The Weeknd’s Net Worth is $300 Million
Selling records like hotcakes, headlining massive festivals, packing out tours, and racking up huge numbers in online streaming—all in a day’s work for the Weeknd, who has taken the music world—and fashion world and investing world—by storm. About 10 years in, and he is sitting on a cool $300 million—up from $100 million in 2022.
But the Weeknd is more than just numbers, impressive though they are. The Weeknd’s journey tells the tale of an artist who’s paved his own way to the big time. He’s evolved from an elusive mixtape-making enigma dropping beats in the dead of night to a powerhouse shaping the world of pop music.
You can’t help but be in awe of the Weeknd’s ultra-quick ascension to the music industry’s A-list. He’s strategically played his cards right not only in music but in business too, multiplying his money and cementing his place in the global entertainment world.
| Name | Abel Makkonen Tesfaye |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer |
| Net Worth | $300 Million |
| Birthplace | Scarborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Birthday | February 16, 1990 (Aquarius) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Height | 5 ft. 8 in. (173 cm) |
| Relationship status | Single |
Journey Towards Stardom: From Toronto to Global Limelight
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, or as we know him, the Weeknd, was born and raised in Toronto (Scarborough, specifically), by a couple of women who came all the way from Ethiopia. Such was his conviction that Abel quit school and said bye to his home in the 11th grade to chase his music dreams.
But what started as teenage rebellion turned into something almost unimaginable when the Weeknd started freestyling with music. He dished out songs about almost everything—partying, feeling out of place, you name it. Then, he bumped into Jeremy Rose, a musician and producer, and together they worked on some of his first hits. Tunes like “The Morning”, “Loft Music”, and “What You Need” popped up on YouTube in 2010.
Those online clips caught the attention of fellow Torontonian Drake—that’s when the Weeknd’s career really took off. With Drake‘s support behind him, the Weeknd dropped a mixtape called House of Balloons that was free for all in March 2011. The release drew critical acclaim, even scoring a nomination for Canada’s Polaris Music Prize, which judges a release on musical merit rather than sales.
After riding that high, the Weeknd dropped a couple more mixtapes—Thursday and Echoes of Silence—which only made his fans want more. His first public performance was in a Toronto club back in July 2011. But the big turning point arrived in 2013 when Abel won the Juno Award—Canada’s equivalent of the Grammy—for the Breakthrough Artist of the Year. It was the start of a wild ride that shot the Weeknd into a whole new league of success and helped shape today’s pop scene.
Tuning Into Fortune: Revenues from His Primary Career
In 2019, Forbes listed the Weeknd at #87 on their Celebrity 100 list with earnings of $40 million that year. Impressive, but definitely not the peak of his financial success. Flashback to 2017 and his bank account was looking extra chunky with $92 million. A big chunk of that came from his epic “Starboy: Legend of the Fall” world tour, which raked in over $80 million.
But hey, it’s not just about the Bordens (er, Canada’s equivalent of the Benjamins). The Weeknd’s made some serious waves in the music world. With multiple chart busters, like his six #1 singles and another eight cracking the top 10 on the Hot 100 list in the States, he certainly knows how to make a hit. Plus, he’s nabbed the #1 spot on Billboard‘s albums chart with four of his albums. His killer tracks have turned him into a global sensation and game-changer in the pop scene.
The Midas Touch: Alternative Revenue Streams
The Weeknd is not just a music maestro. He’s got a head for business, too, raking in serious dough from more than just his Billboard hits. He has invested wisely and aligned himself with some top-of-the-line brands so that his music career represents only a small slice of his monetary pie.
And about those other slices? The Weeknd has put money into a bunch of companies like Pomelo, Koia, Songfinch, MoonPay, Pearpop, Forward, and OverActive Media Group. The tech world has piqued his interest and he’s investing in the virtual reality land investor, Everyrealm. He’s even hopped onto the crypto train, joining the board of NFT platform, Autograph. Diverse? Yep. Strategic? Definitely. Extra income? You bet.
