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. Over his career, he has acquired numerous nicknames, including Birdman Jr., Young Tune, Dr. Carter, Weezyana, Tunechi, among many others. Regardless of how he is referred to, one undeniable fact remains: he has achieved remarkable success. With over 200 million records sold worldwide, numerous awards to his name, and surpassing Elvis Presley in terms of entries on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, he has solidified his status as one of the best-selling musical artists in history. This experience paved the way for him to establish his own music label, Young Money Entertainment.

Commencing his journey with Cash Money Records at the young age of nine, Lil Wayne initially performed with The B.G.’z and later with the Hot Boys. He eventually embarked on a solo career, releasing “The Block Is Hot” in 1999, which achieved Platinum status and marked the beginning of a thriving rap career that has continually flourished. His album, “Tha Carter IV,” launched in the summer of 2011, has since sold over five million copies in the United States.

Early Life

On September 27, 1982, Lil Wayne was born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite the challenges of growing up in the low-income area of Hollygrove, Carter’s talents were recognized early. He was placed in the gifted program during elementary school and participated in the drama club.

At just eight years old, he penned his first rap song, and a year later, his talent caught the attention of Bryan Williams, famously known as “Birdman.” As the owner of Cash Money Records, Williams was instrumental in giving Lil Wayne his first major break. Carter would leave freestyle messages on Birdman’s voicemail, persuading him to give the young artist an opportunity. Following multiple appearances on songs under the Cash Money label, it became evident that music would be the direction of Lil Wayne’s career.

However, tragedy struck when Carter was twelve; he accidentally shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol. An off-duty officer rushed him to the hospital for the serious injury. Lil Wayne later revealed this incident was a suicide attempt stemming from his mother’s disapproval of his aspirations in music.

Initial Success

In 1997, Lil Wayne’s career took off when he joined the group Hot Boys. The collective achieved significant success, frequently landing on the top spots of the “Billboard” R&B/Hip-Hop chart. By that time, heJust 17 years of age, Lil Wayne was set to embark on a solo career with the debut album, “Tha Block is Hot,” released in 1999. Although this first album certainly launched his presence in the industry, his subsequent albums, “Lights Out” and “500 Degreez,” did not manage to build on that initial success—risking his visibility in the music scene.

Mainstream Success

However, everything transformed in 2004 with the launch of “Tha Carter.” When considering the follow-up album released just a year later (“Tha Carter II”), this era signified a significant advancement in Lil Wayne’s career. His lyrical content became more sophisticated and mature, and his persona began to solidify as he developed his iconic dreadlocks. The standout single “Fireman” marked a particularly notable highlight during this phase.

The subsequent two years proved to be a somewhat unproductive time for the rapper, despite his appearances on various tracks alongside other artists, such as Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, and Ludacris. Lil Wayne made a powerful comeback in 2008 with the release of “Tha Carter III.” This album included one of his most famous tracks, “Lollipop.”

A significant milestone for Lil Wayne occurred with the launch of “Tha Carter IV” in 2011. Following another lengthy interval, “Tha Carter V” was also released in 2018 and achieved comparable success. The rapper has mentioned in several interviews that he considers “Tha Carter V” to be his final album, expressing a wish to retire and dedicate more time to his family.

In 2020, Lil Wayne made a return with the album “Funeral,” which debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart, marking his fifth album to reach the top spot in the U.S. He subsequently released the mixtape “No Ceilings 3” and a greatest hits collection titled “I Am Music” in 2023. In an interview that year, he stated that fans could anticipate “Tha Carter VI” to be released “if not December, then at the beginning of the year.”

Young Money Catalog Sale

By founding Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne played a pivotal role in signing both Drake and Nicki Minaj while they were still emerging artists. In July 2020, he sold the Young Money Masters to Universal Music, achieving a deal worth $100 million.

Personal Life

Lil Wayne is a father to four children, the first of whom was born in 1998 when he was just 16 years old. Although he married the mother of his first child, Toya Johnson, they divorced in 2006. In 2008, he welcomed his first son, Dwayne III, with a radio broadcaster. Another child was born in 2009 with actress Lauren London, while a third son also arrived that year with singer Nivea. From 2014 to 2015, he was in a relationship with singer Christina Milian. Lil Wayne became engaged to model La’Tecia Thomas, but they ended their engagement in May 2020. He began dating Denise Bidot in June of the same year, and although they broke up in November 2020, they later reconciled.

In 2008, Carter and Cortez Bryant returned to McMain Secondary School, their alma mater, and encouraged students to create an invitation for the gala that introduced the One Family Foundation nonprofit.

Substance Abuse and Health Issues

Reports suggest that Carter struggled with the abuse of the powerful substance known asFor a number of years, Lil Wayne has been associated with “Lean.” This purported addiction has been linked to various health scares involving the rapper, including seizures that required hospitalization. One of the most critical incidents transpired in 2017 when Lil Wayne needed hospitalization following two seizures that occurred back-to-back. Despite these allegations, he has consistently rejected the notion that a purported substance issue is related to his seizures. In 2013, Carter revealed that he suffers from epilepsy.

Controversy

Multiple arrests have been made of Lil Wayne over the years. In 2007, he faced arrest for marijuana possession and criminal possession of a weapon. A year later, he was arrested again, this time facing graver charges. Border Patrol apprehended Carter in Arizona, discovering weapons and substantial quantities of illegal drugs on his tour bus. He faced charges including possession of narcotic drugs for sale alongside other felonies.

In 2010, Lil Wayne commenced a one-year sentence for weapons-related charges at Rikers Island, followed by a 36-month probation term as part of a plea agreement. Ultimately, he served only eight months of the one-year sentence.

Moreover, Lil Wayne has encountered several legal issues within the music industry. He has faced accusations of copyright infringement due to various disputes concerning his songs. In other instances, Lil Wayne has been noted for not paying royalties to record labels and for canceling performances he had already been compensated for.

The rapper has also engaged in several highly publicized feuds, clashing with figures 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, Lil Wayne acquired a waterfront residence on a Miami island for $11.6 million. He invested millions into enhancing the property, which notably included a roof-deck skate park and an indoor shark tank lagoon. Initially listed for $18 million in 2015, the price was lowered to $12 million before he accepted $10 million in June 2017. This expansive 20,857-square-foot mansion is situated on La Gorce, a private island in Miami Beach. It boasts nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms, along with three levels featuring an elevator, pool, and private dock. Below is a video tour of Lil Wayne’s previous La Gorce mansion:

Previously, Lil Wayne owned a condominium in New Orleans that included a recording studio.

In December 2018, he spent $16.75 million to purchase a new island home in Miami, which was built speculatively by a developer who bought the 23,000-square-foot lot in 2013 for $4.4 million. He listed this property for sale in September 2022 at $29.5 million, ultimately selling it 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.