When it comes to country music stars, there’s one that has amassed a greater fortune than any other, and if you’re thinking it’s Garth Brooks, think again.

While the “Friends in Low Places” singer has certainly racked up a sizeable stash of about $400 Million, that pales in comparison to the net worth of a singer who has risen to icon status. And that is, of course, Dolly Parton.

Dolly has spent her career working a LOT more than “9 to 5” and that effort has paid off to the tune of an estimated net worth of $650 Million!

And those dollars don’t just come from her iconic songs. Dolly Parton has been incredibly business savvy, with everything from books to perfume and wine bearing her name and likeness.

She has her Dollywood theme park and will soon open a Dolly-themed hotel in Nashville.

Dolly also has a list of successful movie roles to her credit.

And Parton has also strategically partnered with brands like Duncan Hines, Good American and jewelry-maker Kendra Scott.

Dolly is also currently staging both an upcoming Broadway musical of her life called “Dolly: A True Original Musical” and a tour of her music performed by symphonies across the nation called “Dolly Parton’s Threads: My Songs in Symphony” 

The Wonderful Reason Why Dolly Parton Isn’t a Billionaire

While a $650 Million fortune is impressive, the reason Dolly Parton isn’t a billionaire is even more impressive.

According to Parade, “it has been speculated that the singer could have achieved billionaire status if she were not so generous with her money, constantly investing in many philanthropic endeavors.”

In other words, Dolly is famous for giving a lot of her fortune away.

In fact, TIME named Dolly to its first-ever TIME100 Philanthropy List.

Dolly Parton earned a spot in Time’s “Titans” category for her decades-long track record of consistently giving back and stepping up in a crisis.

In a post on Time’s Instagram account featuring Dolly’s picture from Time’s philanthropy issue, the caption reads, “@dollyparton, major donor to COVID-19 vaccine research and creator of the Dollywood Foundation, which supports initiatives to keep kids in school and make sure they can read.”

The Time article about Dolly begins, “Country music icon Dolly Parton has been giving almost as long as she has been singing.”

The article highlights the legendary singer’s Dollywood Foundation and her Imagination Library that “has sent more than 270 million free, age-appropriate books to children under five in thousands of locales across the U.S. as well as in Canada, the U.K., Ireland and Australia.”

It also notes how diverse Dolly’s giving is, writing, “Parton’s philanthropy, though often focused in her home state, is as eclectic as her music”- citing her $1-million dollar donation to develop a COVID vaccine and her efforts to help victims of natural disasters like the wildfire in the Smoky Mountains and flooding due to Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee.

One Song Added a Huge Amount to Dolly Parton’s Net Worth

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Of course, Dolly Parton’s legendary songwriting skills have added a great deal to her bottom line.

And one song in particular has been a huge earner for the country icon.

Whitney Houston’s recording of Dolly’s signature hit “I Will Always Love You” has added at least $20 Million in royalties to Dolly’s fortune according to celebritynetworth.com.

Dolly Parton Will Add to Her Fortune With Upcoming Las Vegas Residency

At 79-years-old, Dolly Parton isn’t slowing down and will only add to that $650 Million fortune in the months ahead.

The legendary singer-songwriter announced a Las Vegas mini-residence this December at The Colosseum at the world famous Caesars Palace.

And when tickets went on sale, they sold out in minutes.

Everything Dolly touches, it seems, turns to gold.