MoneyINC Logo
25+
Years of
Trust
13,000+
Articles
Written 
10M+
Annual 
Readers
300+
Global
Mentions

The 20 Richest R&B Singers of All-Time

Mariah Carey

Music is a universal language that puts tunes with meaningful words that help us make sense of the things that happen in life, both good and bad. R&B is a genre that moves us in profound ways. Some artists have made fortunes with their uplifting or rousing renditions of both new and old songs from this category. Some have been paid well for their contributions to the R&B world, and the entertainment of their fans. Here are the 20 richest R&B artists in the world today.

20. Mary J. Blige Net worth: $15 million

Blige made her debut on the R&B scene in 1992. She was an instant success with fans. She released 13 studio albums and made it to the top of the charts with multiple hit singles. She started as a backup singer and made it to high pinnacles of fame and fortune. Her estimated net worth as of 2021 is an incredible $15 million fortune. She left her mark on the music world and continues to be a favorite among fans who remember the 1990s R&B scene.

19. Keri Hilson Net worth: $15 million

According to The Richest, Keri Hilson is one of the richest R&B artists in the world today. She is best known for her work with Lil Wayne and Neyo. It's been more than a decade since her first album titled "A Perfect World" was released. She made a fortune on the popular album as well as from her top singles "Turning Me On" and "Knock You Down." Because she is a singer and also a songwriter she has made a fortune on sales and royalties for her original compositions. In addition to performing her own songs, she also wore music for Britney Spears, Ludacris, and Mary J. Blige.

18. Ne Yo Net worth: $20 million

Ne Yo AKA Shaffer Chimere Smith has many talents to his credit. He has done a little bit of everything in the entertainment industry. He is one of the most talented R&B singers in the business, in addition to being a songwriter, a record producer, and an actor. He wrote the song "Let Me Love You" for Mario, which became one of his biggest hits. He is also a Grammy Award winner placing at the top for Best R&B album of the year in 2008. Ne Yo has been around for a while and he's still a popular entertainer, according to Trendrr.

17. Whitney Houston Net worth: $21 million

Whitney was one of the most celebrated R&B artists in the world during her life. She was also a talented actress. Ms. Houston left this world far too soon but left behind an estate worth $21 million, according to Project Hatch.

16. CeeLo Green Net worth: $22 million

CeeLo Green began his music career as a member of the musical group Goodie Mob. After he left the group, he joined Gnarles Barkley and spent years performing that that R&B group before spinning off into his own solo career. Green found tremendous success performing as a solo artist and it has made him a very wealthy artist. He also served for a stint on the singing competition show The Voice" as a judge.

15. Kandi Burruss Net worth: $35 million

Kandi Burruss is best known for her appearances on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," but how many of you remember when she was an R&B singer? She was a member of a group that was called Xscape in 1992. They became famous for their hit "Just Kickin' It." She remained with the group until 1998 when the band members went their separate ways. Kandi is also s songwriter who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business including Whitney Houston, NSYNC, TLC, and many others. She made a fortune through her singing and songwriting.

14. John Legend Net worth: $45 million

John Legend is an award-winning R&B artist who has been recognized for his rousing tunes. He became of the youngest artists to receive the prized EGOT award. He has a collection of awards including Tony, Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy awards. He is one of the most famous singers on the planet with numerous awards, high music sales, and a net worth of $45 million, from hit songs such as "All Of Me," "Ordinary People" and others.

13. Chris Brown Net worth $50 million

Chris Brown entered the R&B scene in 2006 and has been a success in the genre ever since. He is best known for hit singles including "No Air," "Kiss Kiss," "Run It," and many others. He also appeared in several movies including "Taken" with Liam Neeson, "This Christmas," and "Stomp the Yard." On top of all this, he is also a songwriter and producer who has a tidy $50 million net worth.

12. R. Kelley Net worth: $50 million

Although R.Kelley fell into disfavor with many after his recent conviction for sex crimes, he was at one time one of the more popular R&B singers in the world. Before details of his personal life were revealed Kelley made it to the top of the charts with many hit singles including "Gotham City," "I Believe I Can Fly," "If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time," "The World's Greatest," "Bump and Grind," and many others. He made a fortune during his long career. Currently, R. Kelley has an estimated personal net worth of $50 million.

11. Alicia Keys Net worth: $70 million

Alicia Keys became a well-known R&B singer in 2001 when her debut album titled "Songs In Minor" was released. She hit the big time with a hit titled "Fallin" that sold millions of copies. She is best known for her 2012 hit "Girl On Fire." Ms. Keys has served as a judge on the singing competition show The Voice." She has amassed an incredible fortune of $70 million. She is one of the richest female R&B artists in the world today.

10. Rihanna Net worth: $90 million

Rihana is the Barbadian R&B singer, songwriter, and actress who has made a fortune from her many talents. She is one of the richest R&B artists in the world. One of her most popular songs was "A Girl Like Me," which made it to the top 10 in the Billboard 100 charts. She released a total of 8 studio albums with numerous top hits and a massive following of fans from all over the world.

