Usher is one of the most successful and influential singers in the world. He has sold over 80 million records worldwide, won eight Grammy Awards, and starred in movies and TV shows. He is also the headliner of the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show, which will take place in Las Vegas. But how much is Usher worth? And how did he earn his fortune? In this article, we will explore Usher’s net worth, his career journey, his personal life, and his impact on the music industry.
Usher’s Net Worth: A Breakdown
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Usher’s net worth is around $180 million as of 2024. This makes him one of the richest R&B artists of all time. But how did he achieve this level of wealth? Let’s take a look at his career milestones and sources of income.
Early Life & Career Beginnings
Usher was born Usher Raymond IV on October 14, 1978, in Dallas, Texas. He grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia, where he sang in church choirs and entered talent shows. When he was 13, he auditioned for LaFace Records and impressed the producer L.A. Reid, who signed him on the spot. His first album, Usher, was released in 1994, when he was only 16 years old. It sold 500,000 copies and featured the single “Can U Get wit It”.
Music Career Success
Usher’s music career took off with his second album, My Way, which came out in 1997. It spawned three hit singles: “You Make Me Wanna…”, “Nice & Slow”, and “My Way”. The album sold over six million copies and earned Usher his first Grammy nomination. His third album, 8701, was released in 2001 and contained two number-one singles: “U Remind Me” and “U Got It Bad”. The album sold over eight million copies and won Usher his first two Grammy Awards.
Usher’s biggest success came with his fourth album, Confessions, which was released in 2004. The album was a blockbuster, selling over 20 million copies worldwide and becoming the best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the US. It also had four number-one singles: “Yeah!” (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris), “Burn”, “Confessions Part II”, and “My Boo” (with Alicia Keys). The album won Usher three more Grammy Awards and made him a global superstar.
Usher continued to release successful albums in the following years, such as Here I Stand (2008), Raymond v. Raymond (2010), Looking 4 Myself (2012), and Hard II Love (2016). He also collaborated with other artists, such as Justin Bieber, Pitbull, will.i.am, and H.E.R. His latest album, Coming Home, was released in 2024, just before his Super Bowl performance. It features the single “Good Good” (with 21 Savage and Summer Walker).
Other Ventures and Investments
Besides music, Usher has also ventured into other fields, such as acting, business, and philanthropy. He has appeared in movies, such as The Faculty (1998), Light It Up (1999), She’s All That (1999), Texas Rangers (2001), In the Mix (2005), and Hands of Stone (2016). He has also starred in TV shows, such as Moesha, The Voice, and Usher: The Evolution Live in Madison Square Garden. He has also produced movies and shows, such as Kill the Noise, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, and Step Up: High Water.
Usher is also a savvy businessman, who has invested in various companies and projects. He is the co-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team, along with LeBron James and Dan Gilbert. He also has stakes in Tidal, a music streaming service, and Yoobic, a retail tech company. He has also launched his own record label, US Records, and his own fragrance line, Usher for Men and Usher for Women.
Usher is also a philanthropist, who has founded and supported several charitable organizations. He established the New Look Foundation in 1999, which helps underprivileged youth develop leadership and career skills. He also supports causes such as education, health, social justice, and the environment. He has donated money and performed for events such as Live 8, Hurricane Katrina relief, Haiti earthquake relief, and Global Citizen Festival.
Philanthropy and Personal Life
Usher is a father of four children, two from his first marriage to Tameka Foster, and two from his current relationship with Jenn Goicoechea. He married Foster, a stylist, in 2007, but they divorced in 2009 after a bitter custody battle. He then dated Grace Miguel, a manager, and married her in 2015, but they separated in 2018. He started dating Goicoechea, a music executive, in 2019, and they have two children together.
Usher has faced some controversies and challenges in his personal life, such as lawsuits, health issues, and family tragedies. He was sued by several people who claimed that he infected them with herpes without disclosing his status. He denied the allegations and settled the cases out of court. He also revealed that he suffered from a nerve disorder called Meniere’s disease, which causes vertigo and hearing loss. He also lost his stepson, Kile Glover, in a jet ski accident in 2012, and his grandmother, who raised him, in 2020.
Usher’s Real Estate Ventures
Usher has owned and sold several properties over the years, reflecting his taste and wealth. He bought his first house in Atlanta when he was 18, for $1.2 million. He later sold it for $1.5 million in 2007. He also bought a mansion in Alpharetta, Georgia, for $3 million in 1998, and sold it for $1.5 million in 2018. He also owned a penthouse in New York City, which he bought for $2.3 million in 2006, and sold for $2.4 million in 2017. He also owned a house in Los Angeles, which he bought for $3.4 million in 2015, and sold for $3.3 million in 2018.
Usher currently lives in a lavish mansion in Las Vegas, which he bought for $4.2 million in 2020. The house is located in a gated community and has six bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a pool, a spa, a gym, a wine cellar, and a movie theater. The house is also close to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, where Usher performed his residency show.
Usher’s Super Bowl Performance and Net Worth Impact
Usher is set to perform at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show, which will take place on February 11, 2024, at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. He will be the second artist to headline the show, after Jennifer Lopez and Shakira in 2020. He will be joined by special guests, such as Alicia Keys, H.E.R., will.i.am, Lil Jon, and Ludacris. He will also roller-skate on stage, as he did in his Vegas show.
Usher’s Super Bowl performance is expected to boost his net worth, as it will expose him to a massive audience and generate more sales and streams for his music. According to Forbes, the Super Bowl halftime show can increase an artist’s music revenue by up to 500%. For example, after performing at the Super Bowl in 2017, Lady Gaga saw a 1,000% increase in her album sales and a 412% increase in her streaming revenue. Usher could see a similar effect, as his new album, Coming Home, is already topping the charts.
Conclusion
Usher is one of the most accomplished and influential singers of his generation. He has a net worth of $180 million, which he earned from his music, acting, business, and real estate ventures. He is also a philanthropist, who supports various causes and helps young people. He is about to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, which will showcase his talent and legacy to the world. Usher is a true legend, who has proven that he can do it all.
