Jermaine Dupri Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Jermaine Dupri’s net worth?

Jermaine Dupri, an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer, has a net worth estimated at $2.5 million. During the 1990s, he was among the most successful producers in the music industry, collaborating with artists such as Jay-Z, Kris Kross, Mariah Carey, and Da Brat. At his financial peak, Dupri’s personal wealth was estimated to have reached $60 million, and his music catalog was valued at a minimum of $20 million, as detailed in the following sections. Throughout his career, he has faced numerous financial challenges, including several lawsuits involving banks and the foreclosure of personal properties.

Jermaine Dupri’s Financial Problems

Although Jermaine Dupri boasted a $60 million net worth in 2006 and earned $11 million in 2008, he has since encountered significant financial difficulties. In 2008, he was assessed penalties for approximately $183,000 in unpaid taxes, along with another estimated $2.5 million owed between 2003 and 2005. By 2012, he was compelled to pay $493,818.75 in taxes stemming from a bill that initially totaled $254,782.64. This amount grew due to penalties and interest after his failure to file a 2007 tax return.

In 2013, he faced a lawsuit from SunTrust Bank for defaulting on a $5 million loan obtained three years earlier. To secure the loan, Dupri had pledged the copyrights of songs owned by his label, So So Def, as collateral. To resolve the bank’s claim, he was required to sell his recording studio along with his So So Def music catalog, which included works from artists like Bow Wow, Da Brat, and Kris Kross.

Dupri countered with a lawsuit against the bank, claiming his studio was worth $2.5 million and his music catalog $20 million. He demanded at least $216,000 in damages and attorney fees. The dispute was resolved in June 2015 when the court ruled in favor of the bank, ordering Dupri to pay a total of $1,820,593.10, plus $225,146.80 in interest, bringing the overall amount to $2,045,739.90.

Accused of neglecting to pay $575,000 in back taxes, Dupri was subject to a lien on May 29, 2018. This lien stated that Dupri had not settled his income taxes for the years 2012, 2014, and 2015. The Georgia Department of Revenue claims he owes a cumulative total of $578,638 in taxes.

Real Estate Foreclosures

In 2011, foreclosure proceedings began concerning his mansion located in northwest Atlanta. Although the process was initially delayed, it resumed in 2012. Ultimately, the mansion was sold at auction after Dupri defaulted on a $2.5 million loan associated with the property. By December 2012, his residence in the Mount Paran area of Atlanta was also listed for foreclosure, and it appears he lost this property in 2014.

Early Life

Born on September 23, 1972, in Asheville, North Carolina, Jermaine Dupri Mauldin is the son of Michael, who worked as an executive at Columbia Records.

Jermaine’s career started in his childhood. When his father organized a Diana Ross show in Atlanta in 1982, Dupri joined the legendary artist on stage to dance. Shortly after, at the age of 12, he began performing with the hip-hop group Whodini and appeared in the music video for their iconic 1980s song “Freaks Come Out at Night.” During his teenage years, he ventured into producing young talent in Atlanta while also dancing for renowned acts like Run DMC and Grandmaster Flash.

Career

In 1990, at just 18 years old, Dupri produced a record for a female rap trio, Silk Tymes Leather. Although the album didn’t achieve commercial success, the experience proved beneficial for him. His significant breakthrough occurred when he discovered two teenage rappers at a local mall, whom he named Kris Kross, and subsequently produced their debut album “Totally Krossed Out,” featuring hit singles “Jump” and “Warm It Up,” both written and produced by Dupri. In 1993, he launched his own record label, So So Def. Shortly after, he signed the female R&B group Xscape and was the producer behind their entire platinum-selling debut album “Hummin’ Comin’ at ‘Cha,” which included singles like “Understanding,” “Tonight,” and “Just Kickin’ It.” That same year, Da Brat joined his label, releasing her debut album “Funkafied,” making her the first female rapper to sell over 1,000,000 albums. Through So So Def, Dupri collaborated with numerous artists, including Jay-Z, Lil Bow-wow, Boys II Men, and many others.

Eventually, So So Def Recordings garnered 20 gold and platinum records. In 1995, Dupri collaborated with Mariah Carey for the first time on the number-one hit single “Always Be My Baby.” He also worked on the track “Not Tonight” from Lil’ Kim’s 1996 album “Hard Core.” Throughout the remainder of the 1990s, Dupri contributed to successful albums and songs for performers such as Usher, Monica, Destiny’s Child, Lil Wayne, Weezer, Tamar Braxton, and Jay-Z’s “Life in 1472,” among various other credits.

In the early 2000s, Dupri reunited with Usher and Mariah Carey for “The Emancipation of Mimi.” Additional collaborations included Bow Wow and Nelly, as well as returning to work with Boys II Men.

He published his memoir titled “Young, Rich, and Dangerous: The Making of a Music Mogul” in October 2007.

In 2015, Dupri partnered with Queen Latifah for the reality television show “The Rap Game,” which premiered on Lifetime on New Year’s Day 2016. The show showcased five young rappers aged between 11-16 who received mentorship from Dupri, Usher, T.I., Ludacris, and others.

In 2018, Dupri was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Also that year, an exhibit titled Jermaine Dupri & So So Def, 25 Years Of Elevating Culture showcased Dupri and his label at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles.

Personal Life

From 2002 to 2009, Dupri was in a relationship with singer Janet Jackson.

He shares a daughter, Shaniah Mauldin, with Pam Sweat, a woman he dated at 25, shortly after which she became pregnant.

Additionally, he has another daughter named Jalynn with Sarai Jones. In 2011, a ruling from the Fulton County Superior Court mandated Dupri to pay $2,500 a month along with another $7,500 to Jones following the outcome of a paternity test.

A vegan, Dupri appeared in a PETA advertisement where he urged fans to “Feel the beets. Lose the meats.”