As of today, R Kelly Net Worth is estimated to be around negative 2 million. This net worth estimation is based on Forbes and other net worth articles.
R Kelly is known for his roles as a singer, record producer, and songwriter. His fame rose for being an R&B star!
Please scroll down to find out R Kelly Net Worth, his sources of income, Jail issues, relationships, and his fall from grace.
Point To Note: R Kelly’s negative Net Worth means he has millions in debt.
R Kelly Biography
R. Kelly’s official name is Robert Sylvester Kelly. Kelly was born on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. he grew up alongside his siblings and was raised by her single mum, Joanne Kelly.
He began singing in church at a tender age after developing a taste for music. This was evident in his gospel-tinged vocals that he showcased.
His education is little known, but various sources indicate that Kelly attended Ken Wood Academy High School. At school, he was a linebacker for his basketball team. Due to the death of a friend, Kelly stopped playing football and shifted his focus to music, that is, songwriting and singing.
It’s unfortunate how his early life was full of misery since he received sexual abuse, but that did not at any time stop him from being successful in the latter years.
R Kelly’s Career
At Kenwood Academy, R Kelly was inspired by his teacher, Ms. Lena Maclin, to pursue singing as a career, and after high school, he took the matter seriously. He began MGM (Musically Gifted Men) together with a friend (MCC WIlliams), and they released “Why You Wanna Play Me.”
In 1992, he debuted an album with Public Announcement, Born Into the 90s. In January 1993, he stopped making music with them and released his first solo single track, “Sex Me,” on August 6, 1993.
In 1993, Kelly released his solo album 12 Play. From there, he released albums and singles without forgetting collaborations with prominent musicians, which is why his name is still in the world’s lime.
R Kelly Discography
Below are the released albums so far:
- 1993 12 Play
- 1995 R. Kelly
- 1998 R.
- 2000 TP-2.com
- 2003 Chocolate Factory
- 2004 Happy People/U Saved Me
- 2005 TP.3 Reloaded
- 2007 Double Up
- 2009 Untitled
- 2010 Love Letter
- 2012 Write Me Back
- 2013 Black Panties
R Kelly and Aaliyah’s Relationship
In what seemed to be a mere introduction, Aaliyah met R Kelly through her uncle, then R Kelly’s manager. Aaliyah was an upcoming musician then, and since he met the man behind the music brain, she has been able to release age, which is nothing but a number.
Secretly, the two married, and Aaliyah was only fifteen. Would you believe that? They even had a marriage certificate that indicated the date of August 31, 1994, with the marriage taking place in Rosemont, Illinois.
In that document, Kelly was age 27 at the time, while Aaliyah’s age was documented as 18, though she was only 15 years old on that wedding date. Aaliyah’s family later forced her to file for an annulment in 1995.
Upon being asked, Aaliyah denied they were ever married, but she admitted to being close. On the other hand, R Kelly said the same. Unfortunately, in August 2001, a plane crash claimed the life of Aaliyah. May she rest in Peace.
Point to note: during their relationship, Aaliyah was pregnant for R Kelly, but she underwent an abortion secretly.
R Kelly Kids
So, How Many Kids Does R Kelly Have?
The Grammy award winner has three kids: Jay Kelly, Joann Kelly, and Robert Kelly Jr. They were born in 1998, 200, and 2002, respectively. Though divorced, Kelly shares the three children with his former choreographer, Andrea Lee.
How Much is R Kelly’s Net Worth Right Now?
As mentioned earlier, R Kelly Net Worth is estimated to be around negative 2 million. Many would ask, how is R Kelly’s net worth that low, even though he has been in the industry for a long time?
How Rich was R Kelly at his Peak?
R Kelly’s Net Worth was one time at its peak, and he recorded a 100 million dollar mark. But where did this money go to? Kelly is one testament to a fall from “Grace to grass!” Here’s why👇👇
How did R Kelly lose His Net Worth
Despite amassing a considerable sum from his successful music career, Kelly’s legal shortcomings and financial setbacks contributed to his downfall.
These setbacks began when there were allegations of sexual misconduct; in 2019, he was indicted on ten accounts of aggravated sexual abuse. That same year, Lifetime Channel released a docu-series, Surviving R Kelly, which eradicated him since several women confessed on that matter. It’s sad how an icon turns into a predator!
