All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2024)

DISGRACED singer-songwriter R. Kelly has made millions throughout his career but after spending the last few years behind bars his bank balance has drastically worsened.

The dark world of the convicted criminal was made public in 2019 in a bombshell documentary titled "Surviving R. Kelly" which is set to resurface on TV screens tonight in the UK.

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What is R. Kelly's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Robert Sylvester Kelly has an estimated net worth of around minus $2million.

It was revealed in 2020 that Kelly owes over $1.9million to the Internal Revenue Service.

At the peak of his career, it is estimated that Kelly was worth around $100million.

Accusations made against R. Kelly and his convictions

All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2)

Since the 90s, R. Kelly has faced several sex crime accusations.

Some of them have been dismissed, others he is now in jail for.

Here we take a look at those accusations and the crimes he was found guilty of:

1996:Teenager Tiffany Hawkins sues Kelly for 'inappropriate sexual conduct' - the case was settled out of court for £250K.

2002:Kelly is charged with 21 counts of making child pornography. He is acquitted of all charges.

2017:The singer is accused of running a “sex cult” , something he denied.

2019:Kelly is arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes, people trafficking and obstruction of justice The charges against him included child pornography, kidnapping and forced labour.

2021:The singer is found guilty in September 2021 on all nine charges against him. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison.

2022: Kelly faces a second trial, this time he is found guilty ofsexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughterand of sexual misconduct with two other minors around the same time period, as well.

2023:The shamed star is jailed for a second time, his sentence is 20 years.

He splashed his cash during his career with one of the biggest purchases being a luxury mansion in Atlanta.

It is alleged that the home is the spot where R. Kelly held women captive and forced them to participate in orgies.

The property was sold in 2022 for $1.7million after the sadistic truths around the house were revealed.

Who is R. Kelly?

A Chicago native, R. Kelly broke into the R&B scene in 1993 with his first successful solo album, 12 Play.

Kelly is widely known for his musical career and his "gospel-like vocals and highly sexualized lyrics," according to Britannica.

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Despite being trained to sing in churches. Kelly's music is far from holy and features some questionable messages.

At age 16, Kelly and his family moved from the projects, and he was enlisted in a prestigious school, Kenwood Academy.

R. Kelly guilty on multiple counts in sex abuse trial

His teacher entered him in a local talent show to perform a Stevie Wonder song.

Then at 22 years old, Kelly and his then-group, MGM, won a $100K cash prize for competing on the television show, Big Break.

They eventually broke up due to a conflict over the money.

Kelly would go on to have the most successful career out of his bandmates.

What are R. Kelly's most popular songs?

R. Kelly exploded onto the music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He quickly managed to gain more Billboard Top 40 hits than any other male solo artist at the time and cemented his legacy of a great of his era.

According to Billboard, Step in the Name of Love (2011) is his third most popular song of all time, followed by Bump n' Grind (1993) and I Wish (2000).

Some of his other biggest hits include Ignition (2003) and Same Girl (2007).

He also made the iconic track I Believe I Can Fly (1995), featured in the basketball movie Space Jam.

But in 2021, R. Kelly was found guilty of nine charges made against him.

These included bribery, forced labor, kidnapping, exploitation of a child, racketeering - involving six alleged victims - and sexual trafficking across state lines.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

How much is the R. Kelly catalogue worth?

The price of R. Kelly’s catalogue is rumoured to be worth up to $21million, say Billboard.

Reports aid Kelly tried to sell off his music rights when he was arrested to try and find some cash but it is widely believed that no one offered a penny to get them.

Despite the $21million potential, the price is thought to have significantly dropped since he was arrested back in 2019.

His radio airtime dropped by up to 95 per cent since the allegations came out and his music became shunned in public.

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The latest estimates before he was found guilty of several crimes valued his music between $8.4million and $10.5million.

Although the source told Billboard the guilty sentence would result in it being a "fire sale" meaning a further huge discount would've been expected.

But even with the discounts, one popular music buyer claims they "wouldn’t go near it with a 10-foot pole”.

How to watch Surviving R. Kelly?

The documentary into the crimes of the disgraced rapper will air on Channel 4 in the UK tonight at 12:05am.

