R. Kelly Net Worth (Money & Salary)

R. Kelly’s net worth – What is it?

R. Kelly, the American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer, currently has a net worth of negative $2 million. During his peak, R. Kelly’s net worth reached as high as tens of millions, potentially up to $100 million. However, that substantial fortune has since dissipated. In April 2020, Kelly disclosed to a judge – in a bid for release from prison – that he owes nearly $1.9 million solely to the IRS, on top of other debts. For a more in-depth analysis of R. Kelly’s current financial challenges and past successes, read on further below.

R. Kelly experienced immense popularity and success throughout the 1990s. His songs were instant hits, solidifying his monikers as the “King of R&B” and “the Pied Piper of R&B.” Some of his greatest hits include “Bump n’ Grind,” “I Believe I Can Fly,” “Gotham City,” “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time,” “I’m a Flirt,” and “Trapped in the Closet.” His total album sales amounted to nearly 40 million in the U.S. and 54 million worldwide. With over a dozen solo studio albums to his name, almost all of which secured Top 10 positions, five reaching the #1 spot.

Throughout his career, R. Kelly amassed 24 Grammy nominations for his performances and productions, winning three.

However, R. Kelly’s fame is equally matched by his notorious personal life, tainted by various charges that ultimately led to his convictions for sex trafficking, child pornography, and racketeering. One conviction alone resulted in a 31-year prison sentence. As of 2023, R. Kelly is serving time at the FCI Butner Medium I prison complex.

R. Kelly’s Early Life and Career Origins

Born on January 8, 1967, on Chicago’s south side, Robert Sylvester Kelly pursued music, dropping out of high school to perform as a subway musician. His breakthrough came when he won $100,000 on the talent show Big Break. Signing with Jive Records in 1991, his group Public Announcement released the album “Born into the 90s” in 1993.

Success Highlights

In November 1993, R. Kelly launched his solo debut “12 Play,” achieving six-times platinum certification, largely accredited to the hit single “Bump n’ Grind.”

Simultaneously, he commenced a prosperous career as a record producer for other artists.

In 1992, music producer Barry Hankerson introduced R. Kelly to his niece, a talented 12-year-old vocalist named Aaliyah. R. Kelly produced and penned Aaliyah’s debut album, which attained double-platinum status and spawned several hits.

R. Kelly also wrote hit songs for:

• Michael Jackson – “You Are Not Alone”
• Maxwell – “Fortunate”
• B2K – “Bump, Bump, Bump”
• Destiny’s Child – “Stimulate Me”
• K-Ci and JoJo – “Life”
• Nick Cannon – “Gigolo”
• Britney Spears – “Outrageous”
• Beanie Siegel – “All of the Above”

In 1995, Kelly’s self-titled album sold four million copies. He further soared with his chart-topping single “I Believe I Can Fly,” garnering three Grammy Awards. Throughout the 2000s, Kelly achieved multi-platinum album sales, including the multi-part hip-hop opera Trapped in the Closet, released incrementally on radio stations, culminating in a public release in spring 2010.

R. Kelly boasts a discography of 14 studio albums, five compilations, and three collaboration albums. Aside from his three Grammys, he has won numerous accolades such as AMAs, a BET award, and various Billboard honors. His latest albums, “Black Panties” and “The Buffet,” debuted in 2013 and 2015, respectively. Moreover, he embarked on 12 major tours worldwide from 1994 to 2013.

R. Kelly’s Personal Life

In 1994, Kelly discretely tied the knot with Aaliyah, then 15 years old. Reports suggest their intimate relationship began when she was 13 or 14, whereas R. Kelly would have been around 26. The marriage was annulled in 1995.

He later married dancer Andrea Lee in 1996, with whom he shares three children before their 2009 separation.

An Unraveled Fortune

Had it not been for R. Kelly’s legal woes, his net worth could have feasibly exceeded $50–100 million. Over the years, Kelly reportedly shelled out millions to settle numerous lawsuits filed by women alleging abuse. Following his divorce from Andrea Lee, marking the peak years of his career, R. Kelly witnessed a substantial depletion in his net worth.

In 2012, it surfaced that Kelly owed the IRS $4.8 million in delinquent taxes. The outstanding amounts by year were detailed as:

• $1,472,366.77 for 2005
• $710,520.51 for 2006
• $376,180.11 for 2007
• $1,122,694.90 for 2008
• $173,815.18 for 2009
• $992,495.24 for 2010

Totaling $4,848,072.71

Financial and Legal Challenges

In July 2018, R. Kelly released a 19-minute track on Spotify, addressing several allegations. In the song, Kelly disclosed his financial plight, admitting to being broke and relying on tours to “pay rent.” He further revealed owing the IRS $20 million at one point and obtaining multi-million dollar loans from his label to cover expenses. His financial predicament worsens due to his limited touring opportunities abroad, given the restrictions imposed in many countries.

Frequently, protests block his U.S. tours due to controversies surrounding him. Spotify and other streaming services no longer include his songs in public playlists, although individuals can still stream them from their personal accounts on Spotify. His songs are excluded from recommendations in public playlists like Discover Weekly or other Spotify-curated playlists and radio channels.

Chicago building inspectors were granted the right to search R. Kelly’s recording studio in January 2019 after reports of multiple renovations without permits. Despite not owning the studio, R. Kelly has rented it since 2017. The 8,000-square-foot building was listed for sale at $4 million at the time of inspection. Simultaneously, the building owner filed a lawsuit against R. Kelly for unpaid rent amounting to $167,000.

On January 14, R. Kelly’s record label RCA/Sony announced they were halting the release of his future music projects, effectively preventing him from earning more money. He owed RCA/Sony two more albums under his current contract. Furthermore, RCA/Sony refused to fund new music videos. Following the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” in 2019, RCA Records terminated his contract due to reexamination of his sexual misconduct with minors.

In late February 2019, R. Kelly faced new charges leading to his arrest, with bail set at $1 million. Despite needing $100,000 for release, he struggled to obtain the funds, reportedly borrowing the amount from Valencia Love, whose connection to R. Kelly remains unclear. While in jail, his ex-wife filed a lawsuit seeking $160,000 in unpaid child support.

By 2023, Federal prosecutors sought to garnish R. Kelly’s music royalties to compensate two of his victims, with his record label potentially facing up to $500,000 in liabilities.

In 1994, R. Kelly purchased an 8,400 square-foot mansion in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood for $1.107 million, selling it in 2002 for $2.25 million. Additionally, he acquired a 4-acre lakefront property in Olympia Fields, where he built a 14,000-square-foot mansion known as “the Chocolate Factory.” The property faced litigation for various infractions, including illegal parking of tour buses and unauthorized construction. Financial strains led to foreclosure proceedings in 2011, concluding with the property’s sale in 2013. The mansion, now referred to as “The Isley Estate,” was later listed for sale at $3.49 million in 2024.

R. Kelly’s other properties, including a home in Atlanta and a condo in Chicago’s Trump International, were rented. In 2018, he faced eviction from two Atlanta residences due to owing over $30,000 in back rent and fees.