The Weeknd’s smart moves don’t stop at investments. He has secured some awesome partnerships. He’s strutted with Puma and sipped with Bacardi. Recently, he took his “After Hours Til Dawn” tour to another level with Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. This cool collab churned out exclusive NFTs and branded merchandise, and also bumped up the Weeknd’s XO Humanitarian Fund.
As if all this wasn’t enough, he’s making bank by monetizing his songs too. He did a lucrative royalty deal for his hit “Acquainted” – granting people rights to use it in return for a steady payout.
Living the Dream: The Weeknd’s Fabulous Lifestyle and Big-Hearted Giving
The Weeknd’s life is the stuff dreams are made of. His successful music career has certainly filled his pocket, and he needs no suggestions on how to spend what he finds in his pocket. Our man loves everything from jaw-dropping real estate to shiny super-cars and seriously cool artwork.
Back in 2017, he splurged on an $18.2-million estate in Hidden Hills, California. He then sold it off to Madonna in 2021, but not before snapping a couple of cool shots for us to drool over. His real estate adventures don’t end there, though. Recently, he dished out $70 million for a mansion in Bel-Air. Proof positive he’s got a thing for fancy living.
And when the Weeknd isn’t buying plush pads, he is adding to his insane car collection. Some of his favorites? A McLaren P1, a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, and a Mercedes-Benz AMG GTC. He’s clearly got a need for speed and a love for luxurious rides.
He’s also got an eye for art and has some amazing pieces by artists like Hajime Sorayama, Takashi Murakami, and Keith Haring decorating his space.
Even though he’s living large with all these cool things, he also makes time to give back. Over the years, he’s been generous, donating to good causes that touch his heart. For instance, he sent $1 million to help out during the conflicts in Ethiopia. And during his North American stadium tour, he turned it into an epic charity drive, raising $5 million for the World Food Program USA. (The Independent).
A Glimpse Behind the Stardom: The Weeknd’s Personal Life
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye was born February 16, 1990, in our chilly neighbor to the north: Toronto, Canada. His dad, Makkonen, abandoned the family while Abel was at an early age, leaving the responsibility of raising a child to Abel’s mom and grandmother. Oh, and fun fact, he grew up speaking Amharic, the Ethiopian language, having emigrated from Ethiopia.
Now let’s get to the juicy bit: his love life. He and supermodel Bella Hadid were a thing from 2015 to 2019. They kicked things off when he asked her to pose for one of his album covers. Even though they took a couple of breaks here and there, they were still one of the hottest celebrity couples going.
And while he is currently not in a relationship (as of writing), a catch like the Weeknd won’t stay on the singles market long. As for children, Abel’s not a dad (if he is, he’s doing a phenomenal job of keeping it a secret). But don’t write him off just yet. He’s shared in interviews that he’s looking forward to starting a family in the future. In fact, he even said that having kids would be a huge source of inspiration for him.
Trials Amid Triumphs: Major Events Involving The Weeknd
Wind back to 2015. The Weeknd was partying away in Las Vegas when he threw a punch at a cop. The rush of blood to the head stemmed from an incident in which Abel tried to break up an argument that was getting a little messy. The fallout? No jail, thank goodness! But he did get a bit of a reality check. He was on the hook for 50 hours of community service, a $1,000 to a fund for wounded officers, some anger management sessions, and an alcohol evaluation. The incident inspired him to clean up his act and rise above the drama.
Fast forward to 2021, and the Weeknd was in hot water over his track “Call Out My Name”. Music makers Epikker, a.k.a. Suniel Fox and Henry Strange, alleged that the Weeknd ripped off parts from their 2015 tune “Vibeking”. Though the issue flared, it eventually cooled and both parties reached a settlement in March 2023. No telling what the terms were, but it sure did bring that old chestnut of music production and copyright laws back into the spotlight.