Read more on the Irish Sun

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All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (9)

Titled Surviving R Kelly, it features comments from alleged victims and was partly responsible the public push for his arrest back in 2019.

The powerful series was first aired on Netflix in 2019 and is still available on the streaming platform in many regions.

Sexual assault helplines and support

IF you or someone you know is affected by any issues raised in this story then we are here to help.

Try calling RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Alternatively call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Or see if your area has a sexual assault referral center or similar support group.

They provide a safe space and dedicated care for people who have been raped, sexually assaulted, or abused.

Remember, it is never too late to speak up.

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All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2024)

FAQs

How rich was R Kelly at his peak? ›

At the peak of his career, it is estimated that Kelly was worth around $100million.

How much is R Kelly's catalog worth? ›

The Sun stated that R Kelly's catalog worth estimate was somewhere between $8.4 million and $10.5 million before his conviction. In April 2024, Billboard's estimated worth of the catalog was $21 million.

How much was R Kelly's net worth in the 90s? ›

At the utmost of his career, R. Kelly's net worth was estimated to be around $100 million. His 1995 album "R. Kelly" sold an incredible 4 million copies, which was a huge commercial success.

How much is R Kelly's net worth in 2024? ›

Kelly's Net Worth is estimated to be -$2 million as of 2024. This means he's millions of dollars in debt. After his arrest and conviction on sex trafficking charges, his financial situation went from bad to worse.

What was Aaliyah's net worth when she died? ›

Late singer and musician Aaliyah had an estimated net worth of $8 million at the time of her death, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Aaliyah had a promising career in music releasing several hits and earning titles like "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop".

Who has the richest catalog? ›

Top 10 most expensive back catalogues
Artist/SongwriterReported Sale Price (USD)Years in Industry
1 Queen1.27b51
2 Michael Jackson600m45
3 Bruce Springsteen500m60
4= KISS300m51
6 more rows
Jul 2, 2024

What was our Kelly's net worth before he went to jail? ›

Prior to his legal troubles, R. Kelly had built an incredible net worth of approximately $100 million, which he lost after paying millions to settle the lawsuit filed against him by dozens of women and paying out other fines and fees related to his legal woes. Let's dig into the sources that contributed to R.

Did R. Kelly sell his publishing rights? ›

R. Kelly sold some of his music rights for $5 million around the time of his trial, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors argued the proceeds should be considered when the judge issues a fine. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison plus $140,000 in fines, with restitution to be decided later.

How much was R. Kelly worth at his height? ›

Kelly's wealth was estimated to be a staggering $100 million at the height of his career. This impressive sum reflects his immense success in the music industry, with hit songs topping the charts and generating significant revenue and royalties even today.

How much is Usher the R&B singer worth? ›

R&B singer and songwriter Usher has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2023, Usher made $40 million from 34 shows at his residency at Las Vegas' Dolby Live stage.

When was R. Kelly's first hit? ›

He released his first solo single, "Sex Me", on August 6 1993. In 1993 Kelly's first solo album, 12 Play, was released. The album's second single "Bump n' Grind" was Kelly's first number 1.

How much has R. Kelly sold? ›

Career. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him the most commercially successful male R&B artist of the 1990s and one of the world's best-selling music artists.

Who has the highest net worth in 2024? ›

Estimated net worth of the 20 richest people in the United States in 2024 (in billion U.S. dollars)
CharacteristicNet worth in billion U.S. dollars
Elon Musk (Tesla Motors, SpaceX)195
Jeff Bezos (Amazon)194
Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)177
Larry Ellison (Oracle)141
9 more rows
Jul 5, 2024

Who is our Kelly's sister? ›

How many number 1 records does R. Kelly have? ›

On May 29, 2007, the album was released. It became Kelly's sixth and final album in his career to chart at number one on the Billboard 200.

How much money does Kelly make a year? ›

Kelly makes $22 million each year for Live, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which is just seriously impressive.

Was Gene Kelly rich? ›

Gene Kelly had a net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 1996. He earned his wealth through his roles as a dancer, actor, director, and producer. Kelly's success and financial status highlight his immense talent and lasting impact on the entertainment industry.

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