DMX Net Worth
DMX is a rapper with an estimated net worth of -$10 million. Born on December 18, 1970 in Mount Vernon, New York, he rose to fame when he was in his early 20s, and his life has been tumultuous, to say the least. His birth name is Earl Simmons, and he spent much of his life living in group homes and foster care after suffering exceptional abuse at the hands of his birth parents. DMX was only 18 when he began working as a beat boxer, making harmonies and attempting to make himself famous for it. It was another three years before he began working in the rap game in 1991, recording his first demo.
In 1992, Columbia Records signed DMX to their subsidiary label and released his first single. It wasn’t a good one and didn’t garner much – if any – attention from the music world, and his contract was ended and he was released. In 1994, he appeared alongside some of the most famous rappers of today on a hit track called “Time to Build,” which also featured Jay-Z and Ja Rule. He appeared on an LL Cool J mix in 1997 and eventually became famous enough to be asked to appear on a Mase track, as well as an appearance in a Sum 41 music video. However, he just could not seem to launch his own career at that point.
It would be another little while before DMX would be granted his big break with “Ruff Ryders Anthem,” which was part of his first album. The song was not the first single on his new album, but it was the most memorable. It debuted as the number one track on the Billboard 200 chart and sold more than 2 million copies. His second album dropped in 1998 and spent three weeks at number one before being certified platinum four times. This made him the only rapper in history other than Tupac Shakur to ever release two number one albums in the same year.
In 1999, DMX released his third album, which was also the one that sold the most copies, also debuting at number one. He released his fourth album in 2001, which also debuted at number one. His fifth album came in 2003 and once again debuted as number one on the charts, making him the only musical artist in the world to release five consecutive number one albums. He released two more albums with a different label, not reaching number one. He announced in 2009 that while he would continue to produce music, he wanted to be a preacher and would no longer be a rapper.
He was forced to filed for bankruptcy in 2013 after multiple stints in jail and excessive child support payments to the mothers of his 12 children. He’s sold more than 30 million albums, but has stated that he only has around $50,000 in assets after all his child support payments and his excessive lifestyle. Court documents for his bankruptcy place him owing around $10 million in debts to various lenders.
Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images
