Welcome, y’all, to a juicy peek into the glamorous world of Dolly Parton – country music’s beloved icon, philanthropist, and…splurger? That’s right, while Dolly is famous for her many generous donations to various charities and causes. She’s also notorious for her extravagant spending habits. From owning her own theme park empire to having a closet the size of a small country, Dolly knows how to live it up in style.
But just how much does she actually waste her hard-earned greenbacks on? With an estimated net worth of $375 million, she’s got more disposable income than most of us could even fatho. And as you’ll soon see, she’s not afraid to shell out the big bucks when it’s time to settle up at checkout.
Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Dolly Parton’s lavish lifestyle. Buckle up, folks – it’s going to be one heck of a ride!
FactsVerse Presents: How Dolly Parton Wastes Her Millions
Dolly’s Wealth Explained
While she’s someone that we think needs little introduction, we’re going to give her one anyway in the off chance that some of you out there are unfamiliar with her.
Dolly Parton is a beloved singer, songwriter, actress, and philanthropist who has amassed a significant fortune throughout her career. She is known not only for her iconic country music hits but also for her entrepreneurial spirit.
Parton’s primary source of income comes from her successful music career, which spans more than five decades. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has had numerous chart-topping singles, including “Jolene,”, “Two Doors Down”, “Coat of Many Colors,” and “I Will Always Love You.” Parton has also earned money through acting roles, including her performances in movies such as “Steel Magnolias” and “9 to 5.”
However, Parton’s business ventures extend far beyond music and acting. She is also a savvy entrepreneur, with investments in a variety of industries, including theme parks, restaurants, and real estate. Parton’s most famous business venture is Dollywood, a theme park located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Additionally, Dolly owns several businesses, including a successful line of home goods, a production company, and a publishing imprint.
High-Class Fashionista
Dolly Parton’s spending habits are as flamboyant as her personality. She doesn’t shy away from splurging on her business expenses, which include her iconic sparkling costumes and custom-made wigs. Her wigs are exclusively handcrafted by her hairdresser Cheryl Riddle. And the cost of each custom-made wig can go up to a whopping $5,000! Dolly, in fact, once quoted as saying that she has lost count of how many wigs she owns. Since she wears a different one almost every day, that means she must have at the very least 365. At five large a pop, that means that Parton’s wig collection is worth close to two million dollars.
When it comes to her stage outfits, Dolly doesn’t settle for anything off the rack. Her friends have confided that most of her clothes are custom-made, and it’s probably where she indulges herself the most. However, when Dolly is spending time around her Brentwood, Tennessee estate with her husband Carl Dean, she opts for more modest attire.
Growing up with 11 siblings in poverty has left a lasting impact on Dolly’s spending habits. She acknowledges that while she may look like a material girl, she’s really not. She wears clothes for years and often thinks of her parents. And who could have fed their large family for weeks with the amount of money she would spend on a single coat.
Dolly’s Theme Park Empire
Back in 1986, Dolly Parton teamed up with Silver Dollar City amusment park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, which she grew up just 10 miles away from in Sevierville. Together, they transformed the park into the now-famous Dollywood. Parton’s goal was to give back to her community by creating jobs and something great that would attract tourists to the area.
And it worked. Even 25 years later, Dollywood remains the top tourist attraction in Tennessee, drawing around 3 million visitors annually. With 160 acres nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, the park offers a range of attractions for visitors of all ages. An adult ticket for one day costs $89, but for Dolly’s fans, the experience is priceless.
In addition to Dollywood, Parton co-owns Dollywood’s Splash Country water park, which opened in 2001 and spans 35 acres. The water park operates seasonally from May to September and is a refreshing complement to Dollywood’s offerings.
Parton also has a stake worth $15 million in DreamMore Resort and Spa, a 20-acre hotel that features a shuttle to and from Dollywood, as well as personal items and memorabilia from Parton herself.
One of the unique items on display is a chestnut “Dream Box” containing a recording of “My Place in History,” a song Parton wrote with the intention of it released on her 100th birthday in 2046. With Parton’s shares in her various ventures worth an estimated $165 million. It’s safe to say that her hometown roots have grown into a thriving empire.
