Lil Wayne Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Lil Wayne’s Net Worth?

An American rapper, producer, and music executive, Lil Wayne boasts a net worth of $170 million. Throughout his career, he has been known by various names, such as Birdman Jr., Young Tune, Dr. Carter, Weezyana, Tunechi, and many others. Regardless of the name you choose, one thing is evident: he has achieved remarkable success. Over 200 million records have been sold worldwide, he has garnered numerous awards, and he even outpaced Elvis Presley in terms of entries on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. His extensive experience as one of the best-selling musical artists in history enabled him to launch his own music label, Young Money Entertainment.

At just nine years old, Lil Wayne signed with Cash Money Records. After performing with The B.G.’z and the Hot Boys, he ventured out on his own, releasing his debut solo album, “The Block Is Hot,” in 1999. The album achieved Platinum status, marking the beginning of a thriving solo rap career that continues to flourish. His album, “Tha Carter IV,” was released in the summer of 2011 and has since sold over five million copies in the United States.

Early Life

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., known as Lil Wayne, was born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite growing up in Hollygrove, a low-income neighborhood, Carter’s innate talents were recognized from a young age. He excelled in elementary school, which led him to join the gifted program and become part of the drama club.

At the age of eight, he composed his first rap song, and a year later, Bryan Williams, popularly known as “Birdman,” took notice. As the founder of Cash Money Records, Birdman represented Lil Wayne’s first major opportunity in the music industry. Carter left freestyle messages on Birdman’s answering machine, impressing him enough to give the young artist a chance. After contributing to several songs under the Cash Money Label, it became apparent that music was destined to be Lil Wayne’s career path.

A tragic event occurred when Carter was 12 years old; he accidentally shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol. An off-duty officer transported him to the hospital, where he faced a life-threatening injury. He has since revealed that this incident was a suicide attempt, driven by his mother’s disapproval of his aspirations in rap music.

Initial Success

In 1997, Lil Wayne’s career took off when he became a member of the Hot Boys. The group achieved significant success, frequently topping the “Billboard” R&B/Hip-Hop chart. By the time he…

At just 17 years of age, Lil Wayne embarked on a solo career with the launch of his debut album, “Tha Block is Hot,” in 1999. While this album certainly marked his entry into the music scene, the subsequent two albums, “Lights Out” and “500 Degreez,” did not manage to build on this early momentum, placing him at risk of being overlooked.

Mainstream Success

This dynamic shifted in 2004 with the release of “Tha Carter.” With the follow-up album arriving just one year later (“Tha Carter II”), this phase signified a significant advancement in Lil Wayne’s career. His lyrics became more intricate and mature, and his persona began to solidify as he cultivated his signature dreadlocks. The single “Fireman” stood out prominently during this time.

The following two years were relatively quiet for the rapper, although he did collaborate on tracks with various artists such as Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, and Ludacris. In 2008, Lil Wayne made a powerful comeback with the release of “Tha Carter III,” featuring one of his most popular tracks of all time, “Lollipop.”

An important milestone in Lil Wayne’s career arrived in 2011 with the launch of “Tha Carter IV.” After another lengthy hiatus, “Tha Carter V” emerged in 2018, achieving similar success. In several interviews, the rapper has mentioned that “Tha Carter V” marked his final album, expressing a wish to retire in order to dedicate more time to his family.

In 2020, Lil Wayne reemerged with his album “Funeral,” which debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” 200, marking his fifth U.S. #1 album. He followed this release with the mixtape “No Ceilings 3” and the greatest hits album “I Am Music” in 2023. During an interview that year, he indicated that fans could anticipate “Tha Carter VI,” stating it would be released “if not in December, then at the beginning of the year.”

Young Money Catalog Sale

Through Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne was instrumental in signing both Drake and Nicki Minaj when they were relatively unknown artists. In July 2020, he sold the Young Money Masters to Universal Music for a remarkable $100 million.

