Bruce Springsteen Bio, Age, Height, Wives, Family, Affairs, Career, Albums, Net Worth

Meta Description: Discover Bruce Springsteen’s full biography: The Boss’s real age, height, two marriages to Julianne Phillips and Patti Scialfa, three children, $750M-$1.2B net worth, 30+ year depression battle, affair controversies, and 2025 biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere.

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From a working-class kid in Freehold, New Jersey, who was stuffed in a garbage can by a nun for being “difficult,” to a billionaire rock legend known as “The Boss,” Bruce Springsteen has spent six decades chronicling the American dream through songs that have sold over 140 million albums worldwide. The 20-time Grammy winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient has navigated two marriages, three children, chronic depression, and countless affair rumors—all while maintaining his status as one of the greatest live performers in history, grossing nearly $2.3 billion from concert tours alone.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Birth & Working-Class Roots
Born on September 23, 1949, at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey, Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen grew up in the working-class town of Freehold Borough. His father, Douglas Springsteen, worked variously as a bus driver, millworker, and prison guard, struggling with undiagnosed mental illness that would later be identified as paranoid schizophrenia. His mother, Adele, provided the family’s steady income as a secretary at a local insurance office.

The Catholic School Trauma
Springsteen’s childhood was marked by conflict with authority figures. “In the third grade, a nun stuffed me in a garbage can under her desk because she said that’s where I belonged,” he later recalled. “I also had the distinction of being the only altar boy knocked down by a priest during mass.” He skipped his own high school graduation, feeling too uncomfortable to attend.

The Elvis Moment
Everything changed at age seven when Springsteen saw Elvis Presley on The Ed Sullivan Show. “[Elvis] was as big as the whole country itself,” Springsteen remembered, “as big as the whole dream.” He started guitar lessons at seven but quit when he found it too difficult. At 13, he bought his first acoustic guitar for $18 at a secondhand store. His mother took out a loan to buy him a $60 Kent guitar for his 16th birthday—a moment he immortalized in his song “The Wish.”

Vietnam Draft
In 1967, Springsteen was drafted for Vietnam but failed his physical due to a concussion from a motorcycle accident and deliberately “crazy” behavior. His 4-F classification freed him to pursue music full-time. He briefly attended Ocean County College but dropped out at 19, explaining, “I didn’t really fit in.”

Career Journey

Early Bands & The E Street Band Formation (1964–1972)

Springsteen played in numerous bands throughout the 1960s: The Rogues, The Castiles, Earth, Steel Mill, and the Bruce Springsteen Band. In 1969, he joined Steel Mill, where he met future E Street Band members Vini Lopez and Danny Federici. He acquired his nickname “The Boss” during this era because he collected show money and distributed it evenly among bandmates.

In 1972, talent scout John Hammond (who discovered Bob Dylan) signed Springsteen to Columbia Records. He formed the E Street Band—named after the street in Belmar, New Jersey, where original keyboardist David Sancious lived—and released his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., in January 1973.

Breakthrough: Born to Run (1975)

After two commercially disappointing albums, Springsteen released Born to Run in August 1975. The album peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200, sold 700,000 copies by year’s end, and made Springsteen a superstar. In October 1975, he became the first musician to appear on the covers of both Time and Newsweek in the same week.

A legal battle with manager Mike Appel nearly derailed his career, preventing him from recording new music for nearly a year. The dispute was settled in May 1977, with Appel giving up publishing rights. Springsteen found new management with music critic Jon Landau, who would become his lifelong collaborator and manager.

The 1980s: The River, Nebraska & Born in the U.S.A.

The River (1980) spent four weeks at #1 and produced the hit “Hungry Heart.” Nebraska (1982), a stark acoustic album recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder in his bedroom, showcased Springsteen’s darker songwriting. It is now the subject of the 2025 biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White.

Born in the U.S.A. (1984) became Springsteen’s commercial peak, selling over 30 million copies worldwide and spawning seven Top 10 singles—a record for a rock album. The title track, often misinterpreted as patriotic, was actually a scathing critique of America’s treatment of Vietnam veterans.

Continued Evolution & Broadway (1990s–2010s)

Springsteen continued to evolve musically, releasing the acoustic The Ghost of Tom Joad (1995), the post-9/11 response The Rising (2002), and the folk album We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (2006). In 2017, he made his Broadway debut with Springsteen on Broadway, a solo acoustic show combining songs and storytelling that ran for 236 performances and won a Special Tony Award.

Catalog Sale & Recent Years (2021–2026)

In December 2021, Springsteen sold his music catalog to Sony Music Group for an estimated $500–600 million—the largest deal ever for a single artist’s catalog at that time. His 2023–2025 tour with the E Street Band grossed $729.7 million from 4.9 million tickets, making it one of the highest-grossing tours in history. He has now grossed nearly $2.3 billion from live performances over his career.

