All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2024)

DISGRACED singer-songwriter R. Kelly has made millions throughout his career but after spending the last few years behind bars his bank balance has drastically worsened.

The dark world of the convicted criminal was made public in 2019 in a bombshell documentary titled "Surviving R. Kelly" which is set to resurface on TV screens tonight in the UK.

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What is R. Kelly's net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Robert Sylvester Kelly has an estimated net worth of around minus $2million.

It was revealed in 2020 that Kelly owes over $1.9million to the Internal Revenue Service.

At the peak of his career, it is estimated that Kelly was worth around $100million.

Accusations made against R. Kelly and his convictions

All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2)

Since the 90s, R. Kelly has faced several sex crime accusations.

Some of them have been dismissed, others he is now in jail for.

Here we take a look at those accusations and the crimes he was found guilty of:

1996:Teenager Tiffany Hawkins sues Kelly for 'inappropriate sexual conduct' - the case was settled out of court for £250K.

2002:Kelly is charged with 21 counts of making child pornography. He is acquitted of all charges.

2017:The singer is accused of running a “sex cult” , something he denied.

2019:Kelly is arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes, people trafficking and obstruction of justice The charges against him included child pornography, kidnapping and forced labour.

2021:The singer is found guilty in September 2021 on all nine charges against him. He is sentenced to 30 years in prison.

2022: Kelly faces a second trial, this time he is found guilty ofsexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughterand of sexual misconduct with two other minors around the same time period, as well.

2023:The shamed star is jailed for a second time, his sentence is 20 years.

He splashed his cash during his career with one of the biggest purchases being a luxury mansion in Atlanta.

It is alleged that the home is the spot where R. Kelly held women captive and forced them to participate in orgies.

The property was sold in 2022 for $1.7million after the sadistic truths around the house were revealed.

Who is R. Kelly?

A Chicago native, R. Kelly broke into the R&B scene in 1993 with his first successful solo album, 12 Play.

Kelly is widely known for his musical career and his "gospel-like vocals and highly sexualized lyrics," according to Britannica.

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Despite being trained to sing in churches. Kelly's music is far from holy and features some questionable messages.

At age 16, Kelly and his family moved from the projects, and he was enlisted in a prestigious school, Kenwood Academy.

R. Kelly guilty on multiple counts in sex abuse trial

His teacher entered him in a local talent show to perform a Stevie Wonder song.

Then at 22 years old, Kelly and his then-group, MGM, won a $100K cash prize for competing on the television show, Big Break.

They eventually broke up due to a conflict over the money.

Kelly would go on to have the most successful career out of his bandmates.

What are R. Kelly's most popular songs?

R. Kelly exploded onto the music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He quickly managed to gain more Billboard Top 40 hits than any other male solo artist at the time and cemented his legacy of a great of his era.

According to Billboard, Step in the Name of Love (2011) is his third most popular song of all time, followed by Bump n' Grind (1993) and I Wish (2000).

Some of his other biggest hits include Ignition (2003) and Same Girl (2007).

He also made the iconic track I Believe I Can Fly (1995), featured in the basketball movie Space Jam.

But in 2021, R. Kelly was found guilty of nine charges made against him.

These included bribery, forced labor, kidnapping, exploitation of a child, racketeering - involving six alleged victims - and sexual trafficking across state lines.

On Wednesday, June 29, 2022, R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

How much is the R. Kelly catalogue worth?

The price of R. Kelly’s catalogue is rumoured to be worth up to $21million, say Billboard.

Reports aid Kelly tried to sell off his music rights when he was arrested to try and find some cash but it is widely believed that no one offered a penny to get them.

Despite the $21million potential, the price is thought to have significantly dropped since he was arrested back in 2019.

His radio airtime dropped by up to 95 per cent since the allegations came out and his music became shunned in public.

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The latest estimates before he was found guilty of several crimes valued his music between $8.4million and $10.5million.

Although the source told Billboard the guilty sentence would result in it being a "fire sale" meaning a further huge discount would've been expected.

But even with the discounts, one popular music buyer claims they "wouldn’t go near it with a 10-foot pole”.

How to watch Surviving R. Kelly?

The documentary into the crimes of the disgraced rapper will air on Channel 4 in the UK tonight at 12:05am.

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Titled Surviving R Kelly, it features comments from alleged victims and was partly responsible the public push for his arrest back in 2019.

The powerful series was first aired on Netflix in 2019 and is still available on the streaming platform in many regions.

Sexual assault helplines and support

IF you or someone you know is affected by any issues raised in this story then we are here to help.

Try calling RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673).

