Lil Wayne’s net worth: The rap icon’s wealth at 42 | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Known as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Lil Wayne is an American hip-hop artist and entrepreneur whose unique style made a significant impact on modern rap music. Signed to Cash Money Records at the tender age of twelve, Lil Wayne rose to prominence through his Tha Carter album series, selling over 200 million records over the course of his three-decade career.

The Grammy-winning rapper even outpaces Elvis Presley in terms of Billboard-charting singles—Weezy (as he’s also known) has 194, while Elvis has 109.

In 2005, Lil Wayne founded Young Money Entertainment to gain autonomy over his music as well as build a platform for other artists. The powerful label was responsible for launching the careers of Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga, but in 2020, Lil Wayne sold his entire catalog to Universal Music Group as part of a settlement related to a legal dispute. The sale included the masters of his own music, as well as the pre-2018 recordings of other artists signed to Young Money, and was valued at more than $100 million.

Previous disputes, particularly one with Cash Money Records as well as his former mentor, Bryan “Birdman” Williams, which was settled for an undisclosed amount in 2018, had caused fans to wonder if Lil Wayne would be retiring from music. But the 42-year-old performer—who’s known for writing and recording prolifically—has proven that he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

In fact, in 2021, just one day after Donald Trump pardoned him for felony gun possession, Lil Wayne released the single “Ain’t Got Time,” thanking the President “for recognizing that I have so much more to give to my family, my art, and my community.”

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Lil Wayne’s newest album, Tha Carter VI, was released on June 6, 2025, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. His “Tha Carter VI Tour,” launched the same day, spans 36 performances across the United States and Canada through October 2025.

A success by any measure, the multi-platinum-selling artist sums up his life well with the lyric: “They say money talks, well, I’m the ventriloquist.”

But just how much money does Lil Wayne have in 2025?

Lil Wayne’s net worth in 2025

In 2012, Forbes placed Lil Wayne on its 30 under 30 list, reporting that his Tha Carter IV album, which dropped the year before, had elevated his net worth to $27 million. At the time, his concert tours were grossing an estimated $600,000 per night.

But that was nearly a decade ago, and a lot has happened to the New Orleans rhymester since.

In 2025, the online fortune estimator Celebrity Net Worth placed the “Lollipop” singer’s wealth much, much higher. It stated that Lil Wayne now has an estimated net worth of $170 million and makes between $12 million and $27 million per year.

2020 was a particularly lucrative year for the 5’5” rapper, as it marked his sale of Young Money Entertainment’s catalog to Universal Music Group for a cool $100 million.

Lil Wayne’s early life and music career

Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. was born on September 27, 1982, in the impoverished neighborhood of Hollygrove in New Orleans’ 17th ward. Music lovers who visit there will find a mural created in his honor, near Lincoln Park.

Lil Wayne’s mother, Jacida, a cook, had her son at age 19. She and her husband, Dwayne Michael Turner, divorced when their baby was two, and Dwayne left their life for good. In fact, the rapper dropped the “D” from his first name to symbolize the absence of his dad, he told CBS News—and emancipated himself from being his junior.

Wayne always excelled in school. He was enrolled in the gifted program at Lafayette Elementary, was an honors student at Eleanor McMain Secondary School, and attended Marion Abramson Senior High School, where he received straight As. However, he left in the 10th grade to earn his GED after his mother found the gun in his backpack he carried for safety.

By age eight, Lil Tunechi, as he’s also known, had written his first rap song. Music wasn’t just a hobby; it made him who he was, he explained to Katie Couric. He even tattooed the words “I am music” over his right eye—one of nearly 100 pieces of ink that, along with his gold and platinum-encrusted teeth, make up his distinctive and rebellious personal style.

In 1993, Lil Wayne was discovered by Birdman, who signed him to Cash Money Records at the tender age of twelve. The rapper performed with B.G. as part of the B.G.’z; later, the duo joined the Hot Boys, featuring fellow NOLA rappers Juvenile and Turk. Their 1999 album Guerilla Warfare received mainstream success; later that year, Lil Wayne’s first solo album, Tha Block Is Hot, was released, selling more than a million copies and catapulting Lil Wayne to fame.

Why did Lil Wayne shoot himself?