Dolly’s Brentwood Estate
Dolly Parton’s sprawling Brentwood, Tennessee estate is a true labor of love. Purchased for $400,000 in 1999, the 3,324-square-foot home sits on a beautiful piece of land with a stream, hills, and a bitty bridge. Parton and her husband, Carl Dean, scouted all over Tennessee to find the perfect place to build their dream home. The estate boasts a swimming pool, tennis court, garden, and livestock barns. It’s a serene and quiet place where Parton and her loved ones can unwind. And she even joked that they can walk around naked without anyone seeing them. For Parton, who grew up in a two-room log cabin with no electricity or running water, this is a far cry from her humble beginnings. In fact, Dollywood features a replica of her childhood home built by her brother and furnished by her mother.
Dolly and her husband also own an RV and a few unassuming vacation homes. Rather than splurging on extravagant purchases, Dolly prioritizes practical and comfortable living. While she may treat Carl to a plush chair or purchase a porch swing for their backyard, she tends to be modest in her spending habits, with the exception of her love for custom-made clothes and wigs.
Apart from her estate in Brentwood and vacation homes, Parton also owned a house in Hollywood, California. And which she presumably used as a base while working on her various projects in Tinseltown. The unpretentious 1,091 square-foot property had a country-chic feel and bought by the star in 2007 for $1.2 million. She later sold it in 2014 for $1.4 million, breaking even on the investment.
Dolly’s Cars
Dolly Parton’s radiant personality has always captivated the world, and her cars have been no exception. Over the years, she has selected unique and meaningful cars that reflect her personality and values.
Since becoming famous, Dolly has had a fondness for driving Cadillacs, with her personal favorite being the 1997 Cadillac D’Elegance. She drove it for over a decade before donating it to the Hollywood Stars Car Collection in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where it now resides alongside other iconic Hollywood cars.
In 2008, Dolly signed over the 1997 Cadillac D’Elegance to the museum. And left her signature on the armrests as a memento. She later upgraded to a new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid.
Dolly’s generosity extends to her family as well, as she has always loved her mother in a big way. She bought her mother Cadillacs and would trade hers in for the newest model to make her mother happy. One year, for Christmas, she bought her mother a gold Cadillac that she lovingly calls the Dolly-Mama. Both Dolly and her husband, Carl Dean, drive it because it holds a special place in their hearts.
The year that saw the debut of the Dolly-Mama, the country music legend also sought to do something special for her father. She gifted him a massive blue truck that he cherished until he passed away. Even after his death, Dolly kept the truck and later shared that it’s still parked on the same property that her father used to own. By holding on to the vehicle and maintaining it, she says that it’s helped her keep the memory of her father alive.
Dolly’s Big Heart
Dolly Parton may be known for her extravagant taste in stage costumes and wigs, but when it comes to her personal finances, she is surprisingly frugal. However, her generosity knows no bounds, particularly towards her philanthropic pursuits. Dolly’s charitable efforts are among the most heartfelt and benevolent in the celebrity world. She famously founded the Dollywood Foundation, which has helped causes such as childhood literacy, healthcare, environmental conservation, and disaster relief. In addition, Dolly has also donated to various organizations and initiatives that support marginalized communities, veterans, musicians, and children.
Perhaps one of the most significant and successful philanthropic projects of Dolly’s is the Imagination Library. She established the program in 1995 to promote reading among children in Sevier County, Tennessee. The Imagination Library sends free books to kids from birth until they start school, regardless of their family’s financial status. To date, the program has distributed over 150 million books to more than 1.8 million children in five countries and all 50 states.
Dolly’s generosity also extends to funding vital research. In 2020, she donated $1 million to Vanderbilt University Medical Center to aid in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine. Her contribution supported the creation of the Moderna vaccine, which has shown remarkable efficacy against the virus. Dolly’s gift was reportedly motivated by her close friend, Dr. Naji Abumrad, who apprised her of the vaccine trials.
For her philanthropy, Dolly has been the recipient of numerous accolades and honors, including the MusiCares Person of the Year, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Library of Congress Living Legend Award. Most recently, she was awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, becoming the first female entertainer to receive this recognition.
Dolly is humbled by the acknowledgment and emphasizes that her charitable work is not for recognition or tax breaks but out of pride and a desire to make a difference. Dolly Parton’s generosity and dedication to philanthropy serve as a source of inspiration to millions of people around the world. As she once said, “Charity begins at home, but it doesn’t have to end there.”
Admittedly, the title of this video is a bit clickbaity. Generally speaking, Dolly Parton is a fairly well-balanced and modest person – especially when it comes to how she spends her money. That being said, it’s fascinating to take a behind-the-scenes looks at how such a massive star chooses to spend her dough.
Did you know that Dolly Parton owns more than 365 luxury wigs and that she refuses to ever buy any clothes off the rack? Let us know in the comments. And as always, thanks for watching.