Personal Life

Lil Wayne is a father to four children, the first of whom he welcomed in 1998 when he was just 16. Although he married the child’s mother, Toya Johnson, their marriage ended in divorce in 2006. In 2008, the rapper’s first son was born with a radio broadcaster, and he named him Dwayne III. The following year, he welcomed another child with actress Lauren London, and a third son also arrived in 2009 with singer Nivea. From 2014 to 2015, he had a relationship with singer Christina Milian, and although he was briefly engaged to model La’Tecia Thomas, they broke up in May 2020. He began dating Denise Bidot in June 2020, but after a breakup in November of the same year, they reconciled.

In 2008, Carter and Cortez Bryant returned to their alma mater, McMain Secondary School, to encourage students to design invitations for the gala introducing the One Family Foundation nonprofit.

Substance Abuse and Health Issues

It has been reported that Carter allegedly struggled with the abuse of a powerful substance known as

Lil Wayne has reportedly struggled with a supposed addiction to “Lean” for several years. This alleged dependence has been linked to a series of health issues faced by the rapper, which includes seizures that required hospitalization. One of the most critical incidents occurred in 2017, during which Lil Wayne was hospitalized after experiencing two seizures in quick succession. However, he has consistently denied any link between a presumed substance issue and these seizures. Furthermore, in 2013, Carter revealed that he has epilepsy.

Controversy

On multiple occasions, Lil Wayne has faced arrest. In 2007, he was taken into custody for marijuana possession and criminal possession of a weapon. A year later, in 2008, he encountered more serious legal troubles. Carter was apprehended by Border Patrol in Arizona where his tour bus was discovered to contain weapons and a significant amount of illegal drugs. He was charged with multiple felonies, including possession of narcotic drugs intended for sale.

In 2010, Lil Wayne began serving a one-year sentence tied to weapons charges at Rikers Island, subsequently completing a 36-month probation period as part of a plea agreement. Ultimately, he completed only eight months of his year-long sentence.

Additionally, Lil Wayne has been embroiled in various legal disputes within the music industry. He has faced accusations of copyright infringement related to numerous issues with his music. There have been instances where he neglected to pay royalties owed to record labels and canceled already-paid performances.

The rapper has also been involved in several highly publicized conflicts. Notable feuds include clashes with artists such as Juvenile, Young Buck, Pusha T, and Jay-Z.

Lil Wayne Earnings By Year

• 2007: $12 million
• 2008: $13 million
• 2009: $18 million
• 2010: $20 million
• 2011: $15 million
• 2012: $27 million
• 2013: $16 million
• 2014: $23 million
• 2015: $15 million
• 2016: $14 million
• 2017: $16 million
• 2018: $19 million
• 2019: $20 million
• 2020: $100 million
• 2021: $5 million

Total: $333 million

Real Estate

In 2011, an investment of $11.6 million was made by Lil Wayne for a waterfront home located on a Miami island. He invested millions in renovations, which included a roof-deck skate park and an indoor shark tank lagoon. He listed the property for sale at $18 million in 2015, eventually lowering the asking price to $12 million before selling it for $10 million in June 2017. This expansive 20,857-square-foot mansion sits on a private island known as La Gorce in Miami Beach, boasting nine bedrooms, nine bathrooms, three levels with an elevator, a pool, and a private dock. Here’s a video tour of Lil Wayne’s former La Gorce mansion:

A condominium in New Orleans, complete with a recording studio, was also formerly owned by Lil Wayne.

In December 2018, he acquired a new island home in Miami for $16.75 million. The residence was developed on spec by a builder who had purchased the 23,000-square-foot lot in 2013 for $4.4 million. This property was listed for sale in September 2022 at $29.5 million and ultimately sold in 2023 for $22.6 million. Here’s a video tour of that property:

In April 2021, Lil Wayne purchased a mansion in Hidden Hills, California, for $15.4 million.