Fantasia Barrino Net Worth

What Is Fantasia Barrino Net Worth’ Net Worth?

Fantasia Monique Barrino, known professionally as Fantasia, is an American R&B singer and actress with a reported net worth of $500,000. Despite achieving significant success in the music industry, including winning “American Idol” in 2004, Fantasia has openly discussed her financial challenges. These challenges include facing potential foreclosure on her properties and at least one bankruptcy filing.

Fantasia’s Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born on June 30, 1984, in High Point, North Carolina, Fantasia’s early life was marked by both musical influence and personal hardship. She grew up with her mother, Diane, father, Joseph, and brothers, Xavier and Ricco. Music was a significant part of her upbringing; her uncles were part of the R&B group The Barrino Brothers, and her cousins are the Grammy-nominated R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, known for their #1 hit “All My Life” in 1998. Fantasia began singing at the age of 5. She attended Andrews High School but dropped out at 14 after experiencing a traumatic event and subsequent threats. At 16, she became a mother to her daughter, Zion, born on August 8, 2001. Zion’s father, Brandel Shouse, was later arrested for assaulting Fantasia.

Fantasia’s career began to take off with her participation in the third season of “American Idol.” Her victory on May 26, 2004, catapulted her into the national spotlight. Following her win, she joined the “American Idol” tour and appeared in the Christmas special “Kelly, Ruben and Fantasia: Home For the Holidays.” She signed a recording deal with J Records/19 Entertainment, marking the official start of her professional music career.

Music Career and Album Sales

In June 2004, Fantasia released her debut single, “I Believe,” which debuted at number one on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. The CD single for “I Believe” was the top-selling single in the U.S. for 2004. Her debut album, “Free Yourself,” was released in November 2004 and was certified Platinum.

Her second album, “Fantasia,” released in December 2006, featured the Gold-certified single “When I See U.” She has released a total of seven studio albums:

“Free Yourself” (2004): Platinum certification.
“Fantasia” (2006): Featuring the Gold single “When I See U”.
“Back to Me” (2010).
“Side Effects of You” (2013).
“The Definition Of…” (2016).
“Christmas After Midnight” (2017).
“Sketchbook” (2019).

Broadway and Acting Roles

Fantasia made her Broadway debut in April 2007 as Celie in “The Color Purple,” receiving critical acclaim for her performance. After being diagnosed with a tumor on her vocal cords, she had to miss nearly 50 performances, but she made a full recovery. She reprised the role of Celie in 2009 for the musical’s national tour.

In 2005, she played Aretha Franklin in an episode of NBC’s “American Dreams” and lent her voice to “The Simpsons.” In 2006, she starred in the Lifetime movie “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale,” based on her autobiography.

In 2013, Fantasia returned to Broadway in the musical revue “After Midnight,” where she co-wrote and performed “In the Middle of the Night,” the theme song for the film “The Butler.” In August 2018, she performed at Aretha Franklin’s funeral. In February 2019, she participated in a tribute to Aretha at the Grammy Awards and performed on the CBS special “Aretha! A Grammy Celebration for the Queen of Soul.”

Financial Struggles and Real Estate

Fantasia has publicly discussed her financial difficulties. In a June 2019 interview, she mentioned that she had “lost everything twice.”

In 2004, Fantasia purchased a 4,541 square foot home in Charlotte, North Carolina, for $740,000. She sold it for $465,000 in 2018. She also owned a 6,600 square foot mansion in Charlotte, which she bought for $1.3 million in 2007. This property nearly went into foreclosure in 2009. In 2012, she listed the home for $800,000, but when it failed to sell, she handed the estate over to the bank in February 2013.

Awards and Recognition

Fantasia’s awards and nominations reflect her impact on the music and entertainment industry.

In 2011, she won a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “Bittersweet.”
Her single “I Believe” won Top Selling Single of the Year and Top Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of the Year at the 2004 “Billboard” Music Awards.
In 2005, “I Believe” was named Top R&B/Hip-Hop Single by the “Billboard” American Urban Radio Networks.
She won NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Female Artist in 2005 and for Outstanding Duo or Group (with Jennifer Hudson) in 2009.
In 2007, her performance in “The Color Purple” earned her a Broadway.com Award for Favorite (Female) Replacement and a Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut Performance.

She has received 12 Grammy nominations for her music.

Personal Life

Fantasia has been in relationships with Michael Clayton, a former NFL player, and rapper Young Dro. She married businessman Kendall Taylor on July 18, 2015. She has a son, Dallas, born on December 13, 2011, whose father is reportedly Antwaun Cook.

In August 2010, a Mecklenburg County District Court divorce filing accused Fantasia of having a relationship with Cook for a year. She testified that the relationship didn’t begin until Cook was separated, and the judge ruled in her favor. Later that month, Fantasia was hospitalized after overdosing on aspirin and a sleep aid, which she admitted was a suicide attempt. In her 2005 memoir, Fantasia revealed that she was functionally illiterate. Her father filed a $10 million lawsuit against Simon & Schuster in 2006, alleging that some of the things she said about him in the book were false.

Other Ventures and Appearances

In addition to her music and Broadway career, Fantasia has made several appearances in television and film. She portrayed Aretha Franklin on an episode of NBC’s “American Dreams” in 2005. She also appeared as herself in the 2006 Lifetime movie “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale,” which was based on her autobiography. In 2010, she had her own reality show, “Fantasia for Real.” These appearances have added to her visibility and income, although specific financial details are not publicly available.

Investments and Assets

While specific details on Fantasia’s current investments are not publicly available, her real estate transactions provide some insight into her asset management over the years. Her purchase of the Charlotte home for $740,000 in 2004 and its later sale for $465,000 in 2018 indicate a loss on that particular investment. Similarly, her acquisition of the $1.3 million mansion in 2007, which was later surrendered to the bank, reflects the challenges she faced in managing her assets. It’s important to note that, in addition to real estate, celebrities often have diverse investment portfolios including stocks, bonds, and private equity, but the specifics of these investments for Fantasia are not publicly disclosed.