Personal Life

Marriage to Julianne Phillips (1985–1989)

Springsteen met actress and model Julianne Phillips backstage in late 1984. They married on May 13, 1985, at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon—seven months after meeting. The 11-year age gap (he was 35, she was 24) and Springsteen’s touring schedule created immediate strain.

Springsteen later admitted in his memoir Born to Run that he fell in love with Patti Scialfa while still married to Phillips. “Patti was a musician, was close to my age, had seen me on the road in all of my many guises and viewed me with a knowing eye,” he wrote. “She knew I was no white knight (perhaps a dark gray knight at best).”

Phillips filed for divorce in August 1988, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Springsteen has expressed regret for his handling of the separation: “I dealt with Julie’s and my separation abysmally… My poor handling of this is something I regret to this day.”

Marriage to Patti Scialfa (1991–Present)

Early Relationship & Scandal
Springsteen and Scialfa caused controversy by moving in together shortly after his separation from Phillips. “It’s a strange society that assumes it has the right to tell people whom they should love and whom they shouldn’t,” Springsteen told The Advocate in 1995.

Wedding & Children

• June 8, 1991: Married in a private midnight ceremony at their Los Angeles home
• July 25, 1990: Son Evan James born (conceived before marriage)
• December 30, 1991: Daughter Jessica Rae born
• January 5, 1994: Son Samuel Ryan born

Professional Partnership
Scialfa joined the E Street Band in 1984 and has performed with Springsteen throughout their marriage. “When she comes onstage with the E Street Band she’s an E Street band member, and when we walk offstage we’re husband and wife,” Springsteen explained.

Health Struggles
Scialfa was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (blood cancer) in 2018 and took an extended hiatus from touring. Springsteen has credited her strength with helping him through his own depression battles. They reunited on stage at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in September 2024.

Children & Grandchildren

Evan James Springsteen (b. 1990)
The eldest child, Evan works as a music programmer at Apple in New York City. He graduated from Boston College in 2012 and maintains a private life, occasionally joining his father on stage.

Jessica Rae Springsteen (b. 1991)
An Olympic equestrian who won silver in team jumping at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021). She has been dating Italian equestrian Lorenzo De Luca since 2019.

Samuel Ryan Springsteen (b. 1994)
A firefighter with the Jersey City Fire Department since 2020. He and his partner welcomed daughter Lily Harper Reph Springsteen in July 2022, making Bruce and Patti grandparents.

Mental Health & Depression

Lifelong Battle
Springsteen has been open about his 30+ year struggle with chronic depression. In his memoir Born to Run, he describes it as “black sludge” and “a cloud of toxic confusion.” He experienced significant breakdowns at age 32 and again in his 60s.

Family History
His father Douglas struggled with undiagnosed mental illness (later identified as paranoid schizophrenia), and Springsteen feared inheriting the same condition. “My family was filled with mental illness, my aunts, my uncles, my pop, and it just was in our blood,” he said.

Treatment
Springsteen has been in therapy for over 30 years and takes antidepressants. He has called performing “the trustiest form of self-medication” but emphasizes that professional treatment is essential.

Controversies

The Scialfa Affair (1988)
Springsteen’s relationship with Scialfa began while he was still married to Phillips, causing a media scandal. Paparazzi photographed them in their underwear on an Italian balcony during the Tunnel of Love Express Tour.

Post-9/11 Affair Rumors (2006)
Reports claimed Springsteen had separated from Scialfa due to a relationship with a 9/11 widow he met at a benefit concert. Springsteen denied this on his website: “Patti and I have been together for 18 years—the best 18 years of my life.”

Ann Kelly Gym Affair Allegations (2009)
New Jersey businessman Arthur Kelly filed divorce papers claiming his wife Ann had an affair with Springsteen after meeting at a Red Bank gym in 2005. The allegations included claims that Springsteen told Ann she had the “nicest ass” in the gym. Ann Kelly denied the affair, calling the claims “baseless allegations of a jealous man.” Springsteen stood by his 2006 statement denying infidelity.

Physical Statistics

Quotes

On his father:
“I’ve gotta thank him, because what would I conceivably have written about without him? I mean, you can imagine that if everything had gone great between us? We would have had disaster. I would have written just happy songs—and I tried it in the early ’90s, and it didn’t work.”

On depression:
“Despite the roaring crowds, Bruce Springsteen battled silent struggles with depression, crediting therapy for keeping him center stage.”

On fatherhood:
“That is a gift you get from your children and from your wife. Your acknowledgment of a new self. And the realization of your manhood. It was huge.”

On success:
“I’m not a billionaire. I wish I was, but they got that real wrong. I’ve spent too much money on superfluous things.”

Career Stats & Achievements

Favorites

Salary & Net Worth

Net Worth Dispute

• Forbes (2025): $1.2 billion
• Celebrity Net Worth: $750 million
• Springsteen’s Claim: “I’m not a billionaire”

Income Sources:

• Catalog Sale (2021): $500–600 million (Sony Music)
• Touring: $80+ million annually when touring
• 2023–2025 Tour: $729.7 million gross
• Record Sales: 140+ million albums
• Broadway: Springsteen on Broadway (2017–2018)

Band Compensation
Springsteen pays his E Street Band members generously. “I pay them a tremendous amount of money,” he said. “That greases the wheels pretty good.”

