PROFILE DETAILS
NAME: Silvio Anthony Ciccone
REAL NAME: Silvio Anthony Ciccone (commonly known as Tony)
AGE: 94 years old
Gender: Male
weight: Information not publicly available
Height: Information not publicly available
Birthdate: June 2, 1931
Birth Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, USA
NET WORTH: Estimated $1 million – $5 million (2026)
Salary: Information not publicly available
MAIN INCOME SOURCE: Viticulture (Ciccone Vineyard & Winery) and Engineering Pension
Profession: Retired Design Engineer and Vintner
RELIGION: Catholic
FAMILY: Patriarch of the Ciccone family; father of eight children.
PARENTS: Gaetano Ciccone and Michelina Di Iulio (Italian immigrants)
SPOUSE: madonna-louise-fortin/" title="Madonna Louise Fortin">Madonna Louise Fortin (m. 1955–1963; deceased); Joan Gustafson (m. 1966–2024; deceased)
CHILDREN: Anthony (deceased), Martin, Madonna, Paula, Christopher (deceased), Melanie, Jennifer, and Mario.
CAREER: Former Optics and Military Engineer for Chrysler Defense and General Dynamics; Founder of Ciccone Vineyard & Winery.
Nationality: American
SOCIAL PROFILES: Information not publicly available (Personal); @cicconevineyard (Business Instagram/Facebook)
What is Silvio Anthony Ciccone Net Worth and salary?
As of early 2026, Silvio Anthony Ciccone’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. The primary driver of his wealth is the Ciccone Vineyard & Winery, a 78-acre estate in Suttons Bay, Michigan. In late 2023, the property—which includes 15 acres of planted vines, a historic barn, and a 5-bedroom residence—was listed for sale with an asking price of approximately $4.925 million.
While his daughter Madonna possesses a net worth exceeding $850 million, Silvio has maintained financial independence through his long career as an engineer for Chrysler and General Dynamics, supplemented by the commercial success of his winery. His specific annual salary is not publicly available, as he has transitioned into a consulting role within the family business.
Early Life
Silvio “Tony” Ciccone was born in 1931 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, to Italian immigrants Gaetano and Michelina Ciccone. Growing up in a hardworking immigrant community, he was instilled with a rigorous work ethic and a commitment to the “American Dream.” He was the first in his family to pursue higher education, eventually earning a degree in Physics from Geneva College after serving in the United States Air Force.
Before fame
Before becoming known to the world as the father of the “Queen of Pop,” Silvio led a disciplined life as a professional engineer. He worked for Chrysler Defense and later General Dynamics Land Systems in suburban Detroit, specializing in optics and military engineering. During this time, he raised his large family in Rochester Hills, Michigan, maintaining a small backyard vineyard as a hobby—a nod to his Italian heritage.
Awards
While Silvio does not hold entertainment industry awards, his professional and agricultural contributions have been recognized:
- Viticulture Excellence: Ciccone Vineyard & Winery has received numerous medals for its estate-grown wines, including its signature Dolcetto and Cabernet Franc.
- Community Recognition: He is honored as a pioneer of the Leelanau Peninsula wine trail, being one of the first ten vintners to establish a winery in the region.
Personal Life and Relationships
Silvio’s personal life has been marked by both deep devotion and significant loss. He married Madonna Louise Fortin in 1955; she tragically passed away from breast cancer in 1963. In 1966, he married Joan Gustafson, who had worked as the family’s housekeeper. Silvio and Joan remained married for 58 years until her death in September 2024. His relationship with his daughter Madonna was famously strained during her early career but has evolved into a close, supportive bond in his later years.
Family life
Silvio is the patriarch of a large, complex family. He had six children with his first wife and two with his second. Recent years have brought profound grief; he lost his eldest son, Anthony, in 2023, followed by his wife Joan in September 2024, and his son Christopher in October 2024. Despite these losses, he remains the center of the family, often seen in social media tributes surrounded by his surviving children and grandchildren.
Associated with
- Madonna: His world-famous daughter.
- Christopher Ciccone: His late son, an artist and author.
- The Leelanau Peninsula Wine Trail: He is a foundational figure in the Michigan wine industry.
- General Dynamics: His long-term corporate employer.
Real Estate
His primary real estate asset is the Ciccone Vineyard & Winery in Suttons Bay, Michigan. The 78-acre estate features panoramic views of West Grand Traverse Bay and a renovated turn-of-the-century barn used for events. As of 2026, the winery has ceased booking new weddings, fueling speculation regarding a potential sale or transition of the property.
Net Worth History
- 1950s–1990s: Steady accumulation of wealth through a high-level engineering career.
- 1995: Purchased the Hilltop Road property in Michigan to establish his vineyard.
- 2010s: Increased valuation as the Leelanau Peninsula became a premier wine destination.
- 2023–2026: Asset value peaked with the $4.9M listing of the family estate.
Trivia
- Retirement Philosophy: When asked about retirement, Silvio famously says, “I’m going to go until the wheels fall off!”
- Italian Roots: He is the only grower in Michigan to produce the Italian varietal Dolcetto.
- Military Service: He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
- “Zero F* Mentality”:** Madonna credited her father for her own resilience, stating he gave her his “zero F*** mentality.”
BIOGRAPHY
Executive Summary
Silvio Anthony “Tony” Ciccone stands as a symbol of the 20th-century American immigrant success story. As of February 2026, at 94 years of age, he remains a figure of immense resilience and dignity. While the world recognizes him primarily as the father of Madonna, his own legacy is defined by a rigorous 30-year career in military engineering and his second act as a pioneering vintner in Northern Michigan.
Born to Italian immigrants in Pennsylvania, Silvio’s life has been a testament to the values of hard work and discipline—traits he famously passed down to his children. His journey took him from the Air Force to the design rooms of Chrysler, and eventually to the rolling hills of the Leelanau Peninsula, where he planted his first vines by hand in 1995.
The mid-2020s have been a period of “enduring with dignity” for Silvio. Following the deaths of his wife Joan and two of his sons in quick succession between 2023 and 2024, he has remained “warrior-like,” according to family tributes. His 94th birthday in June 2025 was a global social media event, highlighting his continued zest for life and his refusal to retire. Today, Silvio Ciccone is celebrated not just as a celebrity parent, but as a patriarch who survived “many wars and many losses” while maintaining a sharp sense of humor and an unwavering desire to make the most of every day.