Robert Kelly is a well-known American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. Kelly sold over 75 million records globally during his career, which made him the most commercially successful R&B artist of the 1990s. He was one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He won three Grammy awards for his song “I Believe I Can Fly” and also earned a nomination for his song “You Are Not Alone,” recorded by the late Michael Jackson. Please keep reading to learn more about R. Kelly because this blog post contains everything you need to know about her, including her biography, wiki, personal life, net worth, career, age, birthplace, and more.
R. Kelly’s Net Worth
- How rich is R. Kelly?
- What is the salary of R. Kelly?
- What is the income source for R. Kelly’s wealth?
- How many awards has R. Kelly won?
Are you interested in finding out all the answers to the above questions? Don’t worry because this section answers the questions above, including his net worth, source of income, nominations, salary, bonuses, awards, and more. As of this writing, R. Kelly has a net worth of -$2 million. R. Kelly’s net worth at his peak was likely in the tens of millions, if not up to $100 million. The wealth has vanished. In April 2020, Kelly disclosed to a judge that he owed approximately $1.9 million to the IRS and other creditors to make a case for being freed from prison. He has had a very successful career, but because of all the accusations against him, he has had to give up all of his money.
| Net Worth | -$2 million |
| Income Source | Music |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer |
Early Life
Robert Sylvester Kelly was born to Joanne Kelly, on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, under the Capricorn zodiac sign, of American nationality and black descent. He is the brother of Theresa Kelly, Bruce Kelly, and Carey Kelly. His mother was a schoolteacher, but the identity of his father is currently unknown to the general public. Kell’s mother married his stepfather when he was five years old. He began singing when he was eight years old. From ages 8 to 14, Kelly was sexually abused by a more senior family member. He was shot in the back when he was ten years old after some boys tried to steal his bike from him. Kelly attended Kenwood Academy in the city’s Hyde Park-Kenwood district. In school, he met his music teacher, Lena Mclin, who encouraged Kelly to sing Stevie Wonder’s classic “Ribbon in the Sky” in the high school talent show. After one year of attendance, he dropped out of Kenwood Academy and began performing in subways.
| Full Name | Robert Sylvester Kelly |
| Gender | Male |
| Age | 50 years old |
| Date of Birth | January 8, 1967 |
| Place of Birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Black |
| Zodiac Sign | Capricorn |
Career
R. Kelly got a big break when he won the $100,000 grand prize in the talent show Big Break. In 1993, Kelly and his band Public Announcement released the album “Born into the 90s” after signing a contract with Jive Records in 1991. R. Kelly released his first solo album, “12 Play,” in November 1993. The album was given a six-time platinum certification in large part because of the track “Bump n’ Grind.” Kelly started a career as a record producer for other musicians simultaneously. Barry Hankerson, a music producer, was the first to tell R. Kelly about his niece, a 12-year-old girl who was starting to sing very well. Aaliyah was the name of that niece.
R. Kelly wrote and produced Aaliyah’s first album, which went double platinum and had several hit songs. His album “R. Kelly” sold four million copies in 1995. His song “I Believe I Can Fly” hit the top of the charts shortly after and was nominated for three Grammy Awards. Kelly released several platinum albums in the 2000s, and the hip-hop opera Trapped in the Closet played in bits and pieces on radio stations. In the spring of 2010, the full version was formally made available to the public. To his credit, R Kelly has 14 studio albums, five compilation albums, and three joint albums. Kelly has won many other awards besides his three Grammys, such as many AMA, BET, and Billboard awards. In 2013 and 2015, he released his most recent albums, “Black Panties” and “The Buffet.” Also, from 1994 to 2013, he took 12 international tours.
Sexual Abuse and Accusations
In the 1990s, Kelly was accused by journalists and his victims of sexually assaulting young girls, including juveniles, and seducing them into inappropriate sexual relationships. The Chicago County State’s Attorney charged Kelly with child pornography in 2002, but they were not found guilty after a trial in 2008. Before the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly reexamined allegations of Kelly’s sexual assault on minors, he avoided severe repercussions. As a result of the criticism, Kelly’s contract with RCA Records was terminated. Police in New York, Chicago, and Minneapolis started new criminal cases against Kelly after seeing the documentary.
Kelly got detained in July 2019 on federal allegations. Kelly has been a federal prisoner since being denied bail. At a trial in federal court in Brooklyn in 2021, Kelly was found guilty of violating the Mann Act and racketeering laws. In a trial in a federal court in Chicago in 2022, Kelly was found guilty of three counts of child pornography and three counts of luring a child. Yet, it cleared him of charges related to his 2008 prosecution for conspiring to obstruct justice. A Brooklyn court gave Kelly a 30-year jail term; his Chicago sentencing is scheduled for February 2023. As of September 2022, Kelly is locked up at the Metropolitan Correctional Facility in Chicago. He keeps contesting his two convictions.
Personal Life
Kelly secretly married Aaliyah when she was 15, around the time of their marriage, in 1994. It was reported that they began dating when she was 13 years old and got divorced in 1995. Kelly secretly married his former backup dancer, Andrea Kelly, in 1996, who gave birth to his three children. His children are Jaah Kelly, Robert Kelly Jr., and Joann Kelly. After a physical fight in September 2005, Andrea filed a restraining order against Kelly. She then filed for divorce in 2006. Their divorce got finalized in January 2009 after 13 years of marriage. Kelly stands 1.85 m tall and weighs 85 kg.
| Marital Status | Single |
| Spouse | Andrea Lee (m. 1996; div. 2009), Aaliyah (m. 1994; div. 1995) |
| Children | Jaah Kelly, Robert Kelly Jr., and Joann Kelly |
| Height | 1.85 m |
| Weight | 85 kg |
| Hair Color | Bald |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Summary
Robert Sylvester Kelly, famously known by his moniker, “R. Kelly,” is a well-known American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. He became the most commercially successful R&B artist of the 1990s after selling 75 million records. Kelly was also one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He won three Grammy awards for his song “I Believe I Can Fly” and also earned a nomination for his song “You Are Not Alone,” recorded by the late Michael Jackson. As of this writing, Kelly has a net worth of -$2 million. He has also been accused of hurting young girls, even minors, and getting them into sexual relationships that were not appropriate. He is currently serving 30 years in prison for his crimes. He still produces music while serving his sentence in prison.
