Lil Wayne Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Lil Wayne’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $170 million, Lil Wayne is an American rapper, producer, and music executive. Throughout his career, he has been known by many names, including Birdman Jr., Young Tune, Dr. Carter, Weezyana, Tunechi, among others. Regardless of the name, one fact remains: his success has been immense. He has sold more than 200 million records globally, received numerous accolades, and notably outpaced Elvis Presley for the highest number of entries on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. His experience as one of the best-selling artists in music history equipped him to establish his own record label, Young Money Entertainment.

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

Early Life

Born on September 27, 1982, in New Orleans, Louisiana, Lil Wayne’s real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. Despite growing up in the economically challenged neighborhood of Hollygrove, his talents were recognized early. He was part of the gifted program in elementary school and became involved in the drama club.

By the age of eight, he had penned his first rap song, and a year later, he caught the attention of Bryan Williams, known as “Birdman.” As the owner of Cash Money Records, Williams was Lil Wayne’s first opportunity for major success. Carter left freestyles on Birdman’s answering machine, convincing him to give the boy a chance. After appearing on several tracks under the Cash Money label, it became evident that music would be the path for Lil Wayne.

At the age of 12, tragedy struck when he accidentally shot himself in the chest with a 9mm pistol. An off-duty officer rushed him to the hospital due to the life-threatening injury. Lil Wayne later revealed that this incident was an attempt at suicide, stemming from his mother’s disapproval of his aspirations in rap.

Initial Success

In 1997, Lil Wayne’s career formally took off when he joined the group known as the Hot Boys. The group achieved notable success, frequently reaching the top positions on the “Billboard” R&B/Hip-Hop chart. By that time, he

At the age of just 17, Lil Wayne embarked on a solo career with the launch of his debut album, “Tha Block is Hot,” in 1999. Although this initial album certainly marked his entry into the music scene, his subsequent releases, “Lights Out” and “500 Degreez,” struggled to build on this momentum, putting him at risk of becoming overlooked.

Mainstream Success

Everything changed for him in 2004 with the arrival of “Tha Carter.” Coupled with the release of “Tha Carter II” a year later, this phase in Lil Wayne’s career signified significant progress. His lyrics became richer and more sophisticated, and his public persona began to crystallize as he grew his iconic dreadlocks. The single “Fireman” stood out as a particularly memorable moment during this period.

In the following two years, the rapper experienced a relatively slow time, though he appeared on many tracks by other musicians, such as Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, and Ludacris. In 2008, Lil Wayne made a powerful comeback with “Tha Carter III,” featuring one of his most iconic songs, “Lollipop.”

A pivotal moment in his career occurred in 2011 with the release of “Tha Carter IV.” After another lengthy wait, “Tha Carter V” came out in 2018, achieving similar success levels. In multiple interviews, Lil Wayne has remarked that “Tha Carter V” represents his final album, expressing intentions to retire and devote more time to family.

In 2020, Lil Wayne made a comeback with his album “Funeral,” which debuted at #1 on the “Billboard” 200, marking his fifth U.S. #1 album. He subsequently released the mixtape “No Ceilings 3” and the greatest hits album “I Am Music” in 2023. During a 2023 interview, he hinted that fans could anticipate “Tha Carter VI” to drop “if not in December, then at the start of the year.”

Young Money Catalog Sale

Through his label Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne played a crucial role in signing both Drake and Nicki Minaj when they were emerging artists. In July 2020, he completed the sale of the Young Money Masters to Universal Music for $100 million.

Personal Life

Lil Wayne is a father to four children, the first of whom arrived in 1998 when he was just 16 years old. While he married the mother of his first child, Toya Johnson, the couple divorced in 2006. In 2008, he welcomed his first son, Dwayne III, with a radio broadcaster. Another son was born in 2009 with actress Lauren London. Additionally, in 2009, he had another son with singer Nivea. From 2014 to 2015, he was in a relationship with singer Christina Milian. Though engaged to model La’Tecia Thomas, they ended their engagement in May 2020. Following this, in June 2020, he began dating Denise Bidot, and after a split in November 2020, they rekindled their relationship.

In 2008, Wayne and Cortez Bryant returned to their former high school, McMain Secondary School, encouraging students to create an invitation for the gala launching the One Family Foundation nonprofit.

Substance Abuse and Health Issues

It is alleged that Carter misused a potent substance known as

For several years, Lil Wayne has been associated with a so-called addiction to “Lean.” This presumed dependency has been linked to numerous health issues faced by the rapper, including seizures that required hospitalization. A particularly serious episode took place in 2017 when Lil Wayne had to be admitted to the hospital following two consecutive seizures. He has consistently refuted any claims that there is a link between a purported substance problem and his seizures. In 2013, Carter revealed that he has epilepsy.

Controversy

Multiple arrests have marked Lil Wayne’s career. In 2007, he was detained for marijuana possession and illegal firearm possession. The following year, more severe charges led to his arrest; he was apprehended by Border Patrol in Arizona, where his tour bus was discovered with weapons and a substantial amount of illegal drugs. Among the charges, he faced felony counts for possession of narcotic drugs with intent to sell.

In 2010, Lil Wayne began a one-year prison sentence in Rikers Island due to weapons charges, which concluded with 36 months of probation as part of a plea agreement. Ultimately, he served only eight months of the year-long sentence.

Moreover, the rapper has faced various legal challenges in the music industry, dealing with accusations of copyright infringement stemming from disputes over his tracks. Other incidents involve Lil Wayne failing to pay royalties owed to record labels and canceling performances despite having been compensated.

Additionally, Lil Wayne has engaged in several high-profile feuds, clashing 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, Lil Wayne invested $11.6 million in a waterfront residence located on an island in Miami. He subsequently put millions into enhancements for the property, including a roof-deck skate park and an indoor shark tank lagoon. Initially, he listed the home for $18 million in 2015 but later reduced the price to $12 million, ultimately selling it for $10 million in June 2017. This luxurious 20,857-square-foot mansion resides on La Gorce, a private island in Miami Beach, featuring 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:

He also once owned a condominium in New Orleans complete with a recording studio.

In December 2018, he paid $16.75 million for a newly built island home in Miami. The developer purchased the 23,000-square-foot lot in 2013 for $4.4 million. In September 2022, Lil Wayne listed this home for $29.5 million, eventually selling it in 2023 for $22.6 million. Here’s a video tour of that property:

In April 2021, Lil Wayne spent $15.4 million on a mansion located in Hidden Hills, California.