Janet Jackson Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Curious about Janet Jackson’s Net Worth?

Janet Jackson, an American singer, actress, producer, and choreographer, boasts a net worth of $180 million. Coming from the legendary Jackson family, Janet grew up surrounded by music, which laid the foundation for her successful career. Initially delving into acting with appearances on TV shows like “Good Times” and “Diff’rent Strokes” in the late ’70s and early ’80s, it was her musical talent that propelled her to global stardom. With her 1986 album “Control,” she achieved a breakthrough, spawning multiple hit singles and establishing her unique blend of pop, R&B, and dance music. The album’s themes of empowerment and self-expression resonated widely, solidifying her as a formidable figure.

Janet’s subsequent albums, such as “Rhythm Nation 1814” (1989), “The Velvet Rope” (1997), and “All for You” (2001), continued to push boundaries both musically and thematically. Renowned for her intricate choreography, groundbreaking music videos, and socially conscious lyrics, Jackson often uses her platform to shed light on issues like racism, sexuality, and mental health.

Her influence extends beyond music into the realm of film, where she starred in productions like “Poetic Justice” (1993) alongside Tupac Shakur. Her achievements have garnered her numerous accolades, including six Grammy Awards, solidifying her status as one of the best-selling artists in contemporary music history.

Despite her immense success, Jackson’s career has not been devoid of controversy. The infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show sparked widespread debate and briefly overshadowed her musical accomplishments. Interestingly, this incident inadvertently played a role in the creation of YouTube.

Early Years and Career Origins

Janet Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on May 16, 1966, as the youngest of ten siblings, including her famous brothers in the Jackson 5. As her brothers secured a record deal with Motown in March 1969, the Jackson family relocated to the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles. Janet kick-started her entertainment career by performing on the variety show “The Jacksons” in 1976 alongside her siblings. Following acting stints in various projects, including leading roles in the sitcoms “Good Times” (1977) and “A New Kind of Family” (1979-1980), her father and manager, Joseph Jackson, arranged a record deal for her with A&M Records.

Solo Music Journey

Under A&M Records and her father’s management, Janet released her first two albums, “Janet Jackson” (1982) and “Dream Street” (1984). After her second album, she severed business ties with her family and dropped her third album, “Control” (1986), showcasing a more mature and urban sound. “Control” achieved immense success, bagging six Billboard Awards, three Grammy nominations, and clinching four American Music Awards from twelve nominations.

With the launch of her fourth album “Rhythm Nation 1814” (1989), Janet firmly established herself as a star in her own right, distinct from her iconic family. The album soared to number one on the Billboard 200 chart and received a six-time platinum certification from the RIAA. It was the first album to produce chart-topping hits in three different calendar years. The music video for the track “Rhythm Nation” stands as one of the most iconic and beloved in history, elevating Janet to a fashion icon status. Additionally, the extended version of the “Rhythm Nation” music video bagged a Grammy Award. Notably, her Rhythm Nation World Tour in 1990 emerged as the most successful debut tour at that time and set a record for the fastest sell-out at Tokyo Dome in Japan.

Upon completing her contract with A&M, Janet inked a multimillion-dollar deal with Virgin Records, valued between $32 million and $50 million, marking the most substantial female music recording contract at that time. Her debut album with Virgin, “janet.” (1993), debuted atop the Billboard 200 chart and featured five number-one singles, including the Grammy-winning track “That’s the Way Love Goes.”

Her subsequent albums, “The Velvet Rope” (1997) and “All For You” (2001), also premiered at the pinnacle of charts and collectively sold sixteen million copies globally. By the end of the ’90s, she was named the second most successful recording artist of the decade by Billboard magazine, following Mariah Carey. Other notable albums in Janet’s discography include “Damita Jo” (2004), “20 Y.O.” (2006), “Discipline” (2008), and “Unbreakable” (2015). Interestingly, “Unbreakable” was released under her self-established record label, Rhythm Nation, formed in collaboration with BMG Rights Management. In 2019, she embarked on the “Janet Jackson: A Special 30th Anniversary Celebration of Rhythm Nation” tour. Subsequently, in 2023, Janet hit the road again for the “Together Again Tour.”

Decades into her illustrious career, Janet remains a prominent pop figure with a remarkable legacy. In 2004, she became the most-searched news story in Internet history (as noted by the 2007 Guinness Book of World Records) when, during the Super Bowl halftime show, Justin Timberlake accidentally exposed one of her breasts. Jackson dismissed it as an accident and did not apologize to CBS.

Additional Ventures

Beyond music, Janet has made appearances in numerous films, starting with “Poetic Justice” in 1993 and continuing with roles in movies like “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” (2000), “Why Did I Get Married?” (2007), and “For Colored Girls” (2010). In 2022, her documentary TV series “Janet Jackson” was released.

Personal Journey

At 18, Janet eloped with singer James DeBarge in 1984, with the marriage being annulled in November 1985.

In 1991, Jackson wed dancer/director Rene Elizondo Jr., keeping the marriage confidential for several years. Their divorce was finalized in 2003.

From 2002 to 2009, Jackson was in a relationship with music producer/rapper/songwriter Jermaine Dupri.

In 2012, Janet tied the knot with Qatari businessman Wissam Al Mana, whom she met in 2010. They welcomed their son in January 2017, but announced their separation and intent to divorce in April of the same year.

Rene Elizondo Divorce Suit

Following their split, Rene Elizondo filed a lawsuit against Janet, seeking a $25 million settlement, considering they were married during one of Janet’s most productive periods.

He could have been entitled to that full amount or more after a couple of successful years, according to legal filings by Rene. During their marriage, they shared income and bank accounts, and at that point, he did not have any savings, as he admitted. Although they had a prenuptial agreement, Rene claimed he signed it under duress.

They reached a settlement after three years of legal battling, reportedly calling for Janet to pay Rene $10 million plus legal fees.

Janet Jackson Is NOT A Billionaire

Contrary to widely spread internet rumors, Janet Jackson is NOT a billionaire. Despite marrying Wissam Al Mana, a billionaire Qatari retail tycoon, the rumor that Janet was a billionaire originated from a misinterpretation of a May 2013 interview with Variety magazine. The author totaled up all the gross revenue generated by Janet’s endeavors over the previous 20 years, including movie ticket sales, album sales, merchandise, and more, arriving at a final number of $1.2 billion. The article was accompanied by advertisements congratulating Janet on being a “billion-dollar entertainer,” leading to several blogs reporting that Janet’s personal net worth had surpassed $1 billion, which is clearly inaccurate. The $1.2 billion figure represents gross revenue and has little correlation with Janet’s personal bank account.

Real Estate

Janet Jackson purchased a 3-bedroom, 2,100-square-foot apartment in New York City’s One Central Park West building in 1998 for $2.8 million. In April 2022, she listed this unit for sale for just under $9 million and accepted $8.8 million in August 2022. Here’s a video tour of the property from the time it was listed.