Net Worth Ranker
What Is Mathew Knowles’ Net Worth?
Mathew Knowles, an American music executive, businessman, record producer, manager, and author, has an estimated net worth of $1 million. This figure reflects his decades-long career in the entertainment industry, encompassing various roles and ventures.
Career Overview and Music World Entertainment
Knowles’ career took off after a 10-year stint at the Xerox Corporation in Houston, Texas. In 1992, he founded Music World Entertainment, a company that would become a significant player in the music industry. The company’s success is largely attributed to its management of Destiny’s Child, a girl group that achieved global fame and sold over 60 million records worldwide. Though specific financial details regarding Knowles’ earnings from Destiny’s Child management are not publicly available, industry experts estimate that managers typically earn between 10% and 20% of an artist’s gross income. Given the group’s immense success, Knowles likely earned millions of dollars in management fees during their peak years.
Under Music World Entertainment, Knowles launched recording imprints such as Music World Kids, Music World Country/Compadre, and Music World Gospel. These ventures reflect his diverse interests within the music industry and his attempt to tap into various market segments. Furthermore, he established partnerships with major labels like Sony Music, Fontana/Universal, Interscope/Geffen/A&M, Fontana International, Integrity Africa, and Sony Brazil. These partnerships provided Music World Entertainment with broader distribution networks and greater access to resources. The financial details of these partnerships remain confidential.
Beyond Destiny’s Child, Knowles managed the solo careers of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. He also represented artists such as From Above, Trin-i-tee 5:7, Sunshine Anderson, J. Xavier, The Pastor Rudy Experience, and his younger daughter, Solange. The specific financial arrangements with these artists have not been publicly disclosed.
Film and Television Ventures
In 2009, Knowles served as an executive producer on Beyoncé’s film “Obsessed,” a thriller that grossed nearly $70 million worldwide on a production budget of $20 million. Executive producers typically receive a percentage of a film’s profits, but the exact figure for Knowles’ involvement in “Obsessed” has not been revealed. He also produced and appeared on the 2004 U.K. reality series “Chancers” and the 2011 MTV International reality show “Breaking From Above.” The compensation for his role in these television projects is not publicly known.
Literary Works and Academic Pursuits
Knowles is also an author, having published books such as “Racism From the Eyes of a Child” (2017) and “The DNA of Achievers: 10 Traits of Highly Successful Professionals” (2015). While book sales contribute to his overall income, they are unlikely to be a major source of his net worth compared to his music industry earnings. In December 2019, he released the album “Destiny’s Child: The Untold Story Presents Girls Tyme,” which included unreleased tracks from the early days of Destiny’s Child. He also published the book “Destiny’s Child: The Untold Story” at the same time. The sales figures for the album and book have not been publicly disclosed.
In early 2021, Knowles began hosting the “Mathew Knowles Impact” podcast on iHeartRadio. Podcast hosts often generate income through advertising revenue and sponsorship deals. The financial details of Knowles’ iHeartRadio deal have not been made public. He has also taught courses on entrepreneurship and the entertainment industry at Texas Southern University, and he has taught “The Emancipation of Slaves Through Music” at The Art Institute International and “Music and the Digital Age” at the University of Houston. He has also taught courses for Prairie View A&M University’s School of Business and has lectured at Rice University, Cornell University, and his alma mater, Fisk University. The income he receives from these academic positions contributes to his overall earnings.
Personal Life and Financial Challenges
Knowles’ personal life has been marked by significant events that have had an impact on his finances. His divorce from Celestine “Tina” Knowles in 2011 likely involved a substantial settlement. The specifics of the settlement agreement were not publicly disclosed, but it is common for high-net-worth individuals to transfer significant assets to their former spouses during divorce proceedings. In a March 2014 child support case, Knowles requested that the judge reduce his $12,000 monthly child support payment for Nixon, his son with ex-girlfriend Alexsandra Wright. He claimed in a court filing to no longer be as wealthy as he once was, reporting earnings of $3 million in 2011 but no more than $120,000 in 2012 and 2013. This information suggests a significant decline in his income during that period, potentially due to changes in his business ventures and the management of his assets.
In October 2019, Knowles revealed that he was battling breast cancer and underwent surgery to remove one of his breasts. Medical expenses related to cancer treatment can be substantial and can impact an individual’s financial resources. The extent of Knowles’ medical expenses and how they affected his net worth has not been publicly disclosed.
Mathew Knowles Institute for Entrepreneurship, Entertainment & Music Business
In 2018, Texas Southern University established the Mathew Knowles Institute for Entrepreneurship, Entertainment & Music Business, which offers online courses in marketing, management, career development, and more. While this institute bears his name, it is unclear whether Knowles directly benefits financially from its operations. However, the association with the institute enhances his reputation and could lead to further opportunities in the academic and business sectors.
Accolades and Recognition
Knowles has received several accolades throughout his career, including the Century Award of Excellence from the Omega Psi Phi fraternity (1911–2011) and the International Executive of the Year award from the Greater Houston Partnership in 2007. In 2011, he received the Living Legends Foundation Award. These awards reflect his contributions to the music industry and the broader community. While they do not directly contribute to his financial wealth, they enhance his standing and credibility, which can lead to further business opportunities.
Mathew Knowles is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and serves on the board of directors for The Recording Academy and the Gospel Music Association. These positions provide him with influence within the music industry and may lead to opportunities for collaboration and investment, though the specific financial benefits are not publicly known.
Additional Business Ventures
In 2018, Knowles joined Tunedly.com’s advisory board. The specific role and any financial compensation are not publicly available. In 2019, he became the chief marketing officer of Bangi, a “diversified investment vehicle that acquires and leases specialized real estate assets, including cannabis farms, dispensaries, commercial real estate, industrial real estate, and leasing real estate to the multi-billion dollar and growing cannabis industry.” The terms of his employment and his equity stake in Bangi are not publicly known, so the income Knowles may have received from this position is not accessible.
