fans alike.
In 2020, she was nominated for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside fifteen other artists but despite coming in second in the fan vote was not among the inductees. She was nominated for a second time in 2022. On May 4, 2022, the Hall of Fame announced Benatar would be included in the 2022 class of inductees.