9. Usher Net worth: $180 million

According to Trendr.net, Usher is one of the richest R&B artists in the world today with a massive fortune of a whopping $180 million. Usher first entered the R&B music scene in the latter part of the 1990s. He became a popular artist for his hit songs "You Make Me Wanna," "U Remind Me," and "My Way. He continued making big hits through the early 2000s with his top hit "Confessions," released in 2004. The album was a big hit throughout the world selling more than a million copies.

8. Lionel Richie Net worth: $200 million

Lionel Richie is a staple on the R&B scene. He began his musical career in 1969 when he joined the group The Commodores. The group rose to heights of fame and fortune with their hit songs "Three Times A Lady," "Brick House," and several others. When Lionel went solo, he became one of the R&B faves with the hit songs "You Are My Love," and "Truly." His songs touched the core of the hearts of romantics. He is also a respected songwriter know for his collaboration with Michael Jackson for the 1984 song "We re the World. Mr. Richie was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2016, according to The Richest.

7. Diana Ross Net Worth: $250 million

According to Wealthy Gorilla, Diana Ross made it big on the R&B scene when she joined the group "The Supremes." She also had a promising acting career, starring in movies such as "The Whiz," and "Lady Sings The Blues." Her debut album "Why Do Fools Fall in Love," sold more than a million copies. She also made a rebound when she released her hit single "Theme From Mahogany." Diana Ross is one of the most beloved R&B singers of all time and she has earned an estimated net worth of a whopping $250 million. She is easily one of the richest R&B singers from yesteryear who has left us with very fond memories of her captivating vocals.

6. Lady Gaga Net worth: $320 million

Lady Gaga is an R&B singer who has also forged quite a career for herself as a songwriter as well as for her acting career. she is one of the most talented women in the business with more than 27 million albums sold to date. She made it big in the acting business when she combined her acting and singing talents in a remake of the film "A Star is Born." She gave a riveting performance. She is one of the richest R&B singers with an incredible fortune of $320 banked so far. Lady Gaga isn't done yet.

5. Katy Perry Net worth: $330 million

Katy Perry is another extremely rich R&B artist. She made a huge impression on the world with her big hit "Dark Horse," and many other big hit singles. Katy was at one time one of the most beloved R&B singers in America. She still has a huge following of fans. Perry may not be quite as popular as she once was but she is still flanked by hordes of fans who adore her. She is also a songwriter as well as a judge on television. During her heyday, Perry amassed a fortune of an estimated $330 million.

4. Cher Net worth: $360 million

Cher is one of the richest female artists of all time. She is known for her blend of different genres including R&B. She got her start when she and her former husband, the late Sonny Bono had a few major hits including "I Got You, Babe," long with their own weekly variety show called "The Sonny and Cher Show." She also gained a degree of elevated fame with her hit single "Half-Breed."

3. Beyonce Knowles-Carter Net worth: $500 million

Beyonce is an artist whose name has practically become a household word. She is one of the most famous R&B artists in the world today. She gained recognition and fame for her singing, dancing, and overall great stage presence in her performance when she joined the girl group Destiny's Child. Beyonce has had a passion for performing since she was a child, competing in a variety of local competitions and she finally made it to the big time. It made her rich and famous.

2. Barbra Streisand Net worth: $400 million

Barbra Streisand was called America's songbird for decades with her strong voice and lovely vibrato. She is a talented singer and songwriter who has put out her share of R&B tunes. She is also an actress who starred in a version of the original film "A Star is Born." She also played the mother of the male lead actor Ben Stiller in "The Fockers" franchise, across from Dustin Hoffman. Barbra thrilled the world with her beautiful rendition of the song "Evergreen." She is also a comedienne. She is also a filmmaker who has enjoyed a career in the entertainment business of more than sixty years. Barbra has received multiple Grammy awards and has earned an estimated net worth of $400 million. She is one of the richest R&B singers in the world today.

1. Mariah Carey Net worth: $400 million

Mariah Carey is the richest R&B singer in the world today. She has a tremendous net worth of a whopping $400 million. Carey rose to international fame soon after the release of her debut album titled "Vision of Love." She is one of the most talented professionals in the industry as a singer with an unbelievable range, she's a songwriter, actress, and record producer.

You can also read:

Liz Flynn

Written by Liz Flynn

Liz Flynn has worked as a full-time writer since 2010 after leaving a career in education. She finds almost all topics she writes about interesting, but her favorite subjects are travel and food. Liz loves the process of researching information, learning new things, and putting into words what others who share her interests might like to read. Although she spends most of her time writing, she also enjoys spending time with her husband and four children, watching films, cooking, dining out, reading, motorsports, gaming, and walking along the beach next to her house with her dog.

Read more posts by Liz Flynn

Related Articles

Stay ahead of the curve with our most recent guides and articles on , freshly curated by our diligent editorial team for your immediate perusal.
As featured on:

Wealth Insight!
Subscribe to our Exclusive Newsletter

Dive into the world of wealth and extravagance with Money Inc! Discover stock tips, businesses, luxury items, and travel experiences curated for the affluent observer.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram