In 2021, producer-turned-entrepreneur Pharrell made the news because of his decision to open up private schools for low-income students. The Virginia native has frequently spoken up for those without a voice and has given back to his community as well.

“If the system is fixed and unfair, then it needs to be broken,” he said about his investment. “We don’t want lockstep learning where so many kids fall behind; we want bespoke learning designed for each child, where the things that make a child different are the same things that will make a child rise up and take flight.”

Since that time, Pharrell and his vision continue to be impactful. According to WAVY-TV, other companies have helped take up his cause with the Virginia school system, as well. In February 2022, Virginia Natural Gas made a huge donation to the schools — to the tune of $100,000 — with the proceeds going to fund healthy food options as part of the “Nourish Youth” initiative.

“We support programs that enrich the communities we serve and (are) thrilled to once again partner with Pharrell Williams on such an important project,” said Robert Duvall, Virginia Natural Gas President, in a statement to the outlet. “This school provides a highly personalized education for the students attending, and we are pleased to be fueling them with healthy meal options and provide access to food education.”

And this is just the first of many ways that Pharrell has made an impact outside of music. He’s certainly come a long way from simply being a member of The Neptunes — though that alone would be enough of a legacy on its own. In fact, he’s come so far that he’s earned an estimated $250 million net worth, per Celebrity Net Worth, as of this writing.

Let’s take a look at all the different ways Pharrell makes his money.

Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.

Music Career

According to CapitalXtra, Pharrell is one of the most influential producers in the music industry today. As a producer, he’s the mastermind behind some of the biggest hits of all time (He clearly deserves his flowers).

Film and Television Career

Pharrell also has a career that spans both film and television. In addition to composing songs for different films, he reportedly had a voiceover role in “The Simpsons” and narrated the 2018 film, “The Grinch,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. Plus, Williams also released a gospel-music show called “Voices of Fire” on Netflix.

Skincare Line

As AfroTech previously reported, Pharrell launched a skincare line called Humanrace back in November 2020.

'One Man Holding Company'

Inc. called Pharrell a “one-man holding company” thanks to all his investments in many different sectors. From clothing to media to jewelry, he’s invested in it all.

Philanthropy

In addition to creating schooling for low-income students, Pharrell has been involved with other philanthropic efforts, as well. As AfroTech previously reported, he teamed up with Amazon and Georgia Tech to provide scholarships to the next generation of coders.

Black Ambition

In 2020, the entrepreneur himself launched Black Ambition to aid Black and Latinx entrepreneurs.

As AfroTech previously reported, Black Ambition is “a non-profit initiative that will support underserved entrepreneurs who are launching tech, design, healthcare, and consumer products/services startups.”

“With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources,” Williams said in a statement at the time.

He continued via Instagram, “We see a future where ideas flourish, ruinous risk is diminished, and Black and Latinx entrepreneurs are positioned to realize America’s promise.”

Real Estate

In February 2022, Architectural Digest reported that Pharrell sold his home in Hollywood for $9.2 million. The home, which was designed by Hazy Belzberg, also features a custom skate park and glass enclosures.

In 2016, Pharrell also sold his Miami penthouse. Business Insider reports that the home — which Pharrell initially offered for more than $16 million — is a gigantic 9,000-square-foot expanse in the trendy Brickell district of Miami.

In 2020, Pharrell plunked down $30 million for an expansive mansion in Coral Gables, FL, where the NY Post reported that he spent time quarantining during the COVID-19 pandemic.