As one of the most talked-about figures, Akon has built a significant fortune. Our team analyzed the latest data to provide a clear picture of their income.
Akon is a Senegalese-American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $50 million. Akon rose to fame in 2004 with his debut single "Locked Up," followed by his first album "Trouble." The album spawned several hits, including "Lonely," which topped numerous charts worldwide and was certified Platinum by the RIAA.
The next part of Akon's life is somewhat controversial. The official story is that Akon spent three years behind bars for his involvement in an auto theft organization. However, as later court documents and interviews would reveal, there is no record of Akon actually being incarcerated or even being convicted of a crime. That being said, there are apparently records of Akon being investigated by detectives. When confronted with these inconsistencies, Akon claimed that he was in and out of jail during this time and that if those sentences were added together, they would be equal to about three years.
Throughout his career, Akon has received numerous award nominations, including five Grammy Awards and three American Music Awards (winning one). Billboard ranked him number 6 on the list of Top Digital Songs Artists of the decade.
While Akon was still spending half of his time in Senegal, he learned a lot about music from his parents. His mother was a professional dancer, and his father was the famed percussionist Mor Thiam. Over the course of his youth, Akon learned how to play five instruments, including drums and guitar. Settling permanently in the States wasn't easy for Akon, and he had trouble adjusting as a young child. The situation wasn't helped when Akon's family relocated to Atlanta, leaving him and his older brother to finish high school on their own.
Akon made history as the first solo artist to concurrently hold the top two positions on the Billboard Hot 100 chart twice. Throughout 2007-2008, he became a sought-after collaborator, featuring on numerous hit singles includingGwen Stefani's"The Sweet Escape" and laterDavid Guetta's"Sexy Bitch."
His second album, "Konvicted" (2006) was an even bigger success, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 and eventually achieving triple Platinum status. The singles "Smack That" featuringEminem, "I Wanna Love You" featuringSnoop Dogg, and "Don't Matter" all achieved enormous commercial success globally.
Beyond his success as an artist, Akon founded the record labels Konvict Muzik in 2004 and KonLive Distribution in 2007, signing successful acts including Lady Gaga,T-Pain, andFrench Montana. He's also been prolific in philanthropic endeavors, notably launching Akon Lighting Africa in 2014 and beginning development on his own city in Senegal.
Akon was born Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam on April 16, 1973, in St. Louis, Missouri. Although Akon was born in the United States, he also has strong roots in Senegal. He spent much of his youth flying between the United States and Senegal, and it wasn't until the age of seven that Akon settled permanently in Newark, New Jersey.
Ultimately, Akon's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.
