Doja Cat Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Doja Cat’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $12 million, Doja Cat has made a name for herself as a rapper, singer, and songwriter. Gaining recognition during her teenage years for her music on SoundCloud, she signed a record deal at 17. Her albums “Amala,” “Hot Pink,” and “Planet Her” all achieved success, with the last two breaking into the top ten of the Billboard 200. Notably, Doja Cat is also famous for her effective use of social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube to promote her music.

In February 2022, Forbes published a list of the highest-paid individuals in hip-hop, estimating Doja Cat’s earnings at $25 million in 2021 from her music career and expanding international brand partnerships, including collaborations with companies like Pepsi and CandyCrush. However, this number could not be verified.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini in 1995, Doja Cat spent her early years in Los Angeles, California. Her mother is a painter, and her father, who hails from South Africa, is an actor, composer, and film producer. Soon after her birth, Dlamini and her mother relocated to New York City. Five years later, they moved to Oak Park, California, where she took lessons in tap, ballet, and jazz. Later on, the family returned to Los Angeles and lived in an ashram while practicing Hinduism. This environment nurtured Dlamini’s love for dance, as she explored Indian classical dance and eventually breakdancing. In high school, she joined a professional pop-locking troupe and ultimately decided to leave school to focus on a music career.

Dlamini independently learned to sing and rap using the GarageBand software. After creating her music, she began uploading it to SoundCloud. Her initial significant upload, “So High,” caught the eye of record producer Dr. Luke in 2012, leading to a signing with his label. By the summer of 2014, she debuted her EP “Purrr” under the name Doja Cat.

“Amala” and Meme Fame

In early 2018, Doja Cat released the singles “Roll with Us,” “Go to Town,” and “Candy,” which were later featured on her debut studio album “Amala.” At its initial launch, the album received little attention and minimal success on the charts. However, greater recognition came during the summer when she released the music video for her novelty song “Mooo!” on YouTube. The video, which showcased her whimsical dream of being a cow, quickly went viral, generating a popular meme. Following this rise, Doja Cat released the singles “Tia Tamera” and “Juicy” in early 2019, with “Juicy” ultimately becoming her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 after being remixed.

“Hot Pink” Breakthrough

In November 2019, Doja Cat marked her significant breakthrough as a recording artist with the release of her second studio album, “Hot Pink.” The album reached a peak position of number nine on the Billboard 200 and featured several hit singles, including “Bottom

Tracks such as “Bitch,” “Rules,” and “Say So” were significant for Doja Cat. Her single “Say So” reached number five on the Hot 100, marking her first top-ten hit; in 2020, a remix featuring Nicki Minaj elevated it to number one.

Thanks to the triumph of “Hot Pink,” Doja Cat emerged as one of the leading artists in 2020. She was ranked fifth on Billboard’s Top New Artists of 2020 list and topped Rolling Stone’s list of the biggest breakthrough artists of the year. This recognition led to three Grammy Award nominations for Doja Cat, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for “Say So.”

“Planet Her” and MTV Video Music Awards

In April 2021, Doja Cat released her single “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA, teasing her forthcoming album. The song achieved a remarkable feat, remaining in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten for 19 weeks with a peak position at number three. Following this, Doja Cat dropped the singles “Need to Know” and “You Right” before unveiling her album “Planet Her,” which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album also made it into the top three in countries such as Canada, Australia, and the UK.

After the success of “Planet Her,” Doja Cat took on the role of host for the MTV Video Music Awards in 2021. During the ceremony, she earned nominations for Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Visual Effects. Notably, she won the Best Collaboration award alongside SZA for “Kiss Me More,” as well as Best Art Direction, which she shared with Saweetie for the video of “Best Friend.”

Other Collaborations

Doja Cat has engaged in numerous collaborations with various artists. She has appeared on tracks by The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, City Girls, Ozuna, Bebe Rexha, and Ariana Grande, among others. In September 2021, she contributed to the song “Scoop,” featured on Lil Nas X’s debut studio album “Montero.”

Personal Life and Controversies

Doja Cat tends to keep details about her personal life private, often refraining from discussing her relationships. Nonetheless, she has hinted at her queer sexuality and has been seen dating artists like Jawny and Bree Runway. In early 2021, she acquired a $2.2 million home in Beverly Hills, which she subsequently listed for $2.5 million the following year.

As a prominent figure on social media, Doja Cat has occasionally faced controversy surrounding her comments. In 2018, she drew criticism after an older tweet containing the word “faggot” resurfaced. She quickly issued apologies and deleted the tweet. Later, during the pandemic, Doja Cat encountered backlash for downplaying COVID-19 as merely a “flu” and for participating in social gatherings.

In July 2022, Doja Cat became involved in a texting privacy breach scandal with actor Noah Schnapp, pertaining to actor Joseph Quinn. She had privately messaged Schnapp to request contact with Quinn, but Schnapp shared a screenshot of their conversation on his TikTok, revealing it to his 26 million followers.