What is Young Thug’s Net Worth?
With a net worth of $4 million, Young Thug is a prominent American rapper. He hails from Atlanta, Georgia, where he first gained recognition through a series of mixtapes that highlighted his distinctive vocal delivery and unconventional flow. His initial mixtapes, such as “1017 Thug,” garnered critical acclaim, establishing him as one of the standout figures in Atlanta’s dynamic rap landscape. As his career evolved, Young Thug became celebrated for his avant-garde and experimental take on trap music, frequently merging rapping and singing styles. His collaboration with producer London on Da Track for the track “Lifestyle” became a top 20 hit in 2014, cementing his status in mainstream music. Over the years, Thug has remained a prolific creator, continuously releasing new music through mixtapes, singles, and collaborations with various artists. In 2019, he unveiled “So Much Fun,” his debut studio album, which ascended to the top of the US Billboard 200 and featured the successful single “Hot.”
However, as discussed later in this article, Young Thug has faced significant legal challenges throughout his career. He was taken into custody in May 2022 and faced several charges, including involvement in criminal street activities and conspiracy under the RICO act. An indictment accused Thug of leading an organization named Young Slime Life, which allegedly engaged in acts of murder, assault, theft, drug distribution, among others. One infamous allegation claimed that Young Slime Life was connected to the attempted murder of Lil Wayne during a shooting incident on a tour bus in 2015.
Young Thug’s earnings have significantly diminished due to his inability to tour, particularly during the COVID lockdowns and following his arrest. At the height of his career, he claimed to earn $500,000 per performance, meaning that the loss of just ten gigs could equate to a $5 million financial hit.
Early Life
Born on August 16th, 1991, in Atlanta, Georgia, Young Thug’s real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams. He belongs to a large family comprising 11 siblings. Raised in Zone 3, Young Thug shares a background with other musicians from an impoverished neighborhood in Atlanta that has produced talents such as Waka Flocka Flame, 2 Chainz, and Ludacris. Williams was known for his troublesome behavior as a child and reportedly spent four years in Juvenile Prison after an incident in which he broke his teacher’s arm in 6th grade.
Career
Young Thug launched his musical journey before approaching his 20s, making an appearance on TruRoyal’s “She Can Go.” Encouraged by this exposure, he released multiple mixtapes from 2011 to 2012, which became recognized as the I Came From Nothing series. His talent caught the attention of prominent Atlanta rapper Gucci Mane, who signed him to the 1017 Brick Squad record label. Following the release of several mixtapes supported by Gucci Mane’s label, Young Thug generated considerable buzz, owing to his distinctive musical style. Many anticipated that he would rise as one of the most significant new talents in rap. Throughout this period, Young Thug also gained fame by collaborating with artists like Waka Flocka Flame and Travis Scott.
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In 2014, many rumors surrounded Young Thug, including claims that over $8 million was offered to him to join Future’s record label. He also got involved with Birdman’s Cash Money Records, although it was later clarified that this was a management agreement rather than a label contract. During most of the year, Young Thug remained committed to 1017 Brick Squad, but he eventually signed with 300 Entertainment. The next few years featured collaborations with prominent artists like Kanye West, Chief Keef, and Rich Homie Quan.
By 2015, fans were clamoring for a genuine album instead of another mixtape. Young Thug initially intended to title his debut album Carter 6, apparently to pay tribute to Lil’ Wayne. However, Lil’ Wayne considered this a copyright infringement and urged his fans to stop supporting Young Thug. In retaliation, Young Thug declared that his album would instead be titled Barter 6. He later revealed that the forthcoming release would merely be another mixtape.
Later in 2015, confusion persisted regarding Young Thug’s signing status, as he asserted that he had a deal with Atlantic Records. Over the next few years, fans continued to anticipate his debut album, with the title at one point disclosed as “HiTunes.” Yet, the album never came to fruition, and Young Thug continued to drop more mixtapes. A significant moment in his career arrived in 2017 when he collaborated on Camila Cabello’s blockbuster single “Havana,” which ascended to number one on the Billboard Top 100, marking Young Thug’s first number-one hit. He achieved this milestone again in 2018 by co-writing and providing backing vocals for Childish Gambino’s “This Is America,” which again topped the charts.
In 2019, Young Thug launched his debut album, So Much Fun, which made its debut at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and featured the top-twenty Billboard Hot 100 singles “The London” and “Hot.” The next year, he hit number three on the Hot 100 with “Go Crazy,” a collaboration with Chris Brown, marking his first top-ten single as a lead artist. Young Thug then reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a second time with Travis Scott’s “Franchise.” His compilation album in 2021, Slime Language 2, also reached number one on the Billboard 100, and he achieved his third number-one hit later in the year on Drake’s “Way 2 Sexy,” alongside Future. In October 2021, he released his second studio album, Punk, which debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking his third number-one album and second chart-topping release for the year.
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Legal Controversies
In February 2014, Young Thug was detained for possessing a controlled substance, along with charges of reckless conduct, reckless driving, and not wearing a seat belt. In July 2015, he faced arrest at his residence in Atlanta on drug and weapon-related offenses. After authorities searched his home, he was charged with felony cocaine possession, felony marijuana possession, and three counts of felony drug possession. This arrest coincided with allegations that Young Thug and Birdman were involved in a scheme to murder Lil Wayne.
In 2017, disclosures surfaced that Young Thug was being sued by Heritage Select Homes for failing to pay more than $2.2 million in payments related to his expansive 11,000-square-foot Atlanta home, which includes six bedrooms and 11 bathrooms.
In May 2022, Young Thug found himself in trouble again when he was arrested at his residence located in Atlanta’s Buckhead suburb. According to an
Young Thug was among 28 individuals charged in an 88-page indictment, which included allegations of involvement in criminal street activities and conspiracy to breach the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act). The indictment stated that between 2012 and 2020, Thug and the other 27 individuals, collectively known as “Young Slime Life,” were involved in activities such as murder, aggravated assault, theft, drug possession, armed robbery, and more. Young Thug was identified as a leader within the Young Slime Life organization. One notable incident mentioned in the indictment was an April 2015 event involving an alleged YSL member named Jimmy Winfrey, who purportedly fired shots at Lil Wayne’s tour bus.
Concert Earnings
Following the onset of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Young Thug articulated to radio host Big Boy the financial ramifications artists at his level faced due to the cancellation of shows and festivals, which cost them millions. He stated:
“For shows, hypothetically speaking, if I earn $500,000, not performing those ten shows equates to a loss of $5 million.”
He elaborated that his financial losses could be considered doubled, as he maintains his costs at the same rate despite not performing:
“During this quarantine period, I could easily spend a million or two million. I have my mom, dad, and all these people, and I tell them to stay at home. They agree, but then every week they want a penthouse or to stay at a hotel. That costs money, and without my shows, the revenue I miss from a show likely matches my spending costs.“
Personal Life
Young Thug is a father to six children (three sons and three daughters) by four different women, having become a parent at the age of 17. He proposed to Jerrika Karlae in April 2015, but they ended their relationship in December 2020. In 2021, he began a romantic relationship with singer Mariah the Scientist.