An Exploration of Kehlani’s Net Worth: How She Became R&B’s Favorite ‘SweetSexySavage’

The Breakdown: Kehlani has been sitting at superstar status for a while. Hit after hit, the millennial superstar never disappoints. Do her victories match her net worth?

If you didn’t know, Kehlani’s singing career launched around 2009 when she served as the lead vocalist of PopLyfe, a then-rising band that received production from late Tony! Toni! Tone! member D’Wayne Wiggins. After performing locally, the Bay Area-based group (ultimately) auditioned for America’s Got Talent in 2011 and finished in fourth place.

Kehlani reportedly exited the group shortly after their appearance on the show. She subsequently caught the attention of entertainer Nick Cannon, who grew acquainted with Kehlani while hosting America’s Got Talent and lent a helping hand to her after hearing that she was homeless. According to a 2018 interview with VladTV, he was instrumental in setting the foundation for her breakout moment, as he’s responsible for emphasizing her gift on a mainstream level.

Following Nick’s discovery, Kehlani, the star, was officially born. Her first track, “ANTISUMMERLUV,” hit Soundcloud in 2014 but didn’t compare to the overwhelming recognition from her debut mixtape, Cloud 19, later that year. The project, named one of the best albums of 2014 by Complex, is regarded as Kehlani’s plastic-ripping effort that launched her widespread stardom.

She would go on to release her full-length, SweetSexySavage, in 2017, which spawned the high-achieving single “Distraction.”

Throughout her run, as of 2025, she unveiled three more albums: It Was Good Until It Wasn’t (2020), Blue Water Road (2022), and Crash (2024). Her mixtapes, You Should Be Here (2015), While We Wait (2019), and While We Wait 2 (2024), are still in rotation as well.

As of 2023, as reported by Variety, Kehlani had accumulated over five billion streams and 20 Gold and Platinum RIAA certifications.

Per Celebrity Net Worth, Kehlani allegedly has a whopping net worth of $6 million. From record-breaking songs and streaming royalties to world tours and even endorsements, there’s no doubt she isn’t missing any millions. With over 16 million followers on Instagram alone, Kehlani's fan base continues to grow, as does her pockets!

Aside from creating the next chart-topper, Kehlani is breaking bread away from the bops, too. As cited by her IMDb page, she has film/TV credits in Showtime’s The L Word: Generation Q as the series’ character Ivy and Creed III as herself. Did someone say… actress?

Additionally, in 2017, she was involved in a tech startup app, Flora. That same year, she joined forces with cosmetics line Makeup Forever for their exclusive AQUA XL campaign, which featured cream eye shadows and liquid eyeliners at the forefront of the product collection. Kehlani, who identifies as nonbinary, started a gender-inclusive clothing line, TSNMI, in 2019, even though operations (seemingly) paused in 2021.

Another one of her business venture highlights was her collaboration with vodka giant GREY GOOSE Essences in 2022, where she was the headliner for their In Bloom concert experience.

She said of the partnership in a press release, “GREY GOOSE Essences is about seeking moments of vibrancy and radiance, as well as connecting with nature,” adding, “I love the fresh tasting flavors of GREY GOOSE Essences and worked with the team to create my new signature cocktail, the ‘Kehmami.’”

Throughout the years, the mother-of-one has also been captured getting her model on as an ambassador for Rihanna’s lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty. It’s good to know she has her hands in more than one pot because, as of late, it appears Kehlani’s finances may be at stake.

In April 2025, Kehlani’s publicized support of Palestinian rights (amid the Israel-Gaza war) progressed to the cancellation of some of her shows, including a Cornell University and (later) Pride Month concert in New York City. As you may know, the California native has been very transparent about her stance on the social issues, which initially hit the media in 2024.

In response to being labeled antisemitic, the “After Hours” phenomenon uploaded a video to Instagram addressing the matter, along with the caption, “If you want to cancel me from opportunity, stand on it being because of your zionism. Don’t make it anti-jew. This is a played out game. All this because we want people to stop dying.”

Kehlani signed with Atlantic Records in 2015 in preparation for the 2017 release of her first album, SweetSexySavage. 2020 saw a publishing deal with Pulse Music Group. Three years later, in 2023, she inked a contract with Wasserman Music for worldwide representation.

In 2024, it was rumored that she’d signed a co-management deal with Jay-Z’s imprint, Roc Nation, but she’s nowhere to be found in their artist roster on their website. As of 2025, her client profile was still available on Atlantic Records’ online home.

Kehlani is KEHping the R&B genre on lock, and we love that for her!