In 2009, after divorcing Andrea Lee, the law required him to make a one-time $1 million payment and $250,000 in child support annually.
Secondly, he ignored taxes, which, in turn, accumulated to millions. He owed the IRS around $20 million one time. He also had other person-to-person debts, including his divorce attorney, who later quit. Additionally, Kelly faced foreclosure in 2013 due to defaulted mortgage payments.
Other setbacks include fees and rent of a house that amounted to $30,000. In a one-time arrest, he had to bail himself out with $100,000 in cash. All these troubles kept reducing his net worth. He is also accused of mismanaging funds to buy luxurious properties rather than paying up the already accumulating debts.
Is R Kelly still in Jail?
Following enough evidence on charges of child sexual abuse, the singer was correctly sentenced to 20 years in prison. This sentencing was in 2023; hence, he is still in prison.
R Kelly Release Date
When we add 20 years to his release date, R Kelly will likely be released in 2043. He will be 76 years old.
How much is R Kelly’s Music Catalogue
Billboard placed the musicians’ publishing catalog on sale in August 2021. It is worth 21 million.
What are the Sources of R Kelly Net Worth?
Much of R Kelly’s financial standings are attributed to his music career. However, there is much more than that. Before we highlight R Kelly’s net worth sources, below is a table revealing his net worth growth
| R Kelly Net Worth Growth Over the Years | |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2024 | $-2 Million |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2023 | |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2022 | |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2021 | |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2020 | |
| R Kelly Net Worth 2019 | $100 Million |
Sources of R Kelly’s Wealth
At his peak, R Kelly Net Worth was made up of different sources of income. They include;
Music Career
The talented lyricist made millions from his music. All these have shaped R Kelly’s finances, from music sales to social media streams.
At one time, Kelly had over 75 million albums and singles. He earned approximately 2.3 million annually. This could be more considered that not all is reported. R Kelly’s Royalties are between $3.5 million and 4.5 million.
Endorsement deals
Since popularity attracts big and numerous brands, R Kelly has a taste of that! He earned over 50 million from all these brand partnerships. He has worked with notable yet respected brands like;
- Reebok
- Reebok
- Beats Studio
- Alexander Wang
- Pepsi
- McDonald’s
Business ventures
R Kelly, just like other wise artists, ventured into businesses. He understood the need for investing in the stock market.
He opened a fashion line and small food hubs all around California. He also opened his production house, R Kelly Productions, which deals primarily with film production. The company saw the likes of Snoop Dog visiting there for production services. This business earned him approximately $40 million.
Car Collection
R. Kelly seems to love luxurious cars. Though the vehicles are in state custody, we can all tell the taste is expensive!
He owns a Porsche, Mercedes, G Wagon, Rolls Royce, Ferrari, and Bentley.
Real estate
Being a man who loves comfort, R Kelly had several expensive mansions. The mansions were later foreclosed due to his legal charges. He owns two mansions, one in Atlanta and another in Chicago. The Chicago home is worth $1.107 million.
Music tours
Another yet excellent source of R Kelly Net Worth is the music tours. He charged a lot for the tickets, which sold out quickly. He filled up stadiums, which only meant A win to R Kelly’s Pocket! Concert Archives report that the notable concerts in which R Kelly has appeared are over 500.
Other notable sources of R Kelly’s Net Income are Merchandise, music production, directing, and songwriting.
R Kelly Profile Summary
| Official name | Robert Sylvester Kelly |
| Date of birth | January 8 1967 |
| Age | 57 |
| Spouse | Ex to Andrea Lee and Aaliyah |
| Height | 1.85 metres |
| Weight | 200lbs |
| Residence | – |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rapper, Song writer, Producer |
| Children | 3 |
| Net worth | -$2 Million American Dollars |
Frequently asked questions about R Kelly’s Net worth.
1. How Much is R Kelly Net Worth Now?
His net worth is estimated to be negative $2 million.
2. How Rich was R Kelly at his Peak?
It is estimated that Kelly was worth around $100million
3. Does R Kelly Have Kids?
Yes. He has three kids with Andrea Lee.