Akon: The Story
Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam was born on April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. Thanks to the influence of his mother, a dancer, and his father, a jazz percussionist, Akon developed a great love for music at an early age. He attended Clark Atlanta University but dropped out after one semester to focus on music. Akon befriended Wyclef Jean and got his own record deal in 2003. Akon’s net worth took off in 2004 when his debut album ‘Trouble’ was released, featuring singles ‘Lonely’ and ‘Locked Up’. The single ‘Ghetto’ became a huge radio hit after being remixed to include guest verses from The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac.
Wondering how much is Akon’s worth today and how he built his fortune? Read on and find out.
The rapper’s second album, ‘Konvicted’ saw even bigger success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 list. This album which included collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Styles P. was eventually certified triple platinum. The single ‘I Wanna Love You’ became Akon’s first number one single on the Billboard 100. Later that year, he received the BMA Artist of the Year award and the AMA for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist. The rising star served as a supporting act for Rihanna’s Good Girl Gone Bad Tour alongside Ciara and Chris Brown and was featured on DJ Khaled’s ‘We Takin’ Over’ single with TI, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Birdman, Fat Joe, and Rick Ross. Akon also appeared on Plies‘ debut album. ‘The Real Testament’.
‘Freedom’ came in 2008, spawning two hit singles: ‘Right Now (Na Na Na) and ‘I’m So Paid’, featuring Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy. During the same year, numerous controversies arose regarding the million-dollar question – why did Akon go to jail? It was revealed that he had not run a car-theft ring, as he often claimed in interviews. Also, his first album was not written in a prison cell during his three-year sentence, because he only served a few months for possessing a stolen car.
But, that didn’t seem to affect Akon’s rise to the top. On the contrary, many high-profile collaborations followed which boosted Akon’s net worth. Lady Gaga’s biggest hit ‘Just Dance’ was co-written by the rapper and he featured on Gwen Stefani’s, Lionel Richie’s, and Whitney Houston’s songs. Akon recorded a duet song with Michael Jackson entitled ‘Hold My Hand’, which was released after Jackson’s death. The R&B star released his first house track in collaboration with David Guetta. ‘Sexy Bitch’ became a huge commercial hit, topping the charts in over six countries. Also, he collaborated with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on the song ‘Kush’. Akon’s net worth went up drastically, as the musician grossed $21 million in 2010.
He released his fourth album in 2015, regenerating the music business. ‘Stadium’, which was broken into Euro, Urban, Pop, Island, and World parts, was exclusively available via the Stadium mobile app. The app enabled fans to earn credits by sharing the content with friends. These credits could then be used to ‘buy’ digital goods, including Akon-styled emojis. Currently, the singer/songwriter is in the spotlight with his compilation albums ‘Konvict Kartel vol.1’ and ‘Konvict Kartel vol. 2’, as well as his eponymous tour featuring Demarco, Tone Tone, Og Boo Dirty, Upstairs, and Tre Carter. 2017 also gave rise to collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Bob Sinclar, which went on to become smash hits.
The net worth of Akon boomed after he made his acting debut in 2012 in the Nigerian-American movie, ‘Black November’. Later on, he starred in the action movie, ‘American Heist’ alongside Adrien Brody. What is more, Akon made several real estate investments and is the founder of the record labels KonLive and Konvict, backed up by Interscope Records. The unstoppable singer-songwriter also has his own radio station app Akonic, available for download at Play Store and Apple. Outside the entertainment industry, Akon owns two clothing lines – Konvict, which includes urban streetwear, and Aliaune, its upscale version. The famous rapper is the proud owner of a diamond mine in South Africa, a decision of his which drew criticism. However, Akon’s diamond mine remains a mystery, as he himself claimed on many occasions that his ownership is ‘complicated’.
Akon’s net worth at the moment is estimated at $80 million. But, despite the staggering amount of Akon’s net worth in 2017, Forbes didn’t place him on the Hip-Hop Cash Kings list, as his annual earnings weren’t even close to those of P Diddy, Future, and Drake.
Akon Net Worth & Spending Habits
We established how much is Akon worth, so you’ve guessed it – the singer does indulge in some fancy things. For example, he loves nice wheels. Among Akon’s cars, there is a Porsche Panamera, a Customized Spyker C8, a Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, and a Ferrari 458.
Akon has listed his renovated, four-story mansion in Alpharetta for $6.9 million. Akon’s house was built in 2014 and it’s spread across five acres, dazzling with an all-white interior, vaulted ceilings and glass walls. The house features a piano room, movie theater, spa, and a recording studio among other super-luxurious amenities. Where does Akon live now is unknown, but one thing is sure – once he settles down you’ll be the first one to know!
The multi-platinum selling artist is also one of the biggest humanitarians. He has supported a number of charities including Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, Clothes Off Our Back, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and Peace One Day. However, his greatest philanthropic work is his own non-profit organization Konfidence Foundation, which aims to provide access to learning and recreational environments to underprivileged youth in Africa.
The organization has broadened its reach and now operates in the US too, helping local communities in need. Akon is also the founder of Akon Lighting Africa which started The Solar Power Initiative with a goal to electrify isolated towns and villages which can benefit from the affordable and clean solar energy.
Akon Net Worth: CelebJury Ruling
With over 35 million albums sold worldwide and 45 Billboard Hot 100 songs under his belt, Akon has already made history. However, he’s not slowing down! Despite his numerous business ventures and avid involvement with different philanthropic projects, this music mogul still carries on with traditional musical engagements, including new songs, videos, and tours. Akon’s net worth is bound to increase in the next few years, so make sure you come back to CelebJury to stay up to date with the latest celebrity net worth news.
