Queen Latifah Net Worth

Queen Latifah Net Worth

Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Queen Latifa is? Well, the rapper, singer-songwriter, actress, and producer has earned a fortune since she rose to fame in the late 1980s.

Most known for defying sexism and racism with her musical lyrics, Queen Latifah is an icon in the entertainment industry.

As of May 2023, Queen Latifah has a net worth of $70 million.

This post will show you exactly how she amassed such a high net worth.

Early Life & Career Beginnings 

Queen Latifah was born Dana Elaine Owens on March 18, 1970, in Newark, New Jersey. Her stage name, Latifah, means “delicate” and “very kind” in Arabic, which she discovered at eight. 

She graduated from Irvington High School, where she was a star forward on the basketball team. After high school, Latifah attended Borough of Manhattan Community College classes.

Shortly after graduating high school, Latifah got her start in the music industry.

She began beatboxing for the hip-hop group Ladies Fresh and eventually got the attention of Dante Ross, an employee for the music label Tommy Boy Music. 

She released her first single, “Wrath of My Madness,” in 1988 and released her first album, “All Hail The Queen,” in 1989.

The album would receive a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1992.

Latifah sings about issues Black women face. She brought awareness to topics such as domestic violence, harassment, and relationship problems.  

Queen Latifah’s Music Career & Facing Adversity 

Queen Latifah Net Worth
Source: Billboard

Latifah released her second studio album “Nature of a Sista,” which reached #117 on the Billboard 200 charts in 1991.

In 1993, Latifah joined the label Motown Records and released her third album “Black Reign.” “Black Reign” was certified Gold and peaked at #15 on U.S. R&B/Hip-Hp charts.

The single “U.N.I.T.Y.” from that album ranked #23 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and #2 on the U.S. Hot Rap Songs list. The song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1994. 

In 1998, Latifah released her fourth studio album, “Order in the Court.” That same year she performed at the Super Bowl XXXII halftime show and was the first rapper ever to do so. 

However, Latifah faced some challenges along the way for being a woman in the male-dominated rapping industry.

In 2017, Latifah spoke at Tina Brown’s Women in the World Summit about fighting to be a successful female rapper.

Although challenging, Latifah fought for equal treatment and representation among her male counterparts and achieved great success. 

In 2004, Latifah Released “The Dana Owens Album, marking the artist’s switch from rap to soul and jazz music.

Latifah stuck with the jazz/soul genre and released her sixth album, “Trav’lin’ Light,” in 2007. Both of these albums were nominated for Grammy Awards. 

The artist made a return to rap in 2009 and released her latest album “Persona,” which ranked #3 on the U.S. R&B charts. 

In 2019, it was reported that she’d release another album (her first in over a decade) but there have not been any updates since. 

Latifah has sold 2 million records worldwide during her music career. This accounts for part of her fortune, but Queen Latifah’s net worth comes from much more. 

Latifah’s Acting and Producing Career 

In addition to her music career, Latifah is also an actress and producer.

She began acting in 1991 in the movies “Jungle Fever” and “House Party 2,” and starred in two episodes of the hit show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”

Latifah acted in the productions “Living Single” from 1993-1998, “Life Support,” “Bessie,” and the musical film “Chicago.”

She won a Golden Globe for her role in “Life Support” and has won three Screen Actors Guild Awards for her roles in “Bessie,” “Life Support,” and “Chicago.”

Latifah also won an Emmy for her role in “Bessie.” In 2006, Latifah was the first hip-hop artist to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Most notably, Latifah was the star and host of “The Queen Latifah Show.” The talk show ran from 1999-2001, and then again in 2013 and 2014.

She was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Host in a Talk, Reality, News/Information, or Variety Series in 2015.

Latifah has also had roles in “The Secret Life of Bees,” “Hairspray,” “Valentine’s Day,” “22 Jump Street,” “Ice Age,” “Respect,” and more.

Her highest-grossing film was “Beauty Shop,” in which she earned $10 million alone. She also earned $1 million for starring alongside Steve Martin in “Bringing Down the House.” 

In addition to her music and acting career, Latifah is also a producer.

She is producing and starring in the reboot of the 1980s show “The Equalizer,” a show about a single mother who helps others find justice.

Other than that, she has produced over 40 other projects, including “Scream: The TV Series,” “Star,” “Salt-N-Pepa,” and more. 

From Rapper and Actor to Author and CoverGirl

Queen Latifah On a Covergirl poster

 

Source: Modern Curves

If you think Latifah has done it all at this point, think again. Latifah keeps adding more to her list of professions, including the title of “author.” Her books include “Put on Your Crown,” “Ladies First,” and “Queen of the Scene.” 

Latifah is also a popular spokesperson for brands such as CoverGirl, Pizza Hut, and Jenny Craig.

In 2006, Latifah created her makeup line with CoverGirl, Queen Collection, designed specifically for women of color.  

Given all of Latifah’s projects on top of a successful music career, it’s no doubt she’s amassed quite a fortune. 

Queen Latifah Net Worth

As of May 2023, Queen Latifah has a net worth of $70 million. She started as a singer, rapper, and songwriter and is arguably known as the First Lady of Hip-Hop.

From there, she broke out into the world of acting and even hosted her own talk show. To top it off, Latifah has also written numerous books and created her own makeup line. 

Given that there’s nothing she can’t do, it’s no surprise that Queen Latifah’s net worth is as big as it is today. 

She is still well involved in the entertainment world and stars in the popular CBS show The Equalizer.

Key Takeaways

Keep Fighting

Being a woman in the male-dominated rapping industry wasn’t easy for Latifah. She wasn’t treated the same way as her male counterparts and was not always given the respect she deserved.

But Latifah stood up for herself and kept fighting to earn the success she knew she was capable of. Latifah’s ability to persevere has given her fame and fortune and paved the way for other female rappers to succeed.

Just like Latifah, don’t give up on your dreams. 

Be a Voice for Others

It’s no doubt that Latifah brought awareness to issues Black women face through her music– something not everyone has the ability to do.

In addition, Latifah inspired many women and girls of color when she became a CoverGirl and ultimately a role model for them to look up to.

She created her own makeup specifically for women of color because many brands only included lighter shades. If you have a voice, use it to speak for others who don’t. 

Explore Your Talents

When Latifah started her career, she probably didn’t think she’d be doing half the things she’s accomplished.

If you want to explore your talents in producing, writing, or even creating a makeup line, give it a try! Take Selena Gomez for example. She took a page out of Latifah’s book and created her own makeup line too.

As long as you put your mind to it, there’s nothing you can’t do!