The Weeknd Net Worth (Money & Salary)

The Weeknd’s Net Worth: What is it?

With a net worth of $300 million, The Weeknd, a Canadian recording artist and record producer, stands out as a prominent figure in the Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B genre. He initially gained fame through YouTube and has developed a distinctive musical style. In the United States alone, he has sold over 70 million records and has received numerous awards, including several Grammys. In addition to his music career, The Weeknd has engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures, such as collaborating with different brands and launching his personal brand, “XO.”

Currently, The Weeknd is recognized as one of the highest-paid entertainers globally, with earnings reaching up to $90 million annually, depending on his touring schedule, before taxes.

Real Estate Ventures

The Weeknd acquired a penthouse in Los Angeles with stunning views of the Beverly Hills Country Club for $21 million in December 2019. The property’s monthly HOA fee stands at $6,800. Before establishing a presence in Los Angeles, he rented a triplex penthouse in New York City for $60,000 per month, which he placed on the market for $22.5 million in January 2022, ultimately selling for $19 million in August 2023.

Previously, The Weeknd owned a three-acre estate in Hidden Hills, California, which he purchased for $18 million in June 2017. This spacious home features over 13,000 square feet with nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, and a 1,200-square-foot guest house. He listed the property for $25 million in June 2020 and sold it to Madonna for $20 million in April 2021. Madonna then listed it for $26 million and sold it in June 2023 for $23 million. Here’s a video tour of the home:

In August 2021, The Weeknd purchased a mansion in Bel Air, Los Angeles, for $70 million. This house, measuring 33,000 square feet, was sold through an off-market transaction and is situated on 1.6 acres with views of the Bel-Air Country Club. The property boasts luxurious amenities, including an indoor pool, sports court, movie theater, gym, music studio, and outdoor pool.

Early Life Overview

Born as Abel Makkonen Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, The Weeknd grew up in Toronto, Ontario, raised by his mother and grandmother after his parents’ separation. Coming from Ethiopian roots, his parents migrated to Canada in the late ’80s. During his childhood, Tesfaye’s father was largely absent, as their encounters were infrequent. His formative years were deeply influenced by religion, with regular attendance at the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Despite this early religious backdrop, Abel Tesfaye…drugs for the first time when he was just 11 years old. Initially, he picked up a marijuana smoking habit that eventually escalated into a dependence on more potent substances. Tesfaye purportedly resorted to criminal activities to sustain his addiction. Despite having enrolled in high school, he left before completing his final year and did not graduate.

Early Career

Tesfaye explained that his stage name originated from the weekend he decided to leave both high school and his family’s residence, never returning home.

Three years post-high school, he encountered a producer named Jeremy Rose, who had been envisioning the concept of “dark R&B” and identified Tesfaye as the ideal leader for the genre. Rose produced several tracks featuring Tesfaye, who at that time went by names like “Kin Kane” and “The Noise.” Rose allowed Tesfaye to utilize the songs with the stipulation that he receive production credit. Subsequently, Tesfaye uploaded the tracks onto YouTube, quickly attracting a significant following and catching the interest of Drake.

The Weeknd’s inaugural major release was a mixtape titled House of Balloons, which comprised tracks produced by various collaborators, including Jeremy Rose, who wasn’t credited in accordance with their prior agreement. The album achieved tremendous success, prompting Drake to publicly commend the artist. Additionally, Drake attended The Weeknd’s initial concerts and later approached him with a proposal for collaboration. The two Canadian artists toured together, with The Weeknd frequently serving as the opening act for Drake. Following the release of two additional mixtapes, several major record labels began to express interest in signing The Weeknd.

Breakthrough

In 2012, after touring across the United States and Europe, The Weeknd entered into a partnership with Republic Records, which also allowed for the establishment of his own label, XO. Acting as a subsidiary of Republic Records, XO enabled the release of Trilogy, a compilation of The Weeknd’s initial three mixtapes, with Jeremy Rose finally receiving credit for his production work. The album was well-received, achieving a number four position on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.

A year later, The Weeknd released his first studio album, Kiss Land, featuring collaboration with Drake on several tracks, debuting at number two on the U.S. Billboard Top 200. In the ensuing years, The Weeknd engaged in collaborative projects with artists like Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande, alongside extensive touring.

Released in 2015, Beauty Behind the Madness marked The Weeknd’s second studio album and sold 412,000 units in its first week, reaching the top position on the U.S. Billboard 200. It ultimately achieved platinum status, with global sales of 1.5 million copies. Shortly thereafter, The Weeknd became the first male artist to hold the top three spots on the Billboard Hot R&B chart simultaneously, with three singles that also earned platinum certifications.

In 2016, The Weeknd releaseddisorder (ADD), providing insight into his personal struggles. He shared that this condition impacts his life and creativity.

Following his release of the album Starboy, which featured popular tracks with the iconic French electronica group Daft Punk, The Weeknd collaborated with various artists and went on tour once more. Subsequently, in 2018, he released My Dear Melancholy. The Weeknd made headlines in 2017 by setting a Guinness World Record for the Most Streamed Album on Spotify in a single year.

He launched his first greatest hits collection, The Weeknd in Japan, in 2018. In 2020, The Weeknd disclosed the title of his forthcoming album: After Hours. He followed this up by releasing Dawn FM in 2022.

Earnings

The Weeknd amassed an impressive $90 million between June 2017 and June 2018. During the period from June 2018 to June 2019, he achieved earnings totaling $40 million from his various activities.

Musical Style

Though classified as a singer, The Weeknd is often associated with rap and hip-hop artists. He cites musical icons like Michael Jackson and Prince as his influences. His lyrics explore profound emotional themes, blending indie, electronic, and R&B styles in his music.

Business Ventures

The Weeknd has engaged in collaborations with condom brands, e-cigarette manufacturers, and Marvel. As one of the “faces” of Apple Music, he has also served as Puma’s brand ambassador. His fashion involvement extends to selling “XO” branded merchandise, and he has worked with brands such as A Bathing Ape and designers like Alexander Wang. In addition, The Weeknd owns shares in the esports company OverActive Media Group.

In August 2020, he collaborated with TD Bank to establish Black HXOUSE as a sleeping partner. Later, in March 2021, The Weeknd sold visual artwork and an unreleased track as an NFT on Nifty Gateway. He then became a member of the board of directors for Tom Brady’s NFT platform Autograph in October 2021.

Personal Life

The Weeknd began a relationship with renowned model Bella Hadid in 2015, but they ended their romance in 2016 due to scheduling conflicts amidst their busy lives. In 2017, he was in a relationship with Selena Gomez, and they cohabited briefly before parting ways. The Weeknd rekindled his romance with Bella Hadid in 2018; however, they faced another split in 2019.

In April 2023, The Weeknd disclosed that he struggles with attention deficit disorder (ADD), shedding light on the challenges it brings to his life and artistic expression.

In an interview with Interview Magazine, disorder (ADHD) was discussed.

Throughout the years, The Weeknd has made a name for himself in various philanthropic endeavors, including a $1 million contribution in April 2021 to relief efforts in Ethiopia through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) for those impacted by the Tigray War. In March 2022, he collaborated with the WFP to establish the XO Humanitarian Fund, donating $1 from every ticket sold at his After Hours til Dawn Tour, alongside an additional $500,000 donation.

In 2015, he faced arrest for assaulting a police officer in Las Vegas and received a sentence of 50 hours of community service.

Awards

Over his career, The Weeknd has amassed numerous awards, which include four Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, 20 Billboard Awards, 22 Junos, six American Music Awards, and two MTV Video Music Awards. Additionally, he earned nominations for some Academy Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award.