How much money is Dolly Parton worth?

David Crotty | Patrick McMullan | Getty Images

When Dolly Parton was young, her mother gave her a piece of advice: “Always keep something back for you.”

Those six words have helped the 76-year-old country music superstar maintain success through six decades of showbusiness, Parton told Apple Music Country’s “The Kelleigh Bannen Show” on Tuesday. The phrase, which applies equally to business and work-life balance, essentially means give to others, but meet your own financial and emotional needs first — and Parton said any young person could benefit from that lesson.

“You can give what you’ve got, but don’t give it all away,” Parton said. “I pray also that God will, you know, give me enough to share and enough to spare when it comes to my money, but also to myself. Let me share everything I can, but let me keep me.”

The 10-time Grammy winner also said the guidance has shaped her career, particularly in the beginning, when she was learning how to connect with audiences while staying true to herself. By keeping parts of her life private, she was able to take ownership in what made her music – and stage appearance – unique.

“Even in the early days, a lot of people told me I should change my look or nobody’s going to ever take me serious,” Parton said. “I thought, ‘Yeah, they will, when they see [the talent] I’ve got.’”

That self-confidence has paved her way to financial success. In August 2021, Forbes estimated the singer -songwriter net worth at $350 million. Parton has notably donated millions of dollars over the years, to causes like education, animal preservation and Covid-19 vaccine research.