Ray J Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ray J’s Net Worth?

A $14 million net worth is attributed to Ray J, who is recognized as an actor, music producer, and rapper. Born William Norwood, Jr., he started his performance career in the early ’90s as an actor, featuring in commercials and later on “The Sinbad Show.” Being the younger brother of acclaimed singer Brandy, it was inevitable for him to transition into music. He signed with Elektra Records and released his debut album in 1995. Although it had moderate success, the label dropped him in 1997. Following this, he redirected his efforts towards acting, featuring on his sister’s show, “Moesha,” for three seasons before returning to music with albums in 2001 and 2005, as well as acting in the show “One on One” in 2005.

In 2007, while Ray J gained substantial fame, it was for reasons beyond his music or acting. His sex tape with then-girlfriend Kim Kardashian catapulted him to household name status. The release of the tape and the ensuing attention made him a sought-after figure, leading to a contract with Shaquille O’Neal’s label in 2007 and a hit album in 2008. Furthermore, in 2009, he became a regular on reality shows featuring the Norwood family.

Early Life

On January 17, 1981, Ray J, originally named William Ray Norwood, Jr., was born in McComb, Mississippi, and later raised in California by his parents, Willie and Sonja Bates-Norwood. He is Brandy’s younger brother and Snoop Dogg’s cousin.

Acting Career

Ray J’s acting career commenced in 1989 with appearances in various television commercials. He portrayed the foster son in “The Sinbad Show” from 1993 to 1994. Additionally, he starred in his sister Brandy’s show, “Moesha,” for two years and appeared in “One on One.” His film credits include titles like “Mars Attacks!,” “Steel,” and “Envy.” In 2005, he featured in UPN’s “One-On-One.” He made a television comeback in 2009 with “For the Love of Ray J,” a reality dating series on VH1, running for two seasons and leading to a spin-off, “Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business,” premiering in April 2010. Ray J participated in the UK’s “Celebrity Big Brother” but left the show after only a week. Recently, he appeared in “Good Looking Out” (2021), “VH1 Family Reunion: Love & Hip Hop Edition,” “Love & Hip Hop: Secrets Unlocked,” and “College Hill: Celebrity Edition” in 2022.

Music Career

In 1995, Ray J joined Elektra Records to start recording his debut album, “Everything You Want.” Released in March 1997, the album featured the lead single “Let It Go,” distinct from another popular song with the same title. This single, which also appeared on the “Set It Off” soundtrack, reached #25 on the U.S. R&B chart. The subsequent single peaked at #54 before he was dropped by the label in 1997. The following year, he contributed to the “Dr. Doolittle” soundtrack with his original track “That’s Why I Lie” and produced songs for Mattel, along with creating music for various commercials.

Ray J collaborated with his sister Brandy on “Another Day in Paradise,” achieving top ten success in numerous countries, including the UK, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Ireland, and the Netherlands. He launched his second album, “This Ain’t a Game,” in June 2001, with the lead single “Wait a Minute” peaking at #30 on the U.S. chart.

After taking a two-year hiatus, Ray J established his own record label, Knockout Entertainment, in 2004, allowing him to produce music for various artists.

including artists like Brandy, Shorty Mack, and Ray J himself. Collaborating with renowned producers and recording artists, he has also worked with R. Kelly, Timbaland, Lil Kim, and The Neptunes. During this period, he finalized his third studio album, “Raydiation,” which was launched in September 2005 and made its debut at #48 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. The album’s lead single, “One Wish,” became a top 20 success in the US, UK, Ireland, and New Zealand, with domestic sales reaching 400,000 copies. Ray J’s fourth album, “All I Feel,” featuring The Game and Yung Berg on its initial single, “Sexy Can I,” was released on April 1, 2008. The single achieved a peak position of #3 on the Top Singles Hot 100 for six weeks, with a music video directed by R. Malcolm Jones filmed in December 2007. In 2022, Ray J released “Raydemption.”

Other Pursuits

As the founder of Raytroniks, Ray J has developed a range of consumer electronics that includes e-bikes, smartphone-controlled fans, and smartwatches. For the Scoot E-Bike, Ray implemented a comprehensive viral marketing approach, securing product placements with various celebrities like his cousin Snoop, Chris Brown, Sean Puffy Combs, Justin Bieber, and others, along with backing from sports teams including the LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Rams. In November 2017, Ray J and Cowboy Wholesale sealed a multi-million dollar deal aimed at expanding the Scoot E-Bike product line to include items that fit an electric lifestyle, such as Bluetooth audio devices and drones. Taking an active role in this partnership, Ray J serves as the Chief Strategy Officer, overseeing both marketing and global branding efforts. In the same month, he co-established Raycon, a direct-to-consumer electronics brand, where he oversees branding and strategy for the earbud and headphone line.

Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Royalties

In February 2007, a homemade sex tape featuring Ray J and Kim Kardashian from 2003 was publicly released. Steve Hirsch, President of Vivid Entertainment, stated that Ray J typically earns $90,000 every three months in royalties from his “home video” alongside Kim Kardashian. This totals approximately $360,000 annually, a solid figure considering the tape is nearly two decades old. When Kim makes headlines, such as for her wedding or her nude cover appearance on “Paper Magazine,” Ray J’s royalties can surge to as high as $50,000 each week. Following a lawsuit, Kim received a one-time settlement of $5 million for her involvement in the tape back in 2007.

Ray J Marijuana Tycoon

In June 2019, the launch of Ray J’s marijuana line, named William Ray LA, was announced, with claims that he invested $5 million of his own funds into the venture. Following this, in August 2019, it was revealed that he had taken on the role of chief strategic media officer for MarijuanaStock.org. According to documents acquired by TMZ, Ray J will receive an annual salary of $1 million for this position!

Personal Life

In the final years of Whitney Houston’s life, Ray J maintained a very close friendship with her. Despite rumors of a romantic involvement, Ray J has continuously stated that they were merely friends and never dated. Upon her passing on February 11, 2012, he was in San Diego but quickly traveled to the Beverly Hilton where she had died. Reportedly, he was infuriated after overhearing one of the police officers at the scene make a disrespectful remark about Houston. In his attempts to enter the hotel, Ray J had to be restrained. At the time of Houston’s death, Ray’s sister Brandy characterized him as extremely distraught and depressed.

On May 21, 2012, Ray was discovered in his hotel room, unable to rise from bed and was subsequently rushed to the hospital via ambulance. The previous day, there were reports of a confrontation at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards when Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law, summoned security upon noticing Ray J seated next to Whitney’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown.

In August 2016, Ray married fashion designer Princess Love in Los Angeles. Their first child, a daughter, arrived in May 2018, followed by their son in January 2020. However, in May 2020, Princess Love initiated divorce proceedings. In January 2023, Ray J stated in a birthday post that he had reunited with his “wife.”