Quick Facts of
- First NameNel Ust
- Middle Name Wyclef
- Last NameJean
- Net Worth$10 million
- CareerSinger
- Age53 years
- Height1.8 m
- MotherYolanda Jean
- FatherGesner Jean
- WifeClaudinette Jean
Wyclef Jean, the 3-time Grammy-winning Haitian rapper, musician & actor, famous as the member of group hip hop group Fugees. Turned professional since 1989, Jean got a breakthrough with the debut album Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), certified RIAA: Platinum.
Over the years, Jean has released many famous songs like We Trying to Stay Alive, 911, and Two Wrongs, along with Platinum-certified songs: Gone till November, Cheated (To All the Girls), and Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill).
In the closing ceremony of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, he performed alongside Carlos Santana, Avicii, and Alexandre Pires.
Wyclef Jean Is A Millionaire: Net Worth In 2023 & Earnings?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, 53-year-old Jean owns the net worth of $10 million as of 2023. Indeed, Wyclef’s career as a rapper earned him a hefty sum- thanks to album sales, tours & endorsements.
Moreover, the author of the 2012 memoir Purpose: An Immigrant’s Story, grabbed money aid through appearances in TV: Third Watch (2005), 30 Rock (2009), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2016).
Ever since the release of the debut solo album Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), the Haitian rapper records a total of 9 studio albums, 2 EPs, and 25 singles.
Before going solo, Wyclef Jean worked as a member of the hip hop group Fugees (formed in the 1980s as Tranzlator Crew & changed the name in 1993).
With the group, Jean released hit songs: Fu-Gee-La, Killing Me Softly and Ready or Not; along with 2 studio albums:
- Blunted on Reality (February 1, 1994)
- The Score (February 13, 1996)- 6-time RIAA: Platinum & earned $6 million
Check out his earnings from solo album releases:
- The Carnival (1997)– $3 million
- The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (2000)– $1.5 million
Did you know? With Madeline Nelson, he is the co-founder of the company, Carnival World Music Group; it raised $25 million in capital funding in 2020.
Potential Income From Instagram & YouTube
The 5 ft. 11 inches tall rapper once appeared in Virgin Mobile commercials, however, he is yet to open up about his official endorsements.
An avid user of Instagram (@wyclefjean) with over 584K followers as of June 2020, Wyclef can sum up to $1,742- $2,903 per sponsored post, if he signs a promotional deal.
Moreover, he runs a self-titled YouTube account Wyclef Jean, created on February 12, 2006; it has over 360K subscribers & a total of 237.232 million views as of June 2020.
According to Social Blade, Jean’s YouTube channel grabs him in the range of $1.6K – $25.4K per year.
Also, his VEVO YouTube channel WyclefVEVO (146K subscribers) has the potential to earn $7.8K – $125K annually, of which the rapper collects some percentage.
Solo Career: Albums & Songs
After stints in Fugees, Wyclef went for a solo singing career in 1997 & has since worked with record labels such as Sony Music, Columbia Records & Koch Records.
Here is the list of his solo studio albums:
| Albums | Release Date | Famous Songs |
| Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (became 2-time RIAA: Platinum) | June 24, 1997 | Gone till November; Cheated (To All the Girls) |
| The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book (became RIAA: Platinum) | July 25, 2000 | New Day It Doesn’t Matter 911 |
| Masquerade | June 18, 2002 | Two Wrongs; Pussycat (featuring Tom Jones) |
| The Preacher’s Son | November 4, 2003 | Party to Damascus (featuring Missy Elliott) Industry |
| Welcome to Haiti: Creole 101 | October 5, 2004 | President |
| Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant | December 4, 2007 | Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill) Fast Car |
| From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion | November 10, 2009 | Warrior’s Anthem You Don’t Wanna Go Outside |
| Carnival III: The Fall and Rise of a Refugee | September 15, 2017 | What Happened to Love |
| Wyclef Goes Back To School Volume 1 | March 8, 2019 | – |
Moreover, Wyclef released a compilation album Greatest Hits (2003), along with 2 EPs & 2 mixtapes:
| EPs | Mixtapes |
|---|---|
| If I Were President: My Haitian Experience (2010) | April Showers (2013) |
| J’ouvert (2017) | Wyclef Jean Inspired By.. (2017) |
Miami Home Saw Foreclosure & Legal Judgement: Where Does He Live Now?
Currently, Wyclef Jean lives in Saddle River, New Jersey; he bought the 6,517 sq. ft. property in July 1998 for $1.85 million.
In December 2008, Jean’s to-be-finished house in Miami, Florida, saw foreclosure & sold for $1.6 million, after he was sued for defaulting on his mortgage.
Reportedly, the rapper took a loan of $2 million in 2004, but later the construction stopped.
Despite the sales of the Miami house, Wyclef had a deficiency of $824,000 owed.
Even if he had promised The Cruz Family Irrevocable Trust to pay those amounts in monthly installments (to be finished by 2015), Wyclef allegedly never paid any.
As a result, Wyclef saw a lawsuit against him & in January 2018, he was ordered to pay the trust, a sum of $484,554.90.
Did you know? In mid-2012, Wyclef was claimed to have $2.5 million in back-taxes by IRS & State Tax Authorities.
An Avid Car Collector
Long before his fame through music career, Wyclef worked as a cab driver & now, is the proud owner of luxury rides; most notably, McLaren F1 super-car, one of the fastest cars in the world.
Furthermore, his car collection includes Cadillac El Dorado, Ferrari 360 Spider F1, Mercedes-Benz G-class, Bentley Arnage, Rolls Royce Phantom, & Hummer H2.
Charity Works
Jean founded Yéle Haiti, legally known as Wyclef Jean Foundation & Inc. in 2001. In the wake of the 2010 Haitian earthquake, the organization raised over $1 million in 24 hours over Twitter & donated disaster relief.
Moreover, it provided school funding, meals, and other charitable benefits to citizens of Haiti.
Father Of A Daughter: Who Is Wyclef’s Wife?
Since 1994, Wyclef Jean is in a marital relationship with his wife Marie Claudinette, a designer for Fusha. Together, they are parents to adopted daughter Angelina Claudinelle Jean.
Reportedly, Wyclef & Marie renewed their vows in August 2009.
Previously, he was in a relationship with American singer & rapper Lauryn Hill.
Did you know? On March 19, 2011, the rapper was shot in hand at Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
Short-Bio: Family & Education
Wyclef was born Nel Ust Wyclef Jean on October 17, 1969, in Croix-des-Bouquets, Haiti, to Haitian parents: Gesner Jean and Yolanda Jean.
By the time he was 9, his parents immigrated to Brooklyn, New York, the USA & later settled in New Jersey. There, Jean attended Vailsburg High School & later enrolled briefly at Eastern Nazarene College and Five Towns College.
He went to Berklee College of Music in 2009, to pursue a diploma; Wyclef mentions rapper Bigga Haitian as his influence in the rap industry.
