
Paul Anka 2025: Health, Net Worth, Daughters, Still Performing
Few teen idols have managed to stay in the spotlight for nearly seven decades, but Paul Anka has done exactly that—evolving from a 1950s heartthrob into a songwriter, performer, and family patriarch whose story continues to unfold. This article cuts through the scattered headlines to give you a clear, fact-checked picture of where Anka is today: his health, his touring schedule, his children’s careers, and what we actually know about his finances and personal life.
Age: 83 (born July 30, 1941) ·
Biggest hit: Diana (1957) ·
Children: 5 ·
Years active: 1957–present ·
Net worth: Estimated $80 million
Quick snapshot
- Born July 30, 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Biography (authoritative reference))
- Biggest hit is “Diana,” released in 1957 (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Married Anne de Zogheb from 1963 to 2001 (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Five daughters and one son (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Still performing as of 2026 (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site))
- Exact net worth (estimated $80 million, not independently verified) (Celebrity Net Worth (third-party estimate site))
- Current partner’s identity (not publicly confirmed in recent reporting) (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Specific health conditions beyond broad statements of being in good health (Page Six (celebrity news outlet))
- Number of Grammy Awards won (claimed Best New Artist 1961 and Trustees Award 1996, not independently verified on Grammy site) (Biography (authoritative reference))
- Height (often listed as 5’8″, but not confirmed by official sources) (Third-party height listing)
- Most streamed song on Spotify (no official label data released) (Statista (market data))
- Property values of his real estate holdings (not publicly disclosed) (Insider (real estate reporting))
- New album “Inspirations of Life” released February 2024 (USA Today (major newspaper))
- 2026 tour dates posted on official site, including Greenvale, NY (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site))
- Documentary “My Way” featured in late 2025 coverage (USA Today (major newspaper))
- Continuing tour dates in 2026 (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site))
- Potential new projects following documentary release (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site))
A summary of key facts about Paul Anka:
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Paul Albert Anka |
| Birth Date | July 30, 1941 |
| Birthplace | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Pop, rock, jazz |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, actor |
| Years Active | 1957–present |
| Children | 5 |
| Spouse | Anne de Zogheb (m. 1963; div. 2001) |
| Website | paulanka.com |
What is Paul Anka’s biggest hit song?
Paul Anka’s biggest hit is “Diana,” released in 1957 when he was just 16 years old. The song became an international sensation, selling over 10 million copies worldwide and launching him into immediate stardom (Biography (authoritative reference)).
What are Paul Anka’s other famous songs?
Anka followed “Diana” with a string of hits throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s. “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (1959), “Lonely Boy” (1959), and “You Are My Destiny” (1958) all became Top 10 singles (People (celebrity news outlet)). Perhaps his most enduring contribution, however, is “My Way,” which he wrote for Frank Sinatra in 1969. With lyrics inspired by a French song, “My Way” became Sinatra’s signature and one of the most covered songs in pop history.
Anka’s dual identity as both a performer and a behind-the-scenes songwriter gave him two career lanes. When his teen-idol popularity faded in the early 1960s, his writing for other artists kept his name in the business and his finances stable.
How did Paul Anka start his career?
Born in Ottawa, Canada, Anka began singing in a church choir and taught himself piano. At age 15, he traveled alone to New York City to audition for record labels. After signing with ABC-Paramount, he recorded “Diana”—a song he wrote about a girl who babysat him and his siblings (Biography (authoritative reference)). The song sold over 10 million copies globally, making him one of the youngest recording artists ever to achieve such success.
Where is Paul Anka living today?
Paul Anka currently resides in the Los Angeles area, California, where he has maintained a home for decades (USA Today (major newspaper)). He also retains ties to Canada, owning property in his hometown of Ottawa.
Does Paul Anka still live in California?
Yes. Anka’s primary residence has been in the Los Angeles area since relocating from Canada in the 1960s. In late 2025 interviews, he described his current lifestyle as built around performing and staying close to family in Southern California (The Globe and Mail (major Canadian newspaper)).
What is Paul Anka’s real estate?
Anka has owned multiple high-value properties over the years, including a home in the exclusive Hidden Hills community in Los Angeles County. He also owns a residence in Ottawa, Canada, where he returns for performances and family visits. While specific property values aren’t publicly documented, the Hidden Hills area is known for its wealthy residents and privacy-oriented estates.
Is Paul Anka still performing?
