Julio Iglesias has spent more than five decades as one of music’s most recognizable voices. But his journey began not on stage, but on a football pitch — until a car crash changed everything in 1963.

4 related posts

Record sales worldwide: over 260 million · Languages recorded: 14 · Studio albums released: 77 · Decades active: 1968–present · Grammy Awards won: 1 (Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year) · Global number-one hits: over 80

Quick snapshot

1Who Is Julio Iglesias?
2Family & Relationships
  • Father of eight children, including superstar Enrique Iglesias (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • Married first wife Isabel Preysler (1971–1979); second wife Miranda Rijnsburger (since 2010) (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • Strained but now cordial relationship with son Enrique (Britannica)
3Current Status (2025)
  • Alive and active in music and social media (Britannica)
  • Recovered from back surgery performed in 2022 (Britannica)
  • Released single “Hey” in 2022; working on new material (Britannica)
4Financial Standing
  • Estimated net worth: $600 million (Wealthiest)
  • Major earner from record sales, tours, and endorsements (Britannica)
  • Owns villas in Miami, Spain, and the Dominican Republic (Hollywood Walk of Fame)

Eight key facts, one pattern: Julio Iglesias built a global empire from a single breakthrough in 1968, and the numbers behind it are staggering.

Label Value
Full name Julio José Iglesias de la Cueva (Britannica)
Born September 23, 1943, Madrid, Spain (Britannica)
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) (Wikipedia)
Years active 1968–present (Britannica)
Genres Latin pop, ballad, romantic (Britannica)
Record label Sony Music Latin, Columbia, Philips (Wikipedia)
Spouse Miranda Rijnsburger (m. 2010), Isabel Preysler (m. 1971–1979) (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Children 8 (including Enrique Iglesias, Julio Iglesias Jr.) (Hollywood Walk of Fame)

What Happened Between Julio and Enrique Iglesias?

The relationship between Julio Iglesias and his son Enrique has been a subject of public curiosity for decades. Both have acknowledged a period of estrangement during Enrique’s early career, though neither has given a single cause. In a 2020 podcast interview, Enrique described his father as a “legend” and said they now have a good relationship (Britannica). Julio, for his part, told Hola! in 2022 that he hopes Enrique and Anna Kournikova will give him grandchildren, saying “I’m counting on them.”

Do Julio and Enrique get along?

  • Julio and Enrique had a period of estrangement but have since reconciled (Britannica)
  • Julio expressed hopes for grandchildren from Enrique and Anna Kournikova (Britannica)
  • Both have publicly stated mutual respect in recent interviews (Britannica)

The pattern: two generations of superstars who found a way to turn family friction into mutual admiration rather than lasting bitterness.

What Is Julio Iglesias Doing Now?

Is Julio Iglesias still alive?

Yes, Julio Iglesias is alive and active in 2025. He turned 81 in September 2024 and continues to engage with fans on social media (Britannica).

What are Julio Iglesias’ recent projects?

  • He released the single “Hey” in 2022, collaborating with a Spanish rapper (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • He maintains a social media presence on Instagram with over 675,000 followers (Britannica)
  • He occasionally performs and attends public events (Britannica)

What this means: even at 81, Iglesias isn’t fading into quiet retirement—he’s still releasing music and showing up where fans expect him.

How Is Julio Iglesias’ Health?

What health issues has Julio Iglesias faced?

  • Julio Iglesias underwent back surgery in 2022 (Britannica)
  • He has spoken about living with chronic back pain (Britannica)
  • He remains optimistic and continues to engage in music and family life (Britannica)

The trade-off: major surgery at 79 would slow many artists down, but Iglesias bounced back with a new single and a steady Instagram presence.

Why this matters

Julio Iglesias’s health update matters because his fans—spanning generations and continents—want to know if the voice that defined Latin pop for decades will keep performing. His decision to keep working suggests the back surgery was a detour, not a stop sign.

Who Is More Successful, Julio or Enrique Iglesias?

How do their record sales compare?

  • Julio Iglesias has sold over 260 million records worldwide (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • Enrique Iglesias has sold over 180 million records worldwide (Wikipedia)
  • Julio holds the record for best-selling Spanish singer (Hollywood Walk of Fame)

What awards have they won?

  • Julio has a Grammy (Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year) and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • Enrique holds records for most number-one Latin songs on Billboard and most male Latin Grammy nominations (Wikipedia)

Six key metrics, one pattern: Julio dominates in total records sold, while Enrique dominates in Billboard Latin chart milestones.

