Net Worth Ranker
What Is Lil’ Kim’s Net Worth? Net Worth
As of March 2025, Lil’ Kim’s net worth is estimated to be $500 thousand. This figure reflects her earnings from a career spanning several decades in the music and entertainment industry. However, it’s important to note that Lil’ Kim has faced significant financial challenges, including a bankruptcy filing in recent years.
Financial Challenges and Bankruptcy
Lil’ Kim’s financial situation came under scrutiny when she filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in New Jersey on June 12, 2018. The court filings revealed a complex financial picture, with reported assets of $2.57 million and liabilities of $4.08 million. Among the assets listed were a 2005 Bentley valued at $50,000, a 2000 Mercedes worth $4,200, and jewelry appraised at $25,000. The bankruptcy filing also indicated that she had lost her 6,000-square-foot mansion located in Alpine, New Jersey, to foreclosure. This property was reportedly worth $3 million. Additionally, she owed $1.5 million in back taxes to the federal government and $667,000 in late mortgage payments.
According to the court documents, Lil’ Kim’s income varied between 2016 and 2017. In 2016, she earned $823,000, while in 2017, her income was $398,000. Her average monthly earnings were approximately $18,000. However, her monthly expenses were substantial. The filings showed that she spent $10,000 per month on travel, $6,600 on her mortgage, $2,200 per month on wardrobe, and $2,300 on staff.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Born Kimberly Denise Jones on July 11, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York, Lil’ Kim’s journey to fame began in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood. At the age of 19, in 1994, Jones became a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A., a Brooklyn-based group formed and promoted by The Notorious B.I.G. It was at this juncture that she adopted the name Lil’ Kim. The group’s inaugural album, “Conspiracy,” hit the shelves on August 29, 1995. It entered the U.S. “Billboard” 200 chart at #8, selling 69,000 copies in its first week. On December 6, 1995, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) awarded it gold certification. “Conspiracy” produced three successful singles: “Player’s Anthem,” “I Need You Tonight,” and “Get Money.”
Lil’ Kim embarked on her solo career just a year after joining Junior M.A.F.I.A, beginning work on her debut album in late 1995.
Solo Success and Album Sales
Lil’ Kim’s debut album, “Hard Core,” achieved double platinum certification from the RIAA, with global sales exceeding 6 million copies. The album reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart and #11 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. Her subsequent albums, “The Notorious K.I.M.” (2000) and “La Bella Mafia” (2003), also attained platinum status. “The Notorious K.I.M.” peaked at #1 on the U.S. R&B chart and #4 on the “Billboard” 200 chart, while “La Bella Mafia” reached #4 and #5 on those charts, respectively. Her fourth studio album, “The Naked Truth,” was released in 2005, during her time in federal prison, and it reached #3 on the U.S. R&B chart and #6 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. Lil’ Kim’s fifth album, “9,” was released in 2019.
Additionally, she featured on the 2001 remake of “Lady Marmalade” alongside Mýa, Pink, and Christina Aguilera, which sold over five million copies worldwide.
Awards and Recognition
Over the course of her career, Lil’ Kim has garnered numerous accolades, including two “Billboard” Music Awards, a Grammy, three MTV VMAs, and two Soul Train Awards. To date, she has sold more than 15 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide as a solo artist.
Acting Career
Beyond her music career, Lil’ Kim has also ventured into acting, appearing in several films. These include “She’s All That” (1999), “Zoolander” (2001), “Juwanna Mann” (2002), “You Got Served” (2004), and “Superhero Movie” (2008). In 2009, she participated in the eighth season of “Dancing with the Stars,” partnering with Derek Hough and finishing in fifth place.
Personal Life
Lil’ Kim’s personal life has been subject to public attention. She had an on-again, off-again relationship with Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G., until his death in 1997. In 1999, she revealed in an interview with The Source that she became pregnant with Wallace’s child during the recording of her debut album but decided to terminate the pregnancy. In 2017, Lil’ Kim described her relationship with Wallace as “very violent.”
She also had relationships with accused gang leader Damion “World” Hardy (2002-2003), record producer Scott Storch (2004), and singer/rapper Ray J (2007). In February 2014, Lil’ Kim announced her pregnancy and gave birth to her first child, Royal Reign, on June 9, 2014.
