Kendrick Lamar Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Kendrick Lamar’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $140 million, Kendrick Lamar stands out as an American rapper on the global stage. He is recognized as one of the highest-paid and most popular rappers worldwide. Throughout his career, he has accumulated earnings exceeding $250 million. In 2018, he achieved remarkable success, earning $60 million, ranking him among the top entertainers of the year. As of now, Lamar has secured 17 Grammy Awards from 47 nominations, along with a Pulitzer Prize for his album “Damn.”

Lamar’s career began to take off with his initial mixtape, “Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year),” released in 2003, which attracted local interest and led him to a contract with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).

His later releases, “Training Day” (2005) and “C4” (2009), highlighted the growth of his style and lyrical skills. Nonetheless, it was the 2010 mixtape “Overly Dedicated” that showcased his arrival on the national music scene, gaining critical praise and introducing his introspective lyrical style. Lamar’s debut studio album, “Section.80” (2011), further established his credibility within the hip-hop genre, addressing social concerns relevant to the African-American community.

The release of Lamar’s major-label album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” (2012), marked a significant milestone, earning glowing reviews for its thematic depth, narrative style, and production excellence. Featuring hits like “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” the album achieved commercial success and solidified Lamar’s status as a key player in the music industry.

In 2015, Kendrick’s third studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” received both critical acclaim and commercial achievement. This work, rich in jazz, funk, and soul elements, tackled themes of racial dynamics, personal challenges, and societal commentary, earning him numerous awards, including several Grammys. His subsequent album, “Damn” (2017), furthered this success by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first artist outside of classical and jazz genres to obtain this honor.

Apart from his studio albums, Lamar’s impact is felt through his captivating live performances, collaborations with other musicians, and his role in curating the soundtrack for the film “Black Panther,” which featured the popular track “All the Stars.”

Early Life

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California, on June 17, 1987. He began his rapping journey during elementary school, drawing inspiration from his idols, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre. Just three years prior to his birth, Lamar’s parents relocated from the south side of Chicago to Compton due to his father’s involvement in gang life and his mother’s insistence on finding a way out. He received his first name from his mother in homage to Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. Despite facing challenging circumstances and his family’s financial difficulties, Lamar reminisces fondly about his childhood, excelling academically as a straight-A student who produced award-winning essays and impressive test scores at Centennial High School in Compton.

Career

At the age of 16, while still attending high school, Lamar launched his first mixtape, “Youngest Head Nigga in Charge,” which quickly caught the attention of local record labels. He subsequently signed with…

In the early 2000s, Top Dawg Entertainment signed him, leading to the subsequent release of another mixtape. He gained increased recognition during 2008 and 2009, most notably appearing in Jay Rock’s music video for “All My Life (in the Ghetto)” and receiving a co-sign from Lil Wayne. After signing with Lil Wayne, he started using his real name, Kendrick Lamar, instead of his previous stage name, K. Dot. Following this, he released an additional mixtape and reissued an earlier project under his real name. Throughout 2010 and 2011, Kendrick engaged in extensive touring while releasing a well-received mixtape and an independent album. His debut major studio album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” arrived on October 22, 2012, under Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment, eventually selling over 1.1 million copies in the United States alone. The album attained #1 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart and #2 on the “Billboard” 200 chart.

During his debut on “Saturday Night Live,” Lamar performed the album’s initial singles, “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice.” Additionally, he collaborated with Adam Levine and The Lonely Island in a digital short that inspired the “YOLO” single. Besides his studio albums, Kendrick has featured on numerous singles with various well-known artists, including Big Sean, Robin Thicke, Drake, 2 Chainz, Birdman, and J. Cole.

Kanye West announced in September 2013 that Kendrick would be supporting him on his first solo headlining tour in five years for the album “Yeezus.” The following month, Lamar was featured on Eminem’s eighth studio album, “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.” In November, he earned the title of Rapper of the Year from “GQ” magazine. Although Lamar was nominated for seven Grammys in 2014, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year, he did not win any. In May 2015, he featured in the remix of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” which topped the “Billboard” charts, and their music video earned them a Grammy for Best Music Video, along with an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.

The release of his album “To Pimp a Butterfly” in 2015 saw it reach #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart in the U.S. as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK. The album received critical acclaim for its innovative sound and creativity, with many reviewers calling it “groundbreaking” for its unconventional approach to hip-hop. At the 58th Grammy Awards, Kendrick received five Grammys for “To Pimp a Butterfly,” including Best Rap Album.

His following album, “Damn,” released in 2017, also reached #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart as well as in Canada. His most prominent single, “Humble,” secured the #1 spot on the “Billboard” Hot 100, US R&B/Hip-Hop, and US Rap charts. Other successful singles by Lamar include “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “DNA.” By May 2017, “Damn” achieved platinum certification. At the 60th Grammy Awards, Kendrick received accolades for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rap/Sung Performance. From June 2017 to June 2018, Lamar earned nearly $60 million through his various ventures.

Following the triumph of “Damn,” Lamar took on the role of producer and curator for the soundtrack of Marvel’s “Black Panther,” which garnered universal acclaim from critics.and audiences. For the song “All the Stars,” he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. In 2022, Lamar launched his fifth studio album, titled “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.” The tour associated with it, “Big Steppers Tour,” set a record in 2023 by becoming the highest-grossing rap tour ever, amassing over $110.9 million from 73 shows and nearly a million tickets sold.

Lamar made his debut in acting in the Starz drama series “Power” in July 2018, portraying a Dominican drug addict named Laces. The series was executive produced by his close friend and collaborator 50 Cent, who specifically requested Lamar’s casting. His performance received high praise from both critics and audiences.

Kendrick Lamar Career Earnings By Year

• 2013 – $9 million
• 2014 – $9 million
• 2015 – $12 million
• 2016 – $19 million
• 2017 – $30 million
• 2018 – $60 million
• 2019 – $39 million
• 2020 – $5 million
• 2021 – $10 million
• 2022 – $10 million
• 2023 – $20 million

Total: $223 million

Accolades

Kendrick has secured 17 Grammy Awards over his career, made appearances on the “Time” 100 List of the Most Influential People, and received two civic honors. His album “Damn” was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018, marking him as the first non-jazz or classical artist to achieve this feat. Renowned globally for his incisive lyrics and rhymes, Lamar consistently appears on numerous publications’ lists as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He has sold more than 70 million records in the United States alone, and three of his albums were featured in “Rolling Stone’s” 2020 ranking of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Personal Life

In 2015, Lamar became engaged to Whitney Alford. Together, they share two children: a daughter named Uzi and a son named Enoch.

Kendrick used to be a cannabis user and is now a devoted Christian. During the presidential election in 2012, he initially expressed that he would not vote. However, as the election approached, he changed his position, announcing his intention to vote for Barack Obama.

Real Estate

• In 2013, Kendrick purchased a modest home in Eastvale, California, for $523,400.
• In 2017, he acquired a property in a gated community in Calabasas for $2.65 million.
• In October 2019, he invested $9.7 million in a home located in Manhattan Beach, California.
• In December 2022, Lamar made a $16 million purchase of a house in LA’s Bel Air area.
• In November 2023, Kendrick paid $8.6 million for a four-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY.
• In May 2024, he acquired a mansion in Los Angeles’ Brentwood neighborhood for $40 million.