Bobby Brown Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Bobby Brown’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $2 million, Bobby Brown is recognized as an American R&B singer/songwriter. He started his musical journey as part of the pop group New Edition and later transitioned to a thriving solo career. His debut solo album, “King of Stage,” included the successful track “Girlfriend,” but it was his sophomore album, “Don’t Be Cruel,” that truly launched him into fame. This album featured hit singles like “My Prerogative” and “Every Little Step,” which won him a Grammy Award. Over the years, Brown released several other albums and worked with numerous artists. However, his personal struggles often eclipsed his musical achievements, notably his tumultuous marriage to Whitney Houston and battles with addiction. Whitney passed away in 2012, followed by the tragic death of their daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, in 2015 at just 22 years old.

Whitney Houston’s Estate

Upon her death, Whitney Houston was reported to be $20 million in debt to her record label, Sony/Arista. However, her estate gradually generated enough revenue from the sale of her music and merchandise to fully settle this debt, additionally creating a $20 million inheritance for her only child, 19-year-old Bobbi Kristina Brown.

When Bobbi Kristina died in 2015, she had received only about 10% of the trust fund, totaling roughly $2 million, which went to her closest living relative—her father, Bobby Brown. The remainder of the Houston estate is now under the control of Whitney’s mother and two brothers.

Early Life

Bobby Brown, born Robert Barisford Brown on February 5, 1969, in Boston, Massachusetts, grew up in the Orchard Park Projects in Roxbury as one of eight siblings. His passion for performance was sparked at age three when he witnessed a live concert by James Brown. Later, he became a member of his church’s choir.

Brown experienced a challenging upbringing that included violence and poverty. His parents, a substitute teacher and a construction worker, struggled to provide for his needs, which led him and his friends to resort to stealing. A significant turning point occurred when one of his close friends was fatally stabbed when Brown was just 11 years old.

New Edition

In 1981, at the age of 12, Brown and two childhood friends formed New Edition. The addition of their manager’s nephew the following year solidified their status as a five-member group. Their debut album, “Candy Girl,” released in 1983, peaked at #20 on the “Billboard” R&B singles chart. Despite enjoying several successful albums, singles, and tours, Brown noted that his earnings during this time amounted to only “$500 and a VCR.” He departed the group in 1986 to focus on his solo career.

Solo Career & Other Work

In 1986, Brown’s initial solo effort, “King of Stage,” was released and experienced moderate success. His collaboration with acclaimed R&B producers Teddy Riley, L.A. Reid, and Babyface for his second album, “Don’t Be Cruel” (1988), propelled him into superstardom, with the album selling over 12 million copies.

Brown gained fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s with tracks like “Don’t Be Cruel” and “Humpin’ Around,” although his music career somewhat faded amidst the media attention surrounding his tumultuous relationship with Whitney Houston in the late 1990s.

Brown made his film debut in 1989 with a minor role in “Ghostbusters II,” before appearing in the 1990 HBO children’s special “Mother Goose Rock ‘n’ Rhyme” as all three characters in “Three Blind Mice.”

In 1990, he reunited with New Edition during the MTV Video Music Awards, which led to the release of their album, “Home Again,” in 1996. The group reunited again for a special on BET in 2005 and performed at the BET Awards in 2009 to honor Michael Jackson. Brown and New Edition continue to perform together.

In 2005, Brown inked a deal with Bravo for the reality show “Being Bobby Brown.” Despite negative reviews, the series earned Bravo its highest ratings in that time slot before being canceled in 2006 after Houston declined to participate in a second season. Bobby appeared in “The Masked Singer” in 2021, followed by “Biography: Bobby Brown” and “Bobby Brown: Every Little Step” on A&E in 2022.

Brown intended to publish a revealing book titled “Bobby Brown: The Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But,” penned by Derrick Handspike, in 2008. However, following leaked controversial remarks about Houston, he withdrew from the project. Handspike eventually released the book after Houston’s death.

Personal Life

Regrettably, as Brown’s music career began to thrive, his personal life spiraled into chaos. He gained notoriety for his partying lifestyle and womanizing tendencies.

Brown and Houston were married on July 18, 1992, at her estate. They had their only child, Bobbi Kristina, in 1993. Unfortunately, their 15-year marriage was plagued by addiction, infidelity, and domestic turmoil. Brown faced multiple arrests for incidents including drunk driving and battery. The couple’s struggles made for plenty of headlines, ultimately culminating in their divorce in 2007.

In 2009, Brown welcomed a son, Cassius, with his manager and girlfriend of two years, Alicia Etheredge. They got engaged in May 2010 and celebrated their marriage in June 2012 in Hawaii. Together, they have two daughters: Bodhi Jameson Rein, born in 2015, and Hendrix Estelle Sheba, born in 2016.

Before his relationships with Houston and Etheredge, Brown had three children from two different women. He had a son, Landon, with Melika Williams in 1986, while Kim Ward gave birth to La’Princia and Bobby Jr. in 1989 and 1992, respectively.

Whitney Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, at the Beverly Hilton, where she was found deceased in a bathtub. The coroner’s investigation revealed that she had drowned accidentally, with heart disease and cocaine use listed as contributing factors. Tragically, three years later, Bobbi Kristina was discovered unconscious in a bathtub and later died months after in hospice care at the age of 22.

In November 2020, Bobby’s son, Bobby Brown Jr., was found deceased at his home, at the tender age of 28.