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.

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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? ›

R Kelly's net worth is said to have plunged to “negative $2 million”. Celebrity Net Worth estimates the convicted sex abuser is far beyond broke, with a balance the equivalent of –£1.65 million.

How much was R Kelly worth at one time? ›

R. Kelly's net worth might easily have surpassed $100 million if he had never encountered in legal issues. Kelly is rumored to have paid a lot of millions of dollars to settle scores of lawsuits brought by women alleging abuse at the singer's hands.

How much is R Kelly's 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.

How much is R Kelly in debt? ›

In 2012, it was revealed that he owed the IRS $4.8 million in unpaid taxes. This debt continued to grow, and by 2020, he owed nearly $1.9 million to the IRS. These financial obligations have compounded his financial decline, leaving him with a negative net worth.

How much has R Kelly sold? ›

Career. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him the most commercially successful male R&B artist of the 1990s and one of the world's best-selling music artists.

What was Aaliyah's net worth when she died? ›

Quick Facts
FACTDETAIL
Wife/SpouseN/A
ChildrenN/A
DatingDame Dash (2000-2001)
Net Worth$8 million
15 more rows
Jun 17, 2024

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

As of 2024, unexpectedly, his net worth is estimated to be negative $2 million, meaning he is millions in debt. R. Kelly's main source of income was, of course, his wildly successful music career over many years. He has sold nearly 40 million albums in the United States and over 54 million albums worldwide.

Who has the richest catalog? ›

Top 10 most expensive back catalogues
Artist/SongwriterReported Sale Price (USD)Years in Industry
1 Queen1.27b51
2 Michael Jackson600m45
3 Bruce Springsteen500m60
4= KISS300m51
6 more rows
Jul 2, 2024

Did R Kelly sell his publishing rights? ›

R. Kelly sold some of his music rights for $5 million around the time of his trial, prosecutors alleged. Prosecutors argued the proceeds should be considered when the judge issues a fine. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison plus $140,000 in fines, with restitution to be decided later.

What songs has R Kelly written? ›

Songs
SongArtistAlbum
"Apologies of a Thug"R. KellyLoveland (Limited Edition)
"As I Look Into My Life"R. KellyR. Kelly
"At Your Best (You Are Love)"AaliyahAge Ain't Nothing But a Number
"Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby..."R. KellyR. Kelly
55 more rows

Who gets R. Kelly's royalties now? ›

Kelly's royalties held by Universal Music Group must be handed over to Brooklyn federal prosecutors to help pay his victims, a judge ruled Wednesday.

What happened to R. Kelly's house? ›

Inside the massive, 30-room Olympia Fields mansion once owned by disgraced recording artist R. Kelly. Rudolph Isley and his wife, Elaine, purchased the home after it entered foreclosure in 2013 and remodeled it to include a new kitchen. The Isleys fixed and remodeled a flooded basement to add a 1950s-style kitchen.

What did Kelly Price say about R. Kelly? ›

While speaking about her relationship with Kelly, Price shared that although he was older than her, she became like an "older sister" to the singer. "Our relationship remained professional. He never brought anything around me," she said. "People don't believe it but he never, ever brought anything around me.

Does R. Kelly own Masters? ›

Sources say that Kelly doesn't own the master recordings he made during his period as a chart-topping artist, which accounts for the majority of the activity on his catalog. (His later period recordings, which Kelly may own, don't fare as well in generating sales and streams.)

Who has sold more records Kelly and Carrie? ›

Carrie Underwood

Well, this is certainly no surprise. Carrie is one of the most beloved artists in music today, which has helped her sell almost 15 million albums here in the US. That number beats runner up Kelly Clarkson by only about one million, so the ranking here may change.

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.

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

Jim Kelly: $20 Million Net Worth

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.

What was Gene Kelly's net worth at death? ›

Quick Facts
FACTDETAIL
Wife/SpousePatricia Ward (m. 1990–1996), Jeanne Coyne (m. 1960–1973), Betsy Blair (m. 1941–1957)
Children3
DatingN/A
Net Worth$10 Million
15 more rows
Jul 19, 2024

How much does Kelly make per year? ›

Kelly makes $22 million each year for Live, according to Celebrity Net Worth, which is just seriously impressive. Back in 2017, she was making an $18 million salary for the show, according to Forbes. And that was expected to go up to $20 million in 2018.

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