Net Worth Ranker
What Is MC Hammer’s Net Worth?
MC Hammer, the American rapper, entertainer, and dancer, has an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2025. This figure represents a significant decrease from the peak of his career in the 1990s when his personal fortune exceeded $70 million. The decline is attributed to lavish spending habits and financial mismanagement, leading to a bankruptcy filing in 1996.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Stanley Kirk Burrell, known as MC Hammer, was born on March 30, 1962, in Oakland, California. He grew up in a three-bedroom apartment in an East Oakland housing project alongside his mother and eight siblings. His early life involved selling stray baseballs in the Oakland Coliseum parking lot. Charles Finley, the owner of the Oakland Athletics, noticed 11-year-old Stanley’s dancing skills and hired him as a clubhouse assistant and batboy from 1973 to 1980.
Burrell’s nickname “M.C.” originated from his role as a “Master of Ceremonies” during his time with the A’s. The moniker “Hammer” was added due to his resemblance to baseball legend Hank Aaron. After graduating from McClymonds High School in Oakland, Burrell enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving for three years as a Petty Officer before receiving an honorable discharge.
Hammer began his music career performing in local venues around Oakland. After an initial record deal fell through, he secured $20,000 in funding from former Oakland A’s players Mike Davis and Dwayne Murphy. With this capital, he launched his own record label, Bust It Productions, operating out of his basement and car. Bust It Productions evolved into Bustin’ Records, where MC Hammer served as CEO. In 1986, he released his debut album, “Feel My Power,” under his label, which sold over 60,000 copies. The singles “Let’s Get It Started” and “Ring ‘Em” gained traction on local radio and in nightclubs.
Superstardom and Diamond Status
In 1988, MC Hammer’s performances caught the attention of a Capitol Records executive, leading to a record deal and a $1,750,000 advance. His breakthrough came with the 1990 album “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em,” featuring the hit single “U Can’t Touch This.” The single topped the “Billboard” Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart, and the album held the #1 position for 21 weeks. “Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em” became the first hip-hop album to achieve diamond certification, selling over 10 million copies. The success of “U Can’t Touch This,” boosted by its sampling of Rick James’ “Super Freak,” earned Hammer two Grammy Awards.
Hammer’s follow-up album, “Too Legit to Quit,” released in 1991, produced another hit title track, which reached the top five on the “Billboard” 200. The tour supporting the album featured Boyz II Men as the opening act. The music video for “2 Legit 2 Quit” was notable for its extensive celebrity cameos and high production cost, making it one of the most expensive music videos ever made. Despite the high costs, the album achieved multi-platinum status.
MC Hammer continued to release seven more studio albums, although none achieved the same commercial success as his early work. Overall, he has sold over 50 million records worldwide and headlined numerous world tours. His accolades include three Grammy Awards and several lifetime achievement awards.
Beyond his music career, MC Hammer ventured into acting, producing, and entrepreneurship. He starred in and produced the 1990 film “Please Hammer Don’t Hurt ‘Em: The Movie.” In 2008, he co-created the dance website Dance Jam. He also served as CEO of his own record label and executive producer of the reality TV show “Hammertime.” In 2020, he appeared in a Cheetos Super Bowl commercial, commemorating the 30th anniversary of “U Can’t Touch This.” He has also been a spokesperson for Starburst and 3M Command Strips.
Bankruptcy and Financial Setbacks
Despite his musical achievements, MC Hammer experienced significant financial difficulties, culminating in a public bankruptcy. His peak earning year was 1991, during which he earned $33 million from record sales, merchandise, endorsements, and touring. Adjusting for inflation, $33 million in 1991 is equivalent to approximately $70 million today. However, his spending habits were equally extravagant. Between 1990 and 1996, he accumulated around $10 million in debt, leading to his bankruptcy filing in 1996.
MC Hammer’s bankruptcy filings revealed a $500,000 personal loan from NFL/MLB star Deion Sanders and another $500,000 owed to a personal lawyer. His expenditures included numerous luxury sports cars, airplanes, a record company, and a lavish estate in Fremont, California. He also spent an estimated $500,000 per month on his entourage during the height of his fame.
As of December 2013, MC Hammer still owed the IRS $800,000 in back taxes and penalties related to income from 1996 and 1997. According to legal documents, a portion of his earnings continues to be directed to the IRS to settle these outstanding obligations.
Hammer Time Mansion
In October 1990, MC Hammer purchased a 12.55-acre property in Fremont, California, for $5 million. Adjusting for inflation, this is equivalent to approximately $11 million today. He demolished the existing 11,000-square-foot mansion and replaced it with a custom-built 40,000-square-foot mansion. The new residence featured amenities such as a bowling alley, Italian marble floors, two swimming pools, multiple tennis courts, a recording studio, computerized thermostats, a media room, four dishwashers, a rehearsal hall, a 17-car garage, and a baseball diamond. The construction costs for the mansion ranged from $12 million to $20 million, equivalent to $25 million to $45 million today.
The mansion significantly strained Hammer’s finances. Following his bankruptcy declaration in 1996, the property was listed for sale at $6.8 million and sold in August 1997 for $5.3 million. It was later sold again in 2012 for $5.4 million.
Personal Life
Today, MC Hammer resides in a ranch-style house in Tracy, California, with his wife Stephanie, whom he married in 1985. They have five children: Bobby, Jeremiah, Sammy, Sarah, and A’keiba, and also raised Hammer’s nephew. He remains active on social media and is involved in consulting and investing in tech companies, dedicating 10 to 12 hours daily to these projects. He is known to post frequently on Twitter.
