Net Worth Ranker
What Is Jay Kay’s Net Worth?
Jay Kay, the English musician and lead singer of Jamiroquai, has accumulated a significant net worth of $70 million. This figure primarily stems from his successful music career, driven by album sales, touring, and other ventures.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born Jason Luis Cheetham on December 30, 1969, in Stretford, Lancashire, England, Jay Kay’s early life was marked by unique circumstances. His mother, Karen Kay, was a cabaret singer and TV personality. His biological father is Luis Saraiva, a former guitarist whom he didn’t meet until 2001. Tragically, Jay had an identical twin, David, who passed away shortly after birth. Raised predominantly by his mother in rural Devon and Suffolk, Jay attended Oakham School in Rutland. At 15, he left home and experienced homelessness, resorting to petty crime for survival. A false arrest and near-death experience prompted his return home and subsequent pursuit of a music career, starting as a breakdancer. Before forming Jamiroquai, he auditioned unsuccessfully for The Brand New Heavies.
Jamiroquai’s Rise and Success
In 1992, Jay Kay founded Jamiroquai with Toby Smith (keyboards), Stuart Zender (bass), Nick Van Gelder (drums), and Wallis Buchanan (didgeridoo). Gavin Dodds (guitar), Maurizio Ravelico (percussion) and Johnny Thirkell (horns) also made guest appearances. The band’s debut single, “When You Gonna Learn,” led to a $1 million USD record deal with Sony Music Entertainment, resulting in their first album, “Emergency on Planet Earth.” However, the partnership with Sony ended in 2007. Jamiroquai’s third album, “Travelling Without Moving,” brought international recognition, particularly through the “Virtual Insanity” music video, which won four MTV Video Music Awards. The album also secured a Guinness World Record as the best-selling funk album ever. “Virtual Insanity” won a Grammy Award in 1998. Their fourth album, “Synkronized,” was recorded in Jay Kay’s home studio, located in his 11-bedroom Buckinghamshire mansion. Jay Kay became known for his elaborate hats and costumes, leading to a clothing line launch. The band continued with albums like “A Funk Odyssey” in 2001, “Dynamite” in 2005, “Rock Dust Light Star” in 2010, and “Automaton” in 2017. Jamiroquai was the third best-selling UK act in the ’90s, following the Spice Girls and Oasis. As of April 2017, the band has sold over 26 million albums globally. Despite their UK success, they struggled to gain a substantial following in the U.S., selling 4.4 million albums in the UK versus 2.5 million in the U.S.
Jay Kay’s Car Collection
Beyond music, Jay Kay is recognized for his car collection, once comprising 100 cars and estimated to be worth at least $30 million today. His passion for Ferraris is evident. He even penned a song, “Black Devil Car,” about his black Ferrari Enzo. In March 2009, a pastry chef vandalized the Enzo, causing $40,000 in damages, and was sentenced to 20 months in jail. Other notable cars in his collection include:
- A light green 2014 Ferrari LaFerrari, dubbed the “Kermit LaFerrari,” which he listed for sale in 2019. Similar LaFerraris with more miles were listed for $3-4 million around the same time.
- Ferrari F-40
- Ferrari GTC4Lusso painted purple with golden wheels
- Ferrari 275 GTB – estimated value of $4-5 million
- Two Ferrari 355s
- Ferrari F12 TDF (sold)
- Ferrari 575 Super America
- Lamborghini Diablo painted purple. The original purple Diablo was featured in the “Cosmic Girl” music video. After it was damaged, he acquired an identical replacement.
- Lamborghini Miura SV
- Maserati A6G
- Mercedes 300 SL Roadster
- Porsche Carrera GT (sold)
- Porsche Carerra RS 1973 (one of 200 built)
- Porsche 911 Turbo
- Porsche 911 GT3
- McLaren 675 LT (sold)
- Ferrari Vignale 330 GT
- Aston Martin DB6 MK1 Volante
Other Appearances
Jay Kay has made appearances on various TV shows, including an episode of BBC’s “The Naked Chef” with Jamie Oliver and performing on “Strictly Come Dancing” with “Canned Heat.” He also appeared four times on BBC’s “Top Gear.” In Series 1, episode 2, he set a lap time of 1:48.1 in the “Star in a reasonably priced car” segment, holding the top score for the rest of the series and much of the next. He drove his Lamborghini Miura with Richard Hammond in Series 3, episode 4. In Series 11, episode 6, he achieved a lap time of 1:45.8, surpassing Simon Cowell’s record. Jay Kay received Top Gear’s “John Sergeant Award” for best dance, and his lap time was the fastest in 2008.
Personal Life and Relationships
Jay Kay dated Denise van Outen from 1998 to 2001. They were engaged but separated in 2001. He has stated that he had a cocaine habit but has been drug-free since 2003. He is now married to a woman named Maria, and they have two daughters, Tallulah and Carla. They confirmed their marriage in 2017 at the BMI London Awards. In 2001, Jay Kay was charged with assaulting a paparazzi photographer and damaging his camera outside a nightclub. The charges were later dropped. In May 2002, he was questioned by police after an alleged headbutting incident with a member of the paparazzi following an accusation of damage to his £170,000 Bentley. He sustained a nose injury and a black eye, but no charges were filed. In 2017, Jay Kay suffered a severe spinal injury, requiring surgery, which led to Jamiroquai canceling two Tokyo shows on their “Automaton” tour. Formerly a resident of Ealing in West London, where he lived in Grange Road and performed at The Haven pub on Spring Bridge Road, he now resides in Horsenden, Buckinghamshire, with a private recording studio.