In 1994, just one year after Birdman discovered him, Lil Wayne was rushed to the hospital by an off-duty police officer. The budding rapper had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. At the time, he claimed the gunshot was the result of an accident that occurred while he was playing with his mother’s gun. Later in his album Tha Carter IV, Lil Wayne revealed that he had attempted to commit suicide after his mother said he couldn’t rap anymore.

Robert Hoobler, a 6’7” off-duty officer in the New Orleans Police Department, responded to the 911 call, as frequently was his habit. He discovered Lil Wayne bleeding profusely on the floor of his bedroom, a bullet casing on the bed.

Miraculously, the bullet had missed every one of Wayne’s vital organs. Dispatchers informed Hoobler that no ambulances were available, so he scooped the child into his arms and raced him to the hospital in his own vehicle. Lil Wayne has credited him with saving his life.

Lil Wayne’s sound and influence

Lil Wayne has left an indelible mark on hip-hop through his own, distinctive style of “mumble rap,” his rapid-fire delivery and use of autotune, seamlessly blending rapping with singing, which profoundly influenced his protégées, including Drake.

The “A Milli” rapper’s evocative lingo helped to popularize terms like “bling bling,” which was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2003.

A master of reinvention, Lil Wayne later expanded the boundaries of rap into rock and punk genres by incorporating electric guitars and punk vocals into his music.

His unique fashion sense also mixed elements of streetwear, punk, and skateboarding styles, pairing baggy clothes with fedoras, plaid textures, and high top sneakers to great acclaim. Lil Wayne even launched his own clothing line, Trukfit, in 2012.

Lil Wayne’s biggest hits

The highly regarded rapper has produced a massive volume of music: Thirteen studio albums, one collaborative album, three compilation albums, five EPs, and 29 mixtapes, which are collections of promotional music released for free to connect with fans.

Lil Wayne has been nominated for 26 Grammys, winning five awards for Best Rap Album with Tha Carter III, Best Rap Performance for “A Milli” in 2008; Best Rap Song for “Lollipop” and Best Rap Duo for “Swagga Like Us” with T-Pain, Kanye West, and Jay-Z in 2009; and Best Rap Performance for “No Problem” with Chance the Rapper and 2 Chainz in 2017.

Wayne’s platinum albums, designated for selling over 1 million copies, include:

Tha Carter III (8x platinum)
Tha Carter IV (6x platinum)
Tha Carter (2x platinum)
Tha Carter II (2x platinum)
I Am Not a Human Being

Lil Wayne’s business ventures

The master of reinvention is also a force in the boardroom, as Lil Wayne has launched multiple income streams that introduced him to new legions of fans.

Young Money Entertainment

Lil Wayne founded Young Money Entertainment in 2005. Originally an imprint of Cash Money Records and a joint venture with Republic Records until 2018, Lil Wayne served as the label’s President until 2009. He was responsible for signing major artists, including Nicki Minaj, Drake, Tyga, and DJ Khaled, to name a few.

The label released three compilation albums, We Are Young Money (2009), Rich Gang (2013), and Young Money: Rise of an Empire (2014), and launched a series of successful concert tours.

More on fabulously rich musicians:

For instance, Lil Wayne’s “I Am Music Tour” and “America’s Most Wanted Tour,” which featured Young Money artists, grossed $42 million, setting a record for hip-hop musicians.

A lot was at stake when Lil Wayne sold the Young Money catalog to Universal Music Group for $100 million in 2020. The sale resolved his previous (and lengthy) legal disputes regarding unpaid advances and the rights to his music. It also transferred Birdman’s 49% stake in Young Money to Lil Wayne.

Trukfit

Lil Wayne’s streetwear line, which stands for “The Reason You Kill For It,” launched in 2012. Inspired by the rapper’s own eclectic style, it featured bold graphics at a moderate price point and was sold at Macy’s and Dillard’s.

In 2015, Lil Wayne brought on Kevin Leong as the brand’s new creative director. Leong previously worked with Phat Farm and Baby Phat and helped to “age-up” and rebrand the line for more boutique retailers like Urban Outfitters and PacSun, although it continues to be sold at Walmart as well.

