When you think about the new wave sound of the late 70s and 80s, one voice stands out for its haunting beauty and timeless style — Martha Davis. Best known as the lead singer of The Motels, Martha has crafted a music career that spans decades, from chart-topping hits to solo experiments and personal resilience. Many fans still wonder: how much is Martha Davis worth today? Let’s take a close look at her net worth, life story and how she shaped her legacy in rock and new wave music.
How Much Is Martha Davis Worth?
As of 2024, Martha Davis holds an estimated net worth of $2 million. Her wealth has come from a steady stream of album sales, tours with The Motels, solo music, soundtrack contributions and royalties that keep her songs alive on airwaves and playlists even today.
Early Life and Starting Over
Martha Emily Davis was born on January 19, 1951, in Berkeley, California. Her father worked as an administrator at the University of California, Berkeley, while her mother taught kindergarten. Growing up, Martha learned early about creativity and restraint in equal measure — a mix of bohemian freedom and strict structure at home.
Life threw her a curveball early on. She became pregnant at 15, married her child’s father Ronnie Paschell at 17, and soon found herself living on an airbase in Florida. By 1970, that marriage ended in divorce. Two years later, Ronnie died in Vietnam. Martha returned to Berkeley with her daughters and worked to finish high school, carrying her young kids to class with her. After her mother’s tragic suicide, Martha found new purpose: she wouldn’t let her dreams fade like her mother’s had. With the inheritance she received, she bought a home and started building her life around music.
Forming The Motels and Early Success
Martha’s career officially began in 1971 when she joined The Warfield Foxes. By 1975, the group had moved to Los Angeles and rebranded as The Motels. A personal break-up with bandmate Dean Chamberlain led Martha to write the now-famous song “Total Control.”
Signing with Capitol Records in 1979, The Motels released their self-titled debut album, which hit #4 in New Zealand and #23 in Australia. This was only the beginning. Their follow-up, Careful (1980), matched that success, and by 1982, The Motels broke through in the U.S. with All Four One. That album went Gold in America and produced “Only the Lonely,” a haunting hit that climbed to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Their next big single, “Suddenly Last Summer” from Little Robbers (1983), topped Billboard’s Rock Tracks chart. The band’s 1985 album Shock continued the momentum with more airplay and tours.
Solo Work and Reinventing Herself
By the late 80s, Martha needed a reset. After firing the other members of The Motels, she went solo with her album Policy (1987). It featured standout tracks like “Tell It to the Moon” and “Don’t Ask Out Loud.” Although she parted ways with Capitol Records soon after, she never stopped writing.
Throughout the 90s, Martha contributed songs to movie soundtracks like Madhouse (1990) and Miracle Beach (1992). She collaborated with big names like Clarence Clemons and Kenny G, proving her range beyond The Motels.
She also revived The Motels with a fresh line-up. Albums like This (2008), Apocalypso (2011), If Not Now Then When (2017) and The Last Few Beautiful Days (2018) showed her dedication to keeping the band’s signature style alive while adding fresh stories from her own life.
Personal Losses and Creative Resilience
Martha’s life hasn’t been without deep pain. Her daughter Maria died in 2016 after using cocaine that was laced with acetyl fentanyl. That loss heavily inspired songs on The Motels’ 2018 record The Last Few Beautiful Days.
Martha also took responsibility for her family, adopting her sister Janet’s son Phil and raising him as her own.
Martha’s Oregon Ranch
In 2005, Martha bought a 720-acre farm in Deer Island, Oregon, for about $479,000. This sprawling land includes a 5,000-square-foot farmhouse built in 1913. Martha raises alpacas and grows crops, finding peace and purpose on her land. Today, this property is a valuable part of her net worth and lifestyle, providing space away from the busy music industry.
Awards and Industry Respect
Martha’s music with The Motels brought her critical acclaim. The band won an American Music Award in 1982 for “Only the Lonely.” In 2012, The Motels received an Independent Music Award for the re-issue of Apocalypso.
Her songs have lived on thanks to their use in films like The Golden Child, Soul Man and Something Wild, keeping her legacy connected to pop culture for new generations.
Final Thoughts: A Career Still Alive
After more than four decades, Martha Davis’s influence remains visible. Whether on stage with The Motels, collaborating with new musicians like Eric Allaman and Reinhard Scheuregger for DAS7, or writing music that bridges generations, she has built a career marked by resilience and reinvention.