From being an 8x Grammy award-winning artist, to an actor, dancer, songwriter, philanthropist, and successful entrepreneur– Usher Raymond IV proves money ain’t a thang.
Over the duration of Usher’s career, he has sold a whopping $75 million records worldwide and for this, and many more reasons; his current net worth is $180 million (with an estimated annual income of $15 million). Let’s be clear: Usher is one of the highest-paid R&B artists of all time and his Las Vegas residency is one of the keys that unlocked doors to some of those millions. While he may be known for his “confessions,” the award-winning star is also known for his various business endeavors.
One of his biggest ventures was a venture he formed with Scooter Braun in 2008 called the Raymond Braun Media Group. Sometimes known as RBMG Records, this company was best known for its work in bringing a then-unknown Canadian pop star named Justin Bieber to the mainstream. When Braun discovered Bieber on YouTube, he brought Bieber to Atlanta to try out for Usher. Subsequently, Usher had Bieber audition for L.A. Reid, a joint venture was signed between RBMG Records and Def Jam Records, and the rest — as they say — is history.
But that’s not the only place that the “Caught Up” singer has done his due diligence. Television appearances have further contributed to Usher’s overall net worth. He has served as a coach on the popular reality show “The Voice” which increased his visibility and provided an additional source of income. The singer has appeared in several films, including “The Faculty” and “She’s All That” and is no stranger to the Super Bowl stage, having made a guest appearance with the Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am in 2011. Years later, he returned to the Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium for his very own 13 minute, uniquely curated Super Bowl halftime show sponsored by Apple Music in 2024.
Usher also undoubtedly crowned himself the King of Las Vegas with a show-stopping residency that brought out many celebrity attendees and further proved why he’s R&B royalty and one of the greatest entertainers of all-time.
The modern-day R&B legend has also had his hands in philanthropy work, real estate and even restaurants. Let’s take a sneak peek into Usher’s business portfolio over the years.
Music
The vast majority of Usher’s money has been made in the music industry. He has a certified Diamond album in “Confessions,” and he has also sold millions of albums worldwide. Albums “Here I Stand” and “Raymond v. Raymond” are platinum, and “My Way” and “8701” are multi-platinum albums, according to Billboard.
Restaurants
For a period of time in the early 2000s, Usher was a part-owner in various restaurants in the Atlanta area. The last of the restaurants, Grape, closed in 2009.
But in 2019, he got back into the restaurant game again when he invested in the Series A round of Hungry, according to Forbes. AfroTech previously reported that both Kevin Hart and Jay-Z also invested in the company.
Products and Endorsements
Usher has endorsements from the likes of Pepsi, Mastercard, Samsung, and Microsoft XBox, amongst others. In the past, he’s had partnerships with the likes of Belvedere Vodka.
Usher was also a stakeholder in streaming service TIDAL, according to billboard. Plus, he was once part-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Real Estate
In 1998, Usher purchased a nearly 10,000-square-foot mansion in Alpharetta, GA, for $1.2 million. He purchased the home from L.A. Reid. He sold the home in 2018 — 20 years later — for $1.5 million, according to The Blast.
In 2007, Usher paid more than $3 million for a home in Roswell, GA. He ended up selling the property for $1.5 million in 2018, according to The Dirt.
In 2015, Usher purchased a Hollywood Hills home for more than $3 million. According to Mansion Global, he re-listed the house in 2018 for $3.75 million and ultimately sold it for $3.3 million.
And the rest is history and somewhat of an secret. Shuuush!
Philanthropy
Usher has been involved with several philanthropic efforts over the years. In 2005, he founded the New Look Organization, which provides disadvantage children with a “new look” on life, according to MTV.
Just one year later, the charity founded the Our Block initiative, which helped rebuild the city blocks in New Orleans, LA.
Since 2005, Usher has launched the New Look initiative in different cities throughout the United States, including Baltimore, Detroit, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York, and Washington, D.C.