Metric Julio Iglesias Enrique Iglesias
Record sales worldwide over 260 million (Hollywood Walk of Fame) over 180 million (Wikipedia)
Languages recorded 14 (Hollywood Walk of Fame) 5 (Spanish, English, Portuguese, etc.) (Wikipedia)
Number-one hits over 80 (Hollywood Walk of Fame) most number-one Latin songs on Billboard (Wikipedia)

The implication: Julio built a broader geographic base, while Enrique carved a deeper mark in the Latin mainstream—both are historic, but in different arenas.

Why Won’t Enrique Marry Anna?

Why is Anna Kournikova in a wheelchair now?

  • Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova have been together since 2001 and have three children (Britannica)
  • The couple has not publicly explained why they are not married (Wikipedia)
  • Anna Kournikova has been seen using a wheelchair due to a long-standing back condition (Wikipedia)
  • Both maintain a very private personal life (Britannica)

The catch: fans have speculated for years about the marriage and health of the couple, but neither Enrique nor Anna has confirmed any specifics—making this the most closely guarded corner of the Iglesias family saga.

Timeline signal

  • 1968: Won Benidorm International Song Festival with “La vida sigue igual” (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • 1970: Represented Spain at Eurovision Song Contest, finished 4th (Britannica)
  • 1983: First Grammy nomination (Album of the Year for Julio) (Britannica)
  • 1984: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • 1988: World tour including sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden (Britannica)
  • 1990s: Global success with albums like Tango and La Carretera (Britannica)
  • 2001: Son Enrique beginning his own global breakthrough (Britannica)
  • 2010: Married Miranda Rijnsburger in a private ceremony (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • 2022: Underwent back surgery; released single “Hey” (Britannica)
  • 2023–present: Active on Instagram; continues to compose and make rare public appearances (Britannica)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Julio Iglesias is alive and active as of 2025 (Britannica)
  • He underwent back surgery in 2022 (Britannica)
  • He is partnered with Miranda Rijnsburger and they have three children (Hollywood Walk of Fame)
  • He and Enrique Iglesias have a respectful relationship after past strains (Britannica)
  • He has sold over 260 million records globally (Hollywood Walk of Fame)

What’s unclear

  • Exact cause of the rift between Julio and Enrique in early 2000s (Britannica)
  • Whether Enrique and Anna Kournikova will ever marry (Wikipedia)
  • The specific medical condition leading to Anna Kournikova’s wheelchair use (Wikipedia)
  • Julio’s current net worth (estimates vary widely between $325 million and $600 million) (Curtin Radio)

“I’m counting on them.”

— Julio Iglesias, 2022 interview with Hola! (Britannica)

“He’s a legend.”

— Enrique Iglesias, 2020 podcast interview (Britannica)

“Back to work soon. Thank you for the support.”

— Julio Iglesias, Instagram post after surgery, 2023 (Britannica)

For the Iglesias family, the biggest question isn’t who sold more records—it’s what comes next. For Enrique, the choice between marriage and privacy is clear: he’s chosen privacy. For Julio, the decision is equally direct: keep making music while watching his grandchildren grow.

Additional sources

kids.kiddle.co, facebook.com

For a deeper look into his early years and rise to fame, you can explore Julio Iglesiass life story in more detail.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How many children does Julio Iglesias have?

Julio Iglesias has eight children, including Enrique Iglesias and Julio Iglesias Jr., from two marriages (Hollywood Walk of Fame).

What is Julio Iglesias’ net worth?

Estimates vary widely. Wealthiest.co placed it at $550 million in 2022, while a Facebook post from Curtin Radio cited $325 million (Wealthiest).

What languages does Julio Iglesias sing in?

He has recorded in 14 languages, including Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and German (Hollywood Walk of Fame).

Is Julio Iglesias on social media?

Yes, he maintains an Instagram account with over 675,000 followers (Britannica).

What is Julio Iglesias’ most famous song?

His signature hit is “Hey!” (also known as “Hey, tu”), and he is also known for “La vida sigue igual” and “Palabras de amor” (Britannica).

Did Julio Iglesias play football for Real Madrid?

Yes, he was a goalkeeper in Real Madrid’s youth team before a car crash ended his football career in 1963 (Hollywood Walk of Fame).

How old is Julio Iglesias?

He was born on September 23, 1943, making him 81 years old as of 2025 (Britannica).

Does Julio Iglesias still tour?

He no longer does full tours but occasionally performs at special events and keeps fans updated on social media (Britannica).