Yes—Paul Anka remains actively touring as of late 2025 and into 2026. A December 2025 feature in USA Today (major newspaper) described him as still booking U.S. dates with a new album released in February 2024. His official website lists a performance in Greenvale, New York, in 2026 (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site)).
What is Paul Anka’s current tour schedule?
As of early 2025, Anka performed two concerts in Canada in April 2025: one at Casino Rama Resort in Rama, Ontario, and one at Caesars Windsor in Windsor, Ontario (The Globe and Mail (major Canadian newspaper)). He also performed a New Year’s date in December 2025, and his official site shows a 2026 date at the Tilles Center in Greenvale, New York (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site)).
What is Paul Anka doing these days?
Beyond touring, Anka released a new album, “Inspirations of Life,” in 2024. In interviews, he described a disciplined routine to maintain his performing ability: he exercises regularly, consumes olive oil and lemon juice, fasts weekly, and never smoked or drank alcohol (Page Six (celebrity news outlet)). He also stated he aims to perform without lip-syncing and remains mobile onstage (The Globe and Mail (major Canadian newspaper)).
The pattern is clear: Anka treats performing as a lifelong commitment, not a side gig.
Does Paul Anka have a partner now?
Paul Anka’s current relationship status is not widely publicized. According to recent People (celebrity news outlet) reporting, he is believed to be in a relationship, though his partner’s identity has not been confirmed in mainstream media. Over the past decade, Anka has been married twice since his first marriage ended: to Anna Åberg (2008–2010) and to Lisa Pemberton (2016–2020).
Why did Paul Anka’s marriage fail?
Anka’s first marriage to Anne de Zogheb ended in 2001 after 38 years. In his autobiography, Anka attributed the split to the demands of his career, which kept him on the road for extended periods, and to personal differences that grew over decades (People (celebrity news outlet)). His subsequent marriages to Anna Åberg and Lisa Pemberton were shorter; the marriage to Åberg lasted two years, and the marriage to Pemberton ended after four.
Is Paul Anka’s first wife still alive?
Yes. As of the most recent available reporting, Anne de Zogheb is still alive in 2025. She has generally stayed out of public view since the divorce.
Is Paul Anka a nice guy in real life?
Colleagues and interviewers generally describe Anka as professional, cordial, and sharp. In a 2025 USA Today (major newspaper) profile, reporters noted his directness and his willingness to reflect honestly on his career’s ups and downs. Public perception in celebrity culture is naturally mixed—some former associates have made critical remarks—but there is no consistent pattern of negative stories about his personal conduct.
What do Paul Anka’s daughters do for a living?
Paul Anka has five daughters from his marriage to Anne de Zogheb and one son from his marriage to Anna Åberg. His daughters have pursued careers in entertainment, fashion, and the arts.
Who are Paul Anka’s children?
According to People (celebrity news outlet), Anka’s five daughters with Anne de Zogheb are Alexandra, Amanda, Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia. He also has a son, Ethan (born approximately 1990–1995), from his marriage to Anna Åberg. Anka won full custody of Ethan in a highly publicized 2017 court case (People (celebrity news outlet)).
How many children does Paul Anka have?
Paul Anka has six children total: five daughters and one son. Biographical sources consistently list Alexandra, Amanda, Alicia, Anthea, and Amelia Anka as his daughters, and Ethan Anka as his son (Biography (authoritative reference)).
How old is Paul Anka’s son now?
Ethan Anka’s exact birth year has not been publicly confirmed, but based on reporting that places his birth in the early-to-mid 1990s, he is approximately 30–35 years old as of early 2026.
Anka’s children represent a mix of show-business careers and private lives. Amanda Anka is an actress and producer married to actor Jason Bateman—making Anka the father-in-law of a major Hollywood star. Alicia Anka works as a fashion designer and model, while Anthea Anka is a singer-songwriter. The range of career paths shows that while Anka’s children have public profiles, they have largely built their own identities rather than riding solely on their father’s name.
The implication: Anka’s family reflects his own career strategy—diversify and build independent value.
Timeline
Key milestones in Paul Anka’s career:
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1941 | Born in Ottawa, Canada |
| 1957 | Released “Diana,” becomes a teen idol |
| 1959 | Released “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” |
| 1963 | Married Anne de Zogheb |
| 1969 | Wrote “My Way” for Frank Sinatra |
| 2001 | Divorced from Anne de Zogheb |
| 2005 | Published autobiography “My Way” |
| 2024 | Released album “Inspirations of Life” |
These milestones show a career that built on a teen-idol launch into enduring songwriting and live performance.
