Nelly Net Worth

Nelly Net Worth

Have you ever wondered what net worth of Nelly is? Well, the American rapper has several hit records and is worth a fortune.

He has been in the music industry for nearly 30 years.

As of May 2023, Nelly has a net worth of $40 million.

This post will discuss how he achieved success.

Early Life 

Nelly, formerly known as Cornell Iral Hayes, was born November 2, 1974, in Austin, Texas. His parents divorced when he was young and moved to St. Louis, Missouri. 

He attended University City High School and created a rap group called St. Lunatics with his friends and half-brother.

The group was fairly successful and generated fans locally. Their single Gimme What Ya Got was a hit within the city.  

However, they could never become known nationally, and record labels weren’t interested.

Nelly was shown to have the most potential, so the group allowed him to go solo, and Nelly wouldn’t let them down.

Career

Nelly Performing at a concert
Source: Complex

Nelly secured a deal from Universal Music Group, but the other artists on the label were not a fan of his.

At the time, music was dominated by the east and west coast. Nelly being from the midwest, was viewed as an outsider who did not belong.

Nelly was fearless, worked hard, and let his music do the talking despite what others thought.

He released his debut album, Country Grammar (Hot Shit), which produced the hit single Ride Wit Me, which peaked as high as number 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

The song was a massive hit and put Nelly on the map as an upcoming rapper in the industry.

He followed up with the release of Nellyville in 2002, which debuted at number 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Music Albums. 

Hot N Here, Nellyville’s lead single, was Nelly’s first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also won the Grammy Award for Best Male Rap Solo Performance. 

Nellyville was his most successful album to date. It was certified 6x multi-platinum and was one of the biggest albums of the early 2000s.

Nelly mastered the art of making a hit. He could create unforgettable catchy hooks that flowed beautifully over beats.

His rhymes were not complex like Eminem, but simple and perfect for singing along to. 

This strategy helped him release five more studio albums, Sweat(2004), Suit(2004), Brass Knuckles(2008), 5.0(2010), M.0(2013), and Heartland(2021).

Suit debuted at number one on the 2004 Billboard Album Charts, but all albums had commercial success.

Nelly Net Worth

As of May 2023, Nelly has a net worth of $40 million. Most of his wealth is from his success as an artist, profiting from music sales, tour dates, and features.

He also had various business ventures throughout his career. He had brief sneaker deals with Nike and Reebok and ads for Got Milk? And Ford Motor Company.

Additionally, he owns Apple Bottoms, a female clothing line, and Vokal, a clothing brand that caters to men.

Nelly is one of the biggest rappers to come out of the midwest, and his impact and legacy will live on forever.

Key Takeaways

Support your friends

Nelly was initially a part of the rap group St. Lunatics, but the ceiling was not that high for the group.

So they allowed Nelly to go solo, and he became one of the more successful rappers of the early 2000s.

You should always want to see your friends and family achieve great things, even if it means taking a back seat. Sometimes, you have to let others shine until it’s your turn to be great.

There will always be a hater

Nelly was viewed differently because he was from the midwest but did not let that stop him from success.

As you embark on your journey, you will have people that will doubt you. Often people will even project their insecurities onto you; you must understand no one has the vision you do.

So if someone isn’t fully supportive of you or bringing positive energy your way, don’t let them stop you from achieving your goals.