Have you ever wondered what R Kelly’s net worth is? Well, you’re not alone. Many people are curious about the famous record producer and singer’s net worth, especially since he has been in the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons.
As of May 2023, R Kelly’s net worth is actually negative $2 million.
That’s right, the singer is technically in debt. How did this happen?
Well, Kelly has been facing some financial difficulties as of late, to say the least. He had been embroiled in a number of legal battles, which ultimately culminated with his being sentenced to 30 years in prison. This has undoubtedly taken a toll on his finances.
In this article, we’ll break down R Kelly’s career and net worth as well as how he got into this situation.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Robert Sylvester Kelly, better known as R Kelly, was born on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, Kelly was surrounded by music. His mother was a singer and his father was a jazz musician.
As a teenager, Robert Kelly began to pursue a career in music himself. He started out as a street performer before eventually making his way onto the Chicago music scene.
Career
R Kelly enjoyed a successful music career for more than two decades. He released numerous hit songs and has sold millions of albums worldwide.
Some of R Kelly’s most successful songs include “I Believe I Can Fly”, “Bump n Grind”, and “Trapped in the Closet”. All of these songs were massive hits and helped to make Kelly a household name.
“I Believe I Can Fly” was even featured in Michael Jordan’s 1996 film, Space Jam.
His first solo album , “12 Play”, was released in 1993 and went on to become a platinum-selling album. Kelly has since released a total of thirteen studio albums, all of which have been commercially successful.
In addition to his solo work, R Kelly has also written and produced songs for other artists, including Michael Jackson and Aaliyah.
Awards and Nominations
R Kelly has been recognized and honored at many different award shows over the years. Some of the most notable awards shows that he has been a part of include the Grammy Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Billboard Awards.
Kelly has won numerous awards at these shows, including three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, and 18 Billboard Music Awards. He is considered to be one of the most successful R&B singers of all time and has enjoyed a long and successful career.
Controversies
R Kelly had been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women. This had a negative impact on his career, as it has made it difficult for him to earn money.
In addition to the allegations of sexual misconduct, Kelly has also been involved in a number of legal battles. He has been sued multiple times for allegedly owing money to people. These legal troubles have undoubtedly taken a toll on his finances and have resulted in him having a negative net worth.
Kelly even revealed in April 2020 that he owes nearly $1.9 million to the IRS. He did this in an effort to make a case for a release from prison.
Overall, R Kelly’s career has been plagued by controversy. This has led to him having a negative net worth and difficulty earning money.
Prison Sentencing
On June 29th, 2022, R Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison by District Judge Ann Donnelly.
A year prior, he’d been convicted of nine different charges such as “racketeering predicated on criminal conduct including sexual exploitation of children, forced labor and Mann Act violations involving the coercion and transportation of women and girls in interstate commerce to engage in illegal sexual activity (sex trafficking).”
United States Attorneys Breon Peace and Steve Francis had the following to say regarding the sentencing.
“R. Kelly used his fame, fortune and enablers to prey on the young, the vulnerable and the voiceless for his own sexual gratification, while many turned a blind eye,” stated U.S. Attorney Peace.
“Through his actions, Kelly exhibited a callous disregard for the devastation his crimes had on his victims and has shown no remorse for his conduct. With today’s sentence he has finally and appropriately been held accountable for his decades of abuse, exploitation and degradation of teenagers and other vulnerable young people.
We hope that today’s sentence brings some measure of comfort and closure to the victims, including those who bravely testified at trial, and serves as long-overdue recognition that their voices deserve to be heard and their lives matter.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is R. Kelly’s net worth?
As of May 2023, R. Kelly’s net worth is -$2 million.
R Kelly Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, R Kelly’s net worth is estimated to be negative $2 million. This is a significant decrease from previous years, as Kelly has been facing many legal and financial problems.
Despite tons of evidence suggesting otherwise (even an alleged DVD showing Kelly having sex with an underage girl), he has maintained his innocence on all charges.
Personal Life
R Kelly was married to Andrea Lee from 1996 to 2009. The couple has three children together.
R Kelly and his wife Andrea Lee were married for 13 years before they filed for divorce in 2009. The reason for their divorce was reportedly due to Kelly’s cheating.
Since the divorce, Kelly lost millions of dollars. This is largely due to the fact that he has been ordered to pay Lee $2.9 million in alimony and child support. In addition, he has had to pay various legal fees. His unpaid child support has contributed to his negative net worth.
In recent years, R Kelly has been in a relationship with Jocelyn Savage. Savage is believed to in a mentally abusive relationship with Kelly, as she has spoken out against her parents (who are critical of Kelly) and has defended him against the sexual misconduct allegations.
Real Estate
In 2002, R Kelly bought a mansion in Olympia Fields, Illinois for $3.5 million. The estate spans 7,000 square feet and contains eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
The house went into foreclosure in 2010 after Kelly failed to make mortgage payments. It was then sold at auction for $950,000 in 2013.
Prior to his arrest in 2019, Kelly also rented a townhouse in Chicago’s Trump Tower.
Key Takeaway
Now that you know what R Kelly’s net worth is and how he squandered it, let’s take a look at the most important lesson we can learn from his troubling story.
Your Reputation Is Everything
It’s no secret that R Kelly’s reputation has been in shambles for many years. From the very beginning of his career, there have been allegations of sexual misconduct.
Despite this, Kelly continued to cheat on his wife and was eventually convicted of child pornography charges, amongst other things.
As a result of all of this, Kelly’s net worth has plummeted into the negative and he owes tens of millions. Toward the end of his music career, he no longer commanded the same high fees for performances and his music sales suffered.
In addition, he has had to pay out millions of dollars in settlements and legal fees.
The moral of the story is that your reputation is everything. Once it’s been tarnished, it can be very difficult to repair.
This is especially true in the age of the Internet, where information (true or false) spreads like wildfire.