Net Worth Ranker
What Is Keith Sweat’s Net Worth?
Keith Sweat, a prominent figure in American R&B and soul music, boasts a net worth of approximately $250,000. This valuation reflects his multifaceted career as a singer, songwriter, record producer, radio host, and author. While his discography has achieved considerable commercial success, financial challenges have impacted his overall wealth.
Keith Sweat’s Early Career and Musical Achievements
Born on July 22, 1961, in Harlem, New York City, Keith Douglas Sweat’s journey into music began in his youth. He balanced his artistic aspirations with practical responsibilities, working as a night stock boy at Macy’s while attending City College. Simultaneously, he honed his musical talents by performing with a band named Jamilah during weekends. Sweat’s professional trajectory included roles at Paine Webber, where he transitioned from a mail room position to a brokerage assistant within four years at the New York Stock Exchange, and a supervisory role at the New York Mercantile Exchange. These experiences provided a foundation as he ventured into his solo music career.
Sweat’s solo career gained momentum after departing from Jamilah in 1984, initially recording tracks with Stadium Records, an independent label. In 1987, he signed with Vintertainment Records, marking a significant milestone. His debut album, “Make It Last Forever,” released in November 1987, achieved triple-platinum certification. It reached #15 on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album featured the hit single “I Want Her,” which reached the top of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “Make It Last Forever” sold over three million copies in the United States. This early success established Sweat as a significant force in the R&B scene, setting the stage for his subsequent achievements.
Following his debut album, Sweat released “I’ll Give All My Love to You” (1990), which earned double-platinum certification, and the platinum-selling albums “Keep It Comin'” (1991) and “Get Up on It” (1994). Each of these albums reached #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. His self-titled album, “Keith Sweat” (1996), attained quadruple-platinum status, reaching #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200 chart. Sweat’s sixth album, “Still in the Game” (1998), was certified platinum. His seventh album, “Didn’t See Me Coming” (2000), achieved Gold certification, selling over 500,000 copies. His 2008 album “Just Me” reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Other albums, including “Ridin’ Solo” (2010), “Til the Morning” (2011), and “Dress to Impress” (2016), also reached the top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2018, he released “Playing For Keeps,” featuring the singles “How Many Ways” and “Boomerang.” Sales figures for these later albums are not publicly available, but their chart performance indicates continued popularity.
Sweat’s discography includes live albums such as “Keith Sweat Live” (2003) and “Sweat Hotel Live” (2007). He collaborated with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill on the albums “Levert.Sweat.Gill” (1997) and “LSG2” (2003). In July 2021, Sweat participated in a “Verzuz” battle with Bobby Brown, further showcasing his hits. Specific revenue figures for these albums and collaborations are not publicly available, but they contributed to his overall earnings.
Keith Sweat’s Ventures Beyond Music
Beyond his musical career, Keith Sweat has diversified his activities to include acting, radio hosting, and authorship. His acting roles include appearances in “New Jack City” (1991), “Pastor Brown” (2009), and “Love Magical” (2018). He also guest-starred on “Martin” (1997) and “The Wayans Bros.” (1997). In 2008, Sweat began hosting “The Sweat Hotel,” a nationally syndicated radio show, expanding his presence in the entertainment industry. Furthermore, in 2013, he published “Make It Last Forever: The Dos and Don’ts,” an advice book. Revenue generated from these acting roles, radio hosting, and book sales is not publicly detailed but represents additional income streams. Sweat has also produced tracks by Men at Large, Dru Hill, The Isley Brothers, Immature, The O’Jays, Ol’ Skool, and Chantay Savage.
Financial Challenges and Legal Issues Faced by Keith Sweat
Despite his successful career, Keith Sweat has encountered financial challenges that have impacted his net worth. In 2012, PMI Mortgage sued Sweat for defaulting on a $450,000 mortgage on a house in Detroit. The house was foreclosed and sold by the bank, but even after the sale, over $200,000 was still owed. The mortgage company was awarded $253,000 in damages and pursued wage garnishment and liens on his other assets. These legal and financial setbacks contributed to the reduction of his overall net worth.
Awards and Recognition Earned by Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat has received recognition for his contributions to the music industry through various awards and nominations. He won the American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist in 1997 and received nominations in the same category in 1991 and 1998. Additionally, his debut album, “Make It Last Forever,” was nominated for Favorite Soul/R&B Album in 1989. In 2013, Sweat was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Soul Train Awards. He also received eight other Soul Train Award nominations between 1989 and 1999, recognizing his singles and albums’ impact on the R&B/Soul music scene. While these accolades do not directly translate to specific monetary gains, they reflect his industry standing and influence.
Personal Life of Keith Sweat
In 1992, Keith Sweat married Lisa Wu, who later appeared on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” They had two sons, Jordan (born in 1995) and Justin (born in 1998), before divorcing in 2002. Sweat also has three daughters, Keisha, Keia, and Amaya, and a son named Joshua. Details about any alimony or child support arrangements are not publicly available.
In summary, Keith Sweat’s $250,000 net worth reflects the complexities of a long and varied career. Despite the commercial success of his music and his ventures into acting, radio, and writing, financial challenges have impacted his overall wealth.
