Chris Rea, who was born on March 4 1951 in Middlesbrough, England, died on December 22, 2025, at the age of 74. After a brief illness, he died peacefully in the hospital with his wife, Joan, and daughters, Josie and Julia, at his side. When news of his death was announced, fans immediately created playlists and shared stories of the snowy roads, bluesy nights, and other special memories that he created with his music.
Who was Chris Rea?
Chris Rea was a Middlesbrough boy who spent time helping out in his family's ice cream van before picking up the guitar and performing in small pubs. He was born Christopher Anton Rea, to an Irish mother and an Italian father, and combined gritty blues and pop hooks for over four decades. Throughout his career, he recorded 25 plus studio albums and sold over 30 million records around the globe without participating in the major scandals and trends common with many artists. In his hometown, he has been referred to as a Teesside treasure because he has shared their stories with listeners across the globe. Chris Rea was true to himself and did not live the typical wild rock 'n' roll lifestyle associated with music.
How Did Chris Rea Die?
Just days prior to Christmas, Chris Rea experienced a decline in health that resulted in his hospitalization. He passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025, surrounded by family members who kindly reported, "We have lost our beloved Chris and announce this with our hearts full of sadness." There were no specific details provided by the family concerning the nature of his decline other than the fact it was due to an unspecified "short illness". In the past Chris had battled through many serious illnesses. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at age 33 in 2001 and ultimately had to have his entire pancreas removed from his body; unfortunately, this led to diabetes, infection, and many/different follow-up surgeries to address issues in both his gall bladder and liver. As a result, Chris became accustomed to receiving insulin injections on a daily basis (approximately 7 times per day). After suffering a stroke in 2016, Chris Rea was unable to speak clearly, nor move the right side of his body; he underwent rehabilitation.
BREAKING: Chris Rea, who wrote and sang one of the most famous festive songs in history, Driving Home for Christmas, has died just three days before Christmas, aged 74. pic.twitter.com/hz8vx2zHcT
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) December 22, 2025
Chris Rea Biography
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Chris Rea Estimated Net Worth 2025
Celebrities Net worth Finance Monthly and Soap Central all report that Chris Rea's net worth was estimated to be around $8 million (£6 million) when he passed away. He earned his wealth by consistently working in the music industry without engaging in extravagant or eye-catching deals. Rea's greatest hit holiday album "Driving Home for Christmas" continues to generate approximately £200,000 annually from radio airplay, streaming services and advertising revenue. According to the UK charts, Rea has 5.35 million certified albums sold in the UK alone while German and other European fans have also contributed to his overall album sales total of approximately 30 million.
Chris Rea Famous Songs
- Fool (If You Think It's Over) was released in 1978 and brought Chris Rea into the limelight in America. This song was originally included on Chris Rea's first album, "Whatever Happened To Benny Santini?" and peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It received a Grammy nomination.
- Driving Home For Christmas was originally released as a B-side in 1986. In 1988 it was re-recorded and re-released, and has since become one of the UK's biggest selling Christmas songs. The song has consistently returned to the UK charts during the holiday season.
- The Road To Hell, Part 2 was released in 1989 from the album "The Road to Hell," which achieved number one in the UK. This song was one of Chris Rea's most popular songs and is often thought of as the quintessential example of Chris Rea's blues-rock style.
- Let's Dance was a single release from the 1984 album "Wired To The Moon" which was very successful on the UK charts. The upbeat and catchy sound of this song made it a very popular hit in the UK.
- The title track from Chris Rea's 1991 album "Auberge" achieved number one in the UK. This song is well-known for its emotional lyrics and connection to travel, life's journey, and the road ahead.
Chris Rea Career Journey
Chris Rea attended school until he was ready to start working in factories and delivering ice cream for his family's ice cream business. He learned to play guitar without a formal music teacher. In the course of honking his demos door to door he secured a record contract with Magnet Records in 1977. His first album was not commercially successful but helped him develop his own secondary bluesy musical sound by taking the rawness out and replacing it with commercially successful material. In the 1980s snow machine-based music videos for Rea's Christmas hit "Driving Home for Christmas" drew huge audiences and were empty eyes of over £12,000 of physical effects costs. A debilitating stroke in 2016 limited his performance ability to more intimate acoustic music sessions in smaller venues instead of large arenas. He however continued to create albums such as Road Songs for Lovers until the end of his life showing the significance music had been as a lifeline during his decades long successful career as a recording artist.
Chris Rea Assets and Luxury Lifestyle
- Chris Rea owns and enjoys a variety of luxuries. His family house in England has provided him a home for over thirty years and is where they spend their family life, while his property in the South of France is a peaceful retreat and has been the inspiration for many of his songs when he visited there to escape the world’s stress.
- His collection of classic Ferrari vintage cars includes some rare and expensive models that Chris has race on the track. He also paints very realistic and detailed pictures of Ferrari's showing their speed and elegance.
- In 2022, he sold seventeen of his best-selling albums to BMG, receiving a large sum of money and ensuring that he receives continued royalties from his music.
- The auction of his art collection (the ‘La Passione’) took place in 2022, attracting a large number of art collectors and car lovers. This meager represented his two loves (art and cars) and produced a financial windfall.
Chris has also taken smart steps like avoiding debt and combining his loves (music and art) which has provided a secure future for his children and wife, Joan. He also enjoyed simple pleasures, such as pasta nights that remind him of his Italian heritage, riding a bicycle in the countryside, and racing around the track.
Chris Rea Family Background
Chris Rea was born on March 4, 1951, in Middlesbrough, England, to a working-class family, Chris Rea is the son of an Italian immigrant who owned an ice cream shop. This experience taught Chris discipline and hard work at an early age. In addition, growing up in a multi cultural environment has given Chris a solid character, contributing to the depth of his music and emotional experiences as an artist. In 1977, Chris married Joan Rea and the couple raised two daughters, Josie and Julia. Throughout his career, Rea has maintained a private family life and avoided being a "celebrity" while concentrating on his music, painting, and spending time with his family.
Chris Rea Musical Style and Influence
Chris Rea is known for his smooth blues-rock sound combined with emotionally charged lyrics and his signature slide guitar playing style. He combines elements of blues, soft rock, and pop to create an accessible, relatable style rather than a flashy one. Fans of Chris Rea can relate to the themes of wanderlust, working class, love and self reflection. As a result of the success of his albums, Chris Rea has had a profound impact on many European blues and soft rock artists, particularly in the UK and Germany, where he has enjoyed an enormous fan base.
Chris Rea Awards and Recognition
Chris Rea has received widespread acclaim for his music throughout his career despite being a recluse. He has earned several Grammy nominations, received numerous platinum and gold album certifications, and has consistently been successful on charts throughout Europe. He has had many top-selling albums in both the UK and Europe and has been praised more for his long-term success and authenticity than for any awards he may have won. He is well-respected for staying true to his musical roots instead of chasing trends.
Chris Rea Legacy and Tributes
Chris Rea leaves behind a powerful legacy as one of Britain’s most admired blues-rock musicians, remembered for his soulful guitar style, honest songwriting, and timeless songs like Driving Home for Christmas and The Road to Hell, which continue to be loved across generations. He was respected for staying true to his art, avoiding celebrity hype, and letting his music speak for itself. After his passing, fans, fellow artists, and critics paid heartfelt tributes, praising his emotional depth, distinctive slide-guitar sound, and lasting influence on blues and rock music. His songs remain a regular presence on radio and playlists, ensuring that Chris Rea’s impact and memory live on.
