What is Mary J Blige’s Net Worth?
Mary J Blige, an American singer, songwriter, and producer, has a net worth of $20 million and is considered an icon in the global music industry and popular culture.
VH1 ranked her as number 9 on their “100 Greatest Women in Music” list in 2012, and in 2022, TIME listed Blige as one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
Mary J Blige’s Early Life
Mary Jane Blige was born in The Bronx, New York, on January 11, 1971. Her family moved back to New York when she was seven, and they lived in the Schlobohm Housing Projects in Yonkers. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was a Vietnam War veteran who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and left the family in the mid-1970s. Blige grew up with two siblings in Savannah, Georgia, until her family moved back to New York.
Mary J Blige’s Early Career
After dropping out of high school during her junior year, Blige pursued a career in music and was briefly part of a Yonkers band named Pride. Her cover of “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker caught the attention of Jeff Redd, a recording artist and A&R runner for Uptown Records, who sent it to Andre Harrell, the label’s CEO. Blige was signed to the label as a backup vocalist in 1989, becoming the company’s youngest artist and first female artist.
Mary J Blige’s Music Career
Mary J Blige’s music career began when she signed with Uptown Records in 1989. Her debut album “What’s the 411?” (1992) was a critical and commercial success, earning her two Soul Train Music Awards and the title of “Queen of Hip Hop Soul.” Her second album “My Life” (1994) solidified her superstar status, and is often considered her best work.
Blige went on to release several more albums, including “Share My World” (1997), “No More Drama” (2001), and “The Breakthrough” (2005), which earned her a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She continued to release albums throughout the 2000s and 2010s, including “Strength of a Woman” (2017) and “Good Morning Gorgeous” (2022).
Despite her success in music, Blige has also ventured into acting, with roles in films like “Mudbound” (2017) and TV shows like “The Umbrella Academy” (2020). In September 2022, she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for the Super Bowl LVI halftime show.
Mary J Blige’s Successful Acting Career
Mary J Blige not only has a highly successful music career, but also a successful acting career. She made her acting debut in 1998 on the sitcom “The Jamie Foxx Show” and went on to star in the independent film “Prison Song” in 2001. She also starred in the Off-Broadway play “The Exonerated” in 2004 and has made guest appearances on shows such as “Ghost Whisperer,” “Entourage,” and “How to Get Away with Murder.”
Blige has held starring roles in films such as “Rock of Ages” (2012) and the lifetime movie “Betty and Coretta” (2013). Her performance in the period drama film “Mudbound” (2017) earned her nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actress, and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 2023, she is set to star in the drama film “Rob Peace,” a film adaptation of “The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace.”
Mary J. Blige’s Endorsements and Philanthropy
Mary J. Blige has established her own record label, Matriarch Records, and launched a successful perfume called “My Life.” She has also endorsed numerous brands including Reebok, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and Apple. In 2023, Blige and Pepsi announced a scholarship for Historically Black Colleges and Universities as part of a $200,000 donation to organizations supporting women. Additionally, Pepsi is co-presenting Blige’s “Strength of a Woman Festival and Summit” during Mother’s Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mary J. Blige: Divorced, Successful Career, and Sober
Mary J. Blige was married to her former manager Martin Isaacs from 2003 to 2018. According to their divorce paperwork, she earns around $300,000 per month. During the 1990s, she spent six years dating singer Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey of the R&B group Jodeci.
Blige has battled drug and alcohol addiction but has been sober for years now.
Mary J. Blige’s Financial Issues
Mary J. Blige has faced a series of financial issues over the years. As of May 2013, she owed the IRS $3.4 million. Additionally, she owed the state of New Jersey $900,000 and was sued for allegedly owing $2.2 million for an unpaid bank loan.
Fortunately, on May 25, 2014, it was reported that Blige had paid off her debt to New Jersey. However, she still owes at least $3.4 million to the IRS.
Mary J Blige’s Real Estate Losses
In 2008, Blige purchased a 20,000-square-foot mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey, for $12.3 million in all cash. In 2015, she listed the mansion for $13.9 million but did not find a buyer. She eventually lowered the price to $8.9 million and then, in August 2019, to $6.8 million. In February 2022, the house sold for $5.5 million, resulting in a nearly $7 million loss.
Blige also owns a smaller mansion in Cresskill, New Jersey, which she bought for $2.1 million in 2001. As of October 2021, the house was still for sale and priced at $3 million.
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