Young Money APAA Sports

A passionate fan of basketball and football, Lil Wayne even co-founded his own sports agency in 2017. It represents athletes in the NFL, NBA, and Major League Soccer leagues as well as in college sports. The agency has previously represented Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Jalen Hurts, and Green Bay Packers’ wide receiver, Mecole Hardman; it currently represents Chicago Bulls’ forward Isaac Okoro.

GKUA Ultra Premium

Lil Wayne is a regular user of cannabis, which he says helps relieve his chronic migraines. In 2019, he founded his own brand, which works with a half dozen farms in Northern California to produce a line of high-potency cannabis products and vapes. Online sources estimate its revenues at less than $5 million.

Just had a great meeting with @realdonaldtrump @potus besides what he’s done so far with criminal reform, the platinum plan is going to give the community real ownership. He listened to what we had to say today and assured he will and can get it done. 🤙🏾 pic.twitter.com/Q9c5k1yMWf

— Lil Wayne WEEZY F (@LilTunechi) October 29, 2020

Sponsorships

Lil Wayne has signed deals with major brands including Beats by Dre, Mountain Dew, Pepsi, and Samsung, and he is an investor and spokesperson for Sovereign Brands’ Bumbu Rum, but his greatest endorsement hasn’t been for a product: It’s for the position of Commander-in-Chief.

In 2020, Lil Wayne posed for a photo with President Donald Trump: Critics were quick to deride it, viewing it as Wayne’s endorsement of the Republican’s second bid for President.

In a 2025 interview with Rolling Stone, however, Wayne downplayed the incident, revealing that Trump had also asked him to play at his Inauguration, an invitation he declined. As for the photo, Lil Wayne said, “My mama woulda been mad if I ain’t smile. That might have been the only backlash I would have worried about.”

When did Lil Wayne go to jail?

In July 2007, Lil Wayne was arrested in New York City after police found a loaded .40-caliber handgun on his tour bus. He pled guilty to felony weapons possession and was sentenced to a one-year prison term beginning in March 2010. After serving eight months in Rikers Island, the rapper was released.

While in prison, Wayne released the album I Am Not a Human Being, a reflection of his time and experiences while incarcerated.

Lil Wayne’s eldest daughter, Reginae Carter, is a musician, model, and reality TV personality.

Prince Williams/Wireimage

How many kids does Lil Wayne have?

Lil Wayne is father to four children from four different relationships. According to People, he publicly supports all of his partners, often takes his kids to NBA games, and even features them on his albums.

His eldest child, daughter Reginae Carter, was born on Nov. 29, 1998. A rapper and musician herself, she has appeared on tracks with her dad as well as released solo music. She has also acted in TV series Pride and Prejudice: Atlanta and Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta and models for Rihanna’s clothing line, Savage x Fenty.

Although her mother, Toya Johnson, divorced Lil Wayne in 2006 after just two years of marriage, the couple remains on good terms.

Lil Wayne’s son, Dwayne Michael Carter III, was born on Oct. 22, 2008. His mother is radio personality Sarah Vivan. In 2020, Dwayne appeared on Lil Wayne’s track “Fl4m3$” under the moniker Lil Tune.

Kameron Carter, Lil Wayne’s son with actress Lauren London, was born on September 9, 2009. He appeared as Kam on his father’s 2020 mixtape No Ceilings 3.

Lil Wayne’s youngest son, Neal, was born on November 30, 2009. His mother is R&B singer Nivea, and Neal has appeared on Lil Wayne’s Instagram Live feed.

Lil Wayne’s health issues

The NOLA rapper has revealed that he has suffered from epilepsy since childhood and has been hospitalized for seizures several times.

He has also admitted to substance abuse problems, including an addiction to lean, a mixture of codeine, promethazine, and soda.

Lil Wayne’s real estate portfolio

Lil Wayne previously owned a 23,760-square-foot mansion on Allison Island in Miami, Florida, which he offloaded in 2023 for $29.5 million.

In 2021, he purchased a brand-new home in Hidden Hills, California, for $15.4 million. According to Architectural Digest, the home features over 10,000 square feet of living space and is set on three acres in the exclusive community that Kendall Jenner and The Weeknd call home.

Lil Wayne listed his five-bedroom New Orleans mansion for $1.7 million in 2011 but took it off the market the following year. It boasts a recording studio—thereby proving itself useful to the prolific artist.