Alternatively call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

Or see if your area has a sexual assault referral center or similar support group.

They provide a safe space and dedicated care for people who have been raped, sexually assaulted, or abused.

Remember, it is never too late to speak up.

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All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained (2024)

FAQs

All you need to know about R. Kelly's net worth explained? ›

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Robert Sylvester Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), known as R. Kelly, is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B", "the King of Pop-Soul", and "the Pied Piper of R&B".
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › R._Kelly
has an estimated net worth of around minus $2million. It was revealed in 2020 that Kelly owes over $1.9million to the Internal Revenue Service. At the peak of his career, it is estimated that Kelly was worth around $100million.

What was R Kelly's net worth at his peak? ›

At the utmost of his career, R. Kelly's net worth was estimated to be around $100 million. His 1995 album "R. Kelly" sold an incredible 4 million copies, which was a huge commercial success.

Who owns R Kelly's songs? ›

Geddes noted that Kelly, through his R&B music, received revenue from two separate forms of intellectual property rights. One is from his master recordings, which is owned by Sony. The other is the rights to his composition and lyrics, which Kelly personally held until August 2021 — the month his trial began.

How much does R Kelly make from his music? ›

During the years of 2021 through 2023, R. Kelly's music catalog averaged nearly 315,000 album consumption units each year in the U.S. — which, Billboard estimates, has generated about $2.3 million annually for the singer, adding together earnings from his master recording and publishing from those works.

What did Robert Kelly do? ›

Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who, over the course of many years, specifically targeted young girls and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse of Jane and other minor victims. To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes.

What is R Kelly's net worth in 2024? ›

Kelly's net worth in 2024 stands at negative $2 million, a stark contrast to his former glory. At his peak, he was among the wealthiest in the music industry.

Why do people look up net worth? ›

Net worth is one way to check your financial pulse and spot strengths and weaknesses.

Who owns the rights to R. Kelly first albums? ›

Kelly sold the rights to his first three albums to Aaliyah's family, giving them a financial incentive. “Her dad didn't want her anywhere near him,” Pratt says in the docuseries.

How many songs did R. Kelly write for Michael Jackson? ›

Kelly wrote and co-produced Michael Jackson's singles "You Are Not Alone" for the album HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I (1995), "Cry" for the album Invincible (2001), and "One More Chance" for the compilation Number Ones (2003).

What happened to R. Kelly's house? ›

Kelly spends his 57th birthday today in prison, his former four-acre, 19-room estate in Chicago is now on the market for $3.5 million. The latest owner of the home, Rudolph Isley of The Isley Brothers, passed away in October 2023, leading his wife to sell the home.

What happened to Aaliyah after R. Kelly? ›

After her R. Kelly–produced debut album, Aaliyah worked with Timbaland and Missy Elliott, whose productions were more electronic.

Does R. Kelly write his own music? ›

Kelly, who has denied all allegations of abuse against him, has written and produced his own hits like “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Bump N Grind.” He was once a white-hot hitmaker that most artists clamored to work with.

What is Usher's net worth? ›

R&B singer and songwriter Usher has a net worth of $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In 2023, Usher made $40 million from 34 shows at his residency at Las Vegas' Dolby Live stage.

Who was the first to speak out against R. Kelly? ›

Kelly during the singer's sex abuse trial Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in New York. The first witness to take the stand against Kelly, Jerhonda Johnson Pace met Kelly when she was 14-years-old. According to her testimony, she was 16 the first time they had sex.

How old was Aaliyah when she was with R. Kelly? ›

The late “Rock the Boat” singer entered into an illegal marriage with Kelly in August 1994, when she was 15 years old and he was 27. Her parents reportedly annulled the marriage — the license of which illegally listed Aaliyah's age as 18 — in February 1995.

Who is Kelly's daughter? ›

What was Jim Kelly's net worth at the time of his death? ›

Jim Kelly: $20 Million Net Worth

The master of the no-huddle offense, Kelly threw for at least 3,000 yards in eight of his 11 NFL seasons. He took the Bills to the playoffs eight times and led his team to the Super Bowl four seasons in a row. He made the illustrious Hall of Fame ranks in 2002.

How much is the R Kelly Music catalog worth? ›

The Sun stated that R Kelly's catalog worth estimate was somewhere between $8.4 million and $10.5 million before his conviction. In April 2024, Billboard's estimated worth of the catalog was $21 million.

What is the net worth of the Top G? ›

An official report from Romanian authorities published in 2023 revealed that Andrew Tate's net worth stands at roughly $12 million. The divisive internet influencer previously claimed that his net worth is in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

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