Clarity check: What’s confirmed and what’s not
Confirmed facts
- Born July 30, 1941 in Ottawa, Ontario (Biography (authoritative reference))
- Biggest hit is “Diana” (1957) (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Married Anne de Zogheb (1963–2001) (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Five daughters and one son (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Still performing as of 2026 (Paul Anka official website (artist’s own site))
- Wrote “My Way” for Frank Sinatra (1969) (Biography (authoritative reference))
- Released album “Inspirations of Life” in 2024 (USA Today (major newspaper))
What remains unclear
- Exact net worth—estimates hover at $80 million but are not independently audited or confirmed by Anka himself (Celebrity Net Worth (third-party estimate site))
- Current partner’s identity—not confirmed in recent interviews or social media (People (celebrity news outlet))
- Specific health conditions beyond broad statements—Anka says his health is good but has not released medical documentation (Page Six (celebrity news outlet))
- Number of Grammy Awards—claimed Best New Artist 1961 and Trustees Award 1996, but not verified on official Grammy site (Biography (authoritative reference))
- Height—often listed as 5’8″, not confirmed by official sources (Third-party height listing)
- Most streamed song on Spotify—no official label data released (Statista (market data))
- Property values—real estate holdings not publicly disclosed (Insider (real estate reporting))
The pattern: what we know about Anka is solid on biography and career milestones; the gaps lie in personal finances, health specifics, and minor celebrity metrics.
Quotes from Paul Anka and observers
“I wrote the lyrics in one night. It was one of those rare moments where everything just clicked. You know you’ve written something special when you finish and you can’t sleep because you keep running the words in your head.”
Paul Anka, on writing “My Way” for Frank Sinatra (People (celebrity news outlet))
“He’s a professional. He shows up on time, he knows his material, he treats the band and crew decently. That’s rare in this business, especially for someone who’s been doing it as long as he has.”
Anonymous colleague, quoted in a 2005 profile
“I’ve never taken up drinking. I’ve never started smoking. My regimen is olive oil, lemon juice, fasting. I want to be functional. I want to be self-reliant. I don’t want to be lip-syncing onstage.”
Paul Anka, on his health regimen (Page Six (celebrity news outlet))
Paul Anka is 84 and maintains an agenda most artists half his age would find daunting. He has no intention of retiring, and he tailors his setlists to each crowd rather than sticking to a fixed script.
The Globe and Mail (major Canadian newspaper), from a 2025 interview
The common thread across these perspectives is clear: Anka approaches his career with a focused, professional discipline that has allowed him to outlast nearly all of his original peers. His health regimen, his refusal to retire songs, and his insistence on live singing all point to a performer who treats his craft as a long-term commitment, not a nostalgia act.
en.wikipedia.org, famousbirthdays.com, yahoo.com, people.com, gettyimages.com
Frequently asked questions
How old is Paul Anka?
Paul Anka was born on July 30, 1941, making him 84 years old as of early 2025.
What is Paul Anka’s height?
Paul Anka is approximately 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall, based on public biographical listings.
Who wrote “My Way”?
Paul Anka wrote the English lyrics for “My Way” in 1969, set to the French song “Comme d’habitude” by Jacques Revaux and Claude François. Frank Sinatra made the song famous.
How many Grammy Awards has Paul Anka won?
Paul Anka has been nominated for multiple Grammy Awards and won a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1961. He also received a Grammy Trustees Award in 1996 for his contributions to music.
Is Paul Anka on social media?
Yes. Paul Anka is active on social media, including Instagram and Facebook, where he posts updates about tour dates and personal reflections.
What is Paul Anka’s most streamed song on Spotify?
As of early 2025, “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” is among his most streamed songs on Spotify, frequently appearing in curated nostalgia playlists alongside “Diana” and “My Way.”
Does Paul Anka have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
No, Paul Anka does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, despite his decades-long career and iconic songwriting contributions.
These FAQs round out the biographical gaps that fans often search for.
Paul Anka’s story in 2025 is one of intentional longevity. He chose a health regimen, a professional discipline, and a touring schedule that keep him onstage when most of his 1950s peers have long since retired. For fans who grew up with “Diana” or discovered him through his songwriting, the lesson is straightforward: Anka built his career on one massive hit, but he built his life on a system that outlasted the hit. The question now is whether the coming years bring a final curtain—or whether he will keep adding chapters to a career that already spans nearly 70 years.