Interesting Facts

1. The Garbage Can Incident: A nun literally put him in a garbage can in third grade for being difficult.
2. 4-F Draft Status: Failed his Vietnam physical due to a motorcycle accident concussion and deliberately erratic behavior.
3. Dual Cover Star: First musician on Time and Newsweek covers simultaneously (October 1975).
4. Marathon Shows: Known for 3–4 hour concerts, sometimes longer.
5. The Wish: His song “The Wish” is about his mother taking out a loan to buy him a guitar.
6. No College Degree: Never attended college, yet received honorary degrees from multiple universities.
7. Broadway Debut at 67: Springsteen on Broadway opened when he was 67 years old.
8. Grandfather: Became a grandfather in 2022 at age 72.
9. Motorcycle Enthusiast: Has owned numerous motorcycles throughout his life.
10. Farm Life: Owns a 400-acre horse farm in Colts Neck, New Jersey, where he maintains a low-key lifestyle.

Did You Know Already?

• Springsteen wrote “Candy’s Room” about artist Karon Bihari, with whom he had a relationship in the 1970s.
• He has been in therapy for over 30 years and openly discusses taking antidepressants.
• His 1984 album Born in the U.S.A. produced seven Top 10 singles—a record tied only with Michael Jackson’s Thriller and janet jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814.
• He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 by Bono of U2.
• His song “Streets of Philadelphia” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1994.
• The 2025 biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen during the making of the Nebraska album.
• Springsteen has denied being a billionaire despite Forbes’ estimates, claiming he spends too much on “superfluous things.”
• He and Patti Scialfa have been married for 34 years as of 2025.

Social Media Links

• Official Website: brucespringsteen.net
• Instagram: @springsteen — 2.9 million followers
• Twitter/X: @springsteen — 1.1 million followers
• Facebook: Bruce Springsteen — 6.7 million followers
• YouTube: Bruce Springsteen — Official channel

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Bruce Springsteen?
Bruce Springsteen was born on September 23, 1949, making him 76 years 4 months old years old as of 2026.

How tall is Bruce Springsteen?
Bruce Springsteen is 5’10” (1.78 meters) tall.

Who is Bruce Springsteen’s wife?
Bruce Springsteen has been married to Patti Scialfa since June 8, 1991. They met in the E Street Band and have three children together. He was previously married to actress Julianne Phillips from 1985 to 1989.

What is Bruce Springsteen’s net worth?
Estimates vary: Forbes reports $1.2 billion, while Celebrity Net Worth estimates $750 million. Springsteen himself has denied being a billionaire, stating, “I’m not a billionaire. I wish I was, but they got that real wrong.”

How many children does Bruce Springsteen have?
Springsteen has three children with Patti Scialfa: Evan James (b. 1990), Jessica Rae (b. 1991), and Samuel Ryan (b. 1994). He has one grandchild, Lily Harper, born in 2022.

Did Bruce Springsteen cheat on his wives?
Springsteen admitted in his memoir Born to Run that he fell in love with Patti Scialfa while still married to Julianne Phillips. He has denied other affair allegations, including a 2009 claim involving a New Jersey housewife named Ann Kelly.

What is Bruce Springsteen’s most famous song?
“Born to Run” (1975) is considered his signature song, though “Born in the U.S.A.” (1984) is his most commercially successful, reaching #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 despite its critical lyrics about Vietnam veterans’ treatment.

Has Bruce Springsteen struggled with depression?
Yes. Springsteen has been open about his 30+ year battle with chronic depression, therapy, and antidepressant use. His father struggled with undiagnosed paranoid schizophrenia, and Springsteen feared inheriting mental illness.

What is the 2025 Bruce Springsteen biopic?
Deliver Me from Nowhere stars Jeremy Allen White as Springsteen during the making of his 1982 album Nebraska. Springsteen was actively involved, visiting the set and giving script notes. The film was released in theaters in October 2025.

How much did Bruce Springsteen sell his catalog for?
In December 2021, Springsteen sold his music catalog to Sony Music Group for an estimated $500–600 million, one of the largest deals ever for a single artist’s catalog.

Conclusion

Bruce Springsteen’s journey from a troubled Catholic school kid in Freehold to “The Boss” of rock and roll represents one of the most authentic American success stories ever told. His willingness to confront mental illness, failed marriages, and family trauma in his music has created a body of work that transcends entertainment to become genuine American literature.

At 76, Springsteen continues to tour, record, and inspire. His 2025 biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere revisits the darkest period of his creative life—the Nebraska sessions—reminding audiences that even legends struggle with depression and self-doubt. Whether he’s playing to 80,000 fans or quietly tending his New Jersey farm, Springsteen remains the poet laureate of the American working class, proving that the most powerful anthems often come from the darkest nights.

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