The multitalented Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., better known as Nelly, used to be a popular artist but now he runs his own business. He has made a lot of money over the years in singing, fashion, acting, and business. As of 2025, his net worth is thought to be $70 million. ​

Early Life and Rise in Music

Nelly was born in Austin, Texas, on November 2, 1974. After his parents split up, he went to St. Louis, Missouri. Starting out in music, he was in the hip-hop group St. Lunatics before going solo. Country Grammar, his first record, was a big hit, selling over 10 million copies around the world and including hits like “Ride Wit Me” and “Country Grammar (Hot Shit).” It’s still his best-selling project to this day. ​

Nelly’s second album, Nellyville (2002), secured his place in the music business with hit songs like “Hot in Herre” and “Dilemma” with Kelly Rowland; the latter won a Grammy Award in 2003. ​

Adding more sources of income

Sale of Music Catalogue

Nelly sold HarbourView Equity Partners $50 million for a 50% share in his music catalogue in July 2023. The catalogue was worth a total of $100 million. This smart move not only made him a lot of money, but it also made sure that his music would live on forever. ​

Fashion Business

Nelly got into the fashion business by starting two clothing lines: Vokal, which is for men’s fashion, and Apple Bottoms, which is for women’s fashion. In the early 2000s, these brands became very famous and helped him make a lot of money. When Apple Bottoms first came out, they quickly became a culture phenomenon. In just two years, the brand’s wholesale branch was expected to make $60 million. ​

Acting and TV shows

Nelly added to his playing skills by appearing in films like “The Longest Yard” (2005) and TV shows like “CSI: NY” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” He also had his own reality TV show called Nellyville, which ran from 2014 to 2015 and gave people a look into his personal life. ​

Endorsements and Working Together

Major brands like Reebok, Apple, and Burger King have worked with Nelly on his music projects. In 2021, he worked with Burger King to market the “Cornell Haynes Jr. Meal,” which was in line with the company’s plan to get rid of all artificial ingredients from its menu. ​

Personal Life and Giving Back

Nelly is a dad to four kids. He adopted two of them after his sister died in 2005. He has been with singer Ashanti and has a child with her. ​

Nelly set up the 4Sho4Kids Foundation and Jes Us 4 Jackie to show her desire to help others. Jes Us 4 Jackie’s goal was to get more African American people to donate bone marrow. ​

Real estate and way of life

Nelly has put money into real estate. In 2021, she sold a 10,799-square-foot house in Wildwood, Missouri, for $600,000. He has a collection of high-end cars and is known for his love of luxury. He is still enjoying the fruits of his varied work.

In conclusion

If Nelly’s net worth is $70 million in 2025, it shows how versatile and business-savvy he is. His ability to change and adjust has made him a well-known entertainer and businessman with many talents. From chart-topping hits to successful ventures in fashion and TV, he has done it all.

Question: How much does Nelly make in 2025?

How much money does Nelly have now?

A: Nelly’s net worth is thought to be $70 million as of 2025. His success in singing, business, brand endorsements, and real estate investments have made him very wealthy. ​

Q: What are Nelly’s main sources of income?

A: Nelly makes money in a number of different ways:

• Music: sales of albums, income from streaming, and live shows.
• Running a business means owning clothes lines like Vokal and Apple Bottoms.
• Partnerships with companies like Reebok and Burger King are examples of endorsements.
• Acting: Parts in films like “The Longest Yard” and on TV shows.
• Real estate includes investments in homes and the sale of Missouri houses.

Q: Did Nelly sell all of his music?

A: Yes, Nelly did sell a piece of his music catalogue to HarbourView Equity Partners in July 2023 for $50 million. The whole catalogue was worth $100 million. The goal of this move was to protect his work and reach new audiences. ​

Q: What kinds of businesses does Nelly run?

A: Nelly helped start two clothes lines:

Vokal: A fashion brand for guys that has been around since 1997.

Apple Bottoms is a clothing line for women that started in 2003 and is best known for its pants. Both names brought in a lot of money for him.

Q: Has Nelly had any trouble with money?

As of 2016, Nelly had a $2.4 million tax lien put on her by the IRS for taxes she had not paid. He fixed the problem, and there have been no reports of money problems lately. ​

Q: Does Nelly do charitable work?

A: Nelly did start the 4Sho4Kids Foundation and Jes Us 4 Jackie. He did this in memory of his sister Jackie, who died of leukaemia. These groups work to improve the health of children and raise knowledge about bone marrow donation. ​

Q: Can you tell me about Nelly’s relationships?

One of Nelly’s girlfriends is the singer Ashanti. They started dating again in 2023, and in July 2024, they had their first kid together. ​

Q: How many kids does Nelly have?

A: Nelly has four kids. Two are his biological kids from a past relationship, and he adopted two after his sister died. ​

Q: What has Nelly been doing lately?

A: Yes, Nelly is still performing. He has shows in both the US and Canada. He is still involved in business and charity work.

Q: How much does Nelly make now?

Nelly’s net worth is thought to be around $70 million as of April 2025. He has a lot of money because of his successful music career, business ventures (like clothing lines like Vokal and Apple Bottoms), acting jobs, and smart investments. Notably, Nelly sold HarbourView Equity Partners $50 million for a 50% share in his music catalogue in July 2023. This made the whole catalogue worth $100 million. This move made a big difference in his general wealth.

What is Nelly’s debt?

According to public records, Nelly does not have any major debts as of April 2025. In the past, he had money problems, like a $2.4 million federal tax lien from the IRS in 2016 and another $150,000 owed to the Missouri Department of Revenue, but these problems have been fixed. The sale of a 50% share in his music catalogue to HarbourView Equity Partners for $50 million in 2023 was a turning point in his financial recovery. It made him much wealthier. Nelly’s net worth is thought to be $70 million, so her finances seem safe right now. ​

Who among rappers has the most powerful wealth?

As of April 2025, different sources say that Jay-Z and Kanye West are tied for the title of richest rapper. ​

Forbes estimates Jay-Z’s net worth at $2.5 billion, making him the richest rapper by a large margin. His wealth comes from a wide range of sources, such as music, interests in companies like Uber, ownership of the Armand de Brignac champagne brand, and shares in many other businesses. ​

According to Eton Venture Services, Kanye West, also known as Ye, is worth $2.77 billion. This is because he owns all the rights to the Yeezy brand and all of his songs. However, Forbes says that he is only worth $400 million. They say that this is because he has lost a lot of important relationships and endorsements in the last few years. ​

Kanye West says he has a higher net worth, but Jay-Z’s wealth is more regularly confirmed by reliable sources, making him the richest rapper according to most financial estimates.