The Weeknd may have only been in the music scene for more than a decade, but he is already one of the most recognizable faces in the business. His unique music style has set him apart, selling millions of records and winnings several accolades.
Aside from music, The Weeknd also knows where to put his huge money, having it invested in several businesses. How rich does the 32-year-old hitmaker have become with his work and effort?
How Did the Weeknd Begin?
The Weeknd’s real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye. His stage name comes from one event of his life: leaving high school and his family’s house one weekend and never returning.
Three years later, he met the producer Jeremy Rose, who wanted to create a dark R&B and saw him as the perfect fit to start it. He produced a number of songs that the Canadian star rapped on.
He was using the monikers Kin Kane and The Noise at the time. He also began to use Rose’s song on the condition that the producer would receive credits.
Tesfaye then uploaded the songs to YouTube and quickly gained the attention of many, even the likes of Drake.
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His first mixtape, House of Balloons, was then released and it met a massive success. Drake then attended his first concerts and offered him a collaboration.
They toured together, becoming Drake’s opening act. The Weeknd dropped two more mixtapes and several major music labels wanted to sign him on.
The Weeknd’s Much-Awaited Breakthrough
In 2012, The Weeknd toured throughout the U.S. and the U.K. He then worked with Republic Records to establish his own record label, XO, becoming the company’s subsidiary.
The two’s collaboration resulted in the release of the compilation of his first three mixtapes, Trilogy.
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Finally, Rose got the credits he received as some of his songs’ producer. His first studio album, Kiss Land, then came, featuring Drake on several tracks.
He then saw himself collaborating with the likes of Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande. He also started to tour extensively.
His second studio album, Beauty Behind the Madness, was released in 2015 and sold 412,000 copies, reaching the top spot of the U.S. Billboard 200. It turned platinum after selling 1.5 million copies worldwide.
The Weeknd then became the first male artist to hold the top three spots of the Billboard Hot R&B Chart simultaneously with his three singles.
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Come 2016, fans saw the release of his next album, Starboy, featuring Daft Punk. He continuously collaborated with other artists and went on tours.
He also set a Guinness World Record for Most Streamed Album on Spotify in 2017.
In 2018, he released My Dear Melancholy. His first greatest hits album, The Weeknd in Japan, was also out in the same year.
So, how much did he earn all in all? Between June 2017 and June 2018, he made $90 million. Between June 2018 and June 2019, he got $40 million.
Now, The Weeknd is worth $300 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
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