What is Billy Steinberg's net worth? Madonna's Like A Virgin songwriter's fortune explored as he dies at 75

Billy Steinberg, a Songwriters Hall of Fame member regarded as one of the most successful songwriters of the '80s and '90s, passed away on February 16 in California. He was 75 years old. His attorney, Laurie Soriano, confirmed to Variety that he lost his battle with cancer.

As per a report shared by Celebrity Net Worth, Steinberg had a net worth of $25 million at the time of his death.

Steinberg passed away just days before he would have turned 76 on February 26. He built his early career alongside writing partner Tom Kelly. Steinberg handled nearly all the lyrics while Kelly took care of almost all the music. The pair penned some of the most recognizable songs of their era. These included "Like a Virgin" by Madonna, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, and "So Emotional" by Whitney Houston.

After Kelly stepped away from the industry in the mid-1990s, Steinberg kept writing hits with other collaborators. He went on to pen "Falling Into You" by Celine Dion, "Give Your Heart a Break" by Demi Lovato, and "Too Little Too Late" by JoJo.

Steinberg and Kelly were both inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2011.

Billy Steinberg revealed "Like a Virgin" was inspired by his own romantic experiences:

Steinberg spoke about the inspiration behind Madonna's "Like a Virgin" in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, as chronicled in Fred Bronson's The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.

"The idea for that song came from personal experience," Steinberg said.

He explained what the song truly meant to him.

"I wasn't just trying to somehow get that racy word virgin in a lyric. I was saying that I may not really be a virgin — I've been battered romantically and emotionally like many people — but I'm starting a new relationship and it just feels so good it's healing all the wounds and making me feel like I've never done this before, because it's so much deeper and more profound than anything I've ever felt," mused Steinberg.

The track spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1984-85. It remains Madonna's biggest career hit.

Bronson noted that after the song was written, Michael Ostin of Warner Brothers Records' A&R department played it for Madonna. This happened after he heard the demo by Kelly and Steinberg.

Madonna's reaction was immediate.

"Went crazy, and immediately knew it was a song for her and that she could make a great record out of it," Bronson noted.

Billy Steinberg explained how his roles as lyricist became clear after teaming up with Tom Kelly:

Steinberg had some of his songs recorded by Pat Benatar. As per a report shared by Variety, he got to know Benatar's producer, Keith Olsen, and the two became friends. Steinberg met Tom Kelly at one of Olsen's parties in 1981.

Billy Steinberg sat down with Songfacts and talked about how his partnership with Kelly developed over time.

"When we got together, I didn't really have a conscious idea that I was more adept at writing lyrics than I was at writing chords or melodies. But when I got together with Tom, it was clear immediately that he was a far superior musician, and that his melodies were magnificent. Whereas at my best I was writing in a simple Buddy Holly sort of song structure," he shared.

"While Tom, he was well versed in the Brian Wilson, Lennon/McCartney songbook, and he was a much better musician than I was… But Tom didn't write lyrics… It became clear that I would be the lyricist on the songs that we would write together, and that he would be the principal music writer," added Steinberg.

Billy Steinberg also talked about how the two worked together despite having separate responsibilities.

"I never would just send him lyrics. I would always be with him when we would write the songs, and sometimes I would have some input into the chords and the melodies. But he would do the majority of those things. Over the '80s it just became clear to me that I was primarily a lyricist," Steinberg explained.

Billy Steinberg grew up in Palm Springs before dropping out of college and writing songs on his father's vineyard:

Steinberg came into the world in Fresno in 1950. His family relocated to Palm Springs when he was young. His father had a table grape growing business in the Coachella Valley. Billy Steinberg picked up songwriting while he studied literature at Bard College in the late '60s.

His time at college came to an early end after his junior year. Severe anxiety attacks forced him to step away from school. He reflected on this difficult period in a 2004 essay on his website. Billy Steinberg returned to Palm Springs and took up work on his dad's vineyards. He spent his days driving around in a red Ford pickup truck, writing lyrics.

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Billy Steinberg put a new wave band together in the late '70s called Billy Thermal. The name referenced the Coachella Valley town near the vineyards. The band landed a deal with producer Richard Perry's Planet Records. They recorded an album that never saw a release. Linda Ronstadt and Pat Benatar both cut versions of the band's songs. Ronstadt's recording of "How Do I Make You" from her Mad Love LP reached No. 10 on the Hot 100 in early 1980.

Billy Thermal split up not long after. Billy Steinberg went on to form a group called i-Ten with Kelly.

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