While he admitted that living with Rosalind could be “difficult,” he also recognized her deep love, noting the “dichotomy” in their relationship.
The siblings grew especially close during this time. “We felt each other’s pain and worry and we would get strength from each other. We were very close, we were very close, yes. We had to be,” his cousin said.
Despite the challenges, they ultimately viewed Rosalind as a mother who did the best she could. “No matter how poor we were at the time or how hard she had to work — Mom, she knew that piano lessons were important. That this had to be nurtured. She knew that he was going to be something someday,” the cousin explained.
Net worth of around $250 million
He added of his mother, “Mom was my cheerleader, mom said anything you set your mind out to do you can do. I credit my mom with sticking with me, she never gave up. She was a believer.”
Fortunately, Rosalinda would live long enough to see her son conquer the world. She reached the age of 92, passing away in 2014, by which time he was already a well-established artist with millions of records sold.
Her son had also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 as well as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rosalinda was even honored with a song named after her — Rosalinda’s Eyes, released in 1978.
But despite all his success and millions in the bank — with an estimated net worth of around $250 million — his career and life have also been marked by setbacks and misfortunes.
Depression played a major role in his struggles with alcohol. He told The New York Times in 2013 that after the September 11, 2001, attacks, he felt consumed by despair. ”I used booze as medication,” he admitted. He explained that his drinking often coincided with personal turmoil, including breakups and divorce — alcohol even worsened his failing marriage with one of his wives.
He entered rehab twice for his substance issues: first in 2002, which didn’t help, and again in 2005 at Betty Ford.
”The second time was at Betty Ford, which was not a lot of fun. I was drinking too much,” he told Parade in 2018.
”I said, ‘This time I’m going to stick it through for a month.’ It was one of the best things I ever did.” By 2023, he had quit drinking completely. ”I stopped a couple of years ago,” he said. “It wasn’t a big AA kick. I just got to a point where I’d had enough.”
Romantic relationships brought their own challenges. Married four times, his early unions ended in heartbreak or financial loss. His first wife, who also acted as his manager in the ’70s, allegedly tried to take everything from him while he was hospitalized after a near-fatal motorcycle accident.
”When I finally understood what was in that deal, I said, ‘No f**king way—I’m in a hospital bed and you’re shedding crocodile tears and bringing me a contract that completely screws me?’” he recalled.
Inside his brain disorder
Later, while married to another wife, he discovered that her brother, whom he had appointed as manager, had stolen nearly $30 million of his earnings. He sued and recovered a fraction but said the betrayal was more emotional than financial. Subsequent marriages were less financially devastating but still complicated, including a divorce that cost him a Manhattan townhouse worth millions.
Even amid personal chaos, he found love again with his current wife, Alexis Roderick. In 2023, he bought a home in Florida and announced he would step back from performing, though he did not stop making music.
In May 2025, he revealed a serious health diagnosis: Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a condition that can damage the brain. His team posted on Instagram, “Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).”
Support came flooding in from family and fans. His daughter shared, “We love you and we got you, Pop!”
