Janet Jackson is an American singer, actress, producer, and choreographer. As the youngest child of the renowned Jackson family, she grew up in a musical environment that paved the way for her success. She has released 16 albums and sold over 100 million copies. Her tours have earned over $250 million in box office sales. To find out what makes her one of the most cherished and admired figures of our day, let’s explore Janet Jackson Net Worth, early years, career, personal life, controversies, awards and achievements.

Janet Jackson Net Worth

Early years

Janet Damita Jo Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana on May 16, 1966. She is the youngest of 10 children, and her brothers form the renowned Jackson 5.

She was born into a working-class African-American family that lived in a two-bedroom home on Jackson Street. Her mother, Katherine Esther Jackson, raised her with her nine siblings, including the renowned Jackson 5. After the Jackson 5 got a record deal with Motown in March 1969, the family relocated to Los Angeles’ Encino neighborhood.

Career

Janet Jackson’s career in entertainment began at an early age, when she performed with her brothers in the Jackson 5 and then with her sisters at the MGM Casino in Las Vegas. She initially wanted to be a horse racing jockey or an entertainment lawyer, but her family’s background affected her decision to pursue a career in entertainment. Her acting debut came in 1976 on the variety show “The Jacksons,” and she rose to prominence with her role as Penny Gordon Woods on “Good Times” in 1977. She continued her acting career by appearing in “A New Kind of Family,” “Diff’rent Strokes,” and “Fame.”

At the age of fifteen, Jackson signed with A&M Records and released her debut album “Janet Jackson” in 1982, which was somewhat successful. Her second album, “Dream Street,” was released in 1984 but again had minimal economic success. Jackson took charge of her career in 1986, breaking away from her family’s management and working with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Together, they produced her breakthrough album “Control,” which was released in February 1986. “Control” topped the Billboard 200 and was certified fivefold Platinum by the RIAA, with over 10 million copies sold worldwide. The album included singles such as “What Have You Done for Me Lately,” “Nasty,” “When I Think of You,” and “Control,” with “When I Think of You” earning her first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

1986-1991

“Control” was praised for its adult themes of empowerment and its unique combination of dance-pop, industrial music, hip-hop, and R&B, which influenced the new jack swing genre. The album’s music videos, choreographed by Paula Abdul, helped to shape MTV’s programming and establish Jackson as a major pop figure alongside Madonna and Michael Jackson. “Control” gained her several prizes, including six Billboard prizes and three Grammy nominations, establishing her as a prominent performer in her own right.

In September 1989, Janet Jackson released her fourth album, Rhythm Nation 1814. Jackson deviated from her previous album Control, incorporating socially aware songs influenced by societal challenges. The album was commercially successful, topping the Billboard 200, getting certified sixfold Platinum by the RIAA, and selling more than 12 million copies worldwide. Rhythm Nation 1814 generated seven top-five songs, a record at the time, and Jackson’s music video for “Rhythm Nation” became legendary, cementing his status as a fashion icon.

Jackson’s Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990 was the most profitable inaugural tour in history, and she utilised the revenues to fund educational scholarships. Her contributions were recognised with various awards, including a plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and fifteen Billboard Awards. Following the success of Rhythm Nation 1814, Jackson secured a record-breaking contract with Virgin Records in 1991, becoming the highest-paid music artist at the time.

1993-1997

In 1993, Jackson’s fifth album, Janet., debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and sold over 14 million copies worldwide. The album included a wide range of musical styles, including songs like “That’s the Way Love Goes” and “Again.” Jackson made her cinematic debut that year in Poetic Justice, and her performance was appreciated despite the film’s divided reviews.

Jackson continued to shatter records and impact pop culture, as seen by her duet with Michael Jackson on “Scream” in 1995, which debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and included the most costly music video ever filmed. Her compilation CD Design of a Decade: 1986-1996 was also a hit, bolstering her reputation in the music industry. In 1996, she extended her contract with Virgin Records for $80 million, becoming the highest-paid music artist in history at the time.

Janet Jackson’s sixth album, The Velvet Rope, released in October 1997, detailed her experiences with severe depression and anxiety. Jackson’s record, which included red hair, piercings, and tattoos, addressed themes of belonging, societal concerns such as homophobia and domestic abuse, as well as graphic sexual material. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and was certified triple Platinum, selling more than eight million copies worldwide.

The lead track, “Got ’til It’s Gone,” which features Joni Mitchell and Q-Tip, received a Grammy Award. “Together Again” was her ninth number-one smash on the Billboard Hot 100 and one of her best-selling songs ever. Jackson’s tour to promote the album was hailed for its theatricality and vocal talents, and the HBO special The Velvet Rope: Live at Madison Square Garden won an Emmy Award.

1998-2003

Jackson’s great career continued with collaborations on popular songs like as “Luv Me, Luv Me” with Shaggy, “Girlfriend/Boyfriend” with Blackstreet, and “What’s It Gonna Be?!” with Busta Rhymes. She got the Legend Award at the 1999 World Music Awards and was recognised by Billboard as the decade’s second most successful singer.

In 2000, Jackson featured in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, which grossed $170 million worldwide. Her soundtrack single “Doesn’t Really Matter” earned her seventh No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. Jackson’s seventh album, All for You, was released in 2001 after she was named MTV’s first “MTV Icon” and received the American Music Awards’ Award of Merit. The album opened at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 605,000 copies in its first week, and included the smash single “All for You,” which set airplay records and topped the Hot 100 for seven weeks.

Jackson’s All for You Tour was televised on HBO, attracting twelve million people and receiving high accolades for its theatrics. She donated the revenues from the tour to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. The media focused on her rumoured romances with Justin Timberlake, Matthew McConaughey, and Jermaine Dupri. Jackson teamed up with Timberlake on “(And She Said) Take Me Now” and Beenie Man on “Feel It Boy.”

2004-2008

Janet Jackson’s 2004 Super Bowl halftime concert became memorable because Justin Timberlake accidently exposed her breast on live television, sparking international controversy known as “nipple gate.” Both musicians apologised, but the event resulted in significant penalties and blacklisting from radio and music networks. Despite this setback, Jackson produced her eighth studio album, Damita Jo, which garnered mixed reviews and had difficulties owing to the blacklist.

The incident had a huge influence on internet culture, prompting more searches and encouraging services such as YouTube. Jackson’s ninth album, 20 Y.O., released in 2006, marking the 20th anniversary of her debut album Control. Despite issues with airtime and critical acclaim, the album went platinum and received a Grammy nomination. Jackson dabbled in acting, appearing in the hit film “Why Did I Get Married?.”

After her contract with Virgin Records expired, Janet Jackson joined with Island Records and released her tenth studio album, Discipline, in February 2008, debuting at number one. Despite radio blacklisting, the album’s first track “Feedback” had moderate chart success. Jackson was recognised for her supporting performance in a film and earned the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards for her activism for equal rights in the LGBTQ+ community. She embarked on the Rock Witchu Tour, but left Island Records owing to discontent with the album’s promotion.

2009-2015

Jackson’s brother Michael died in June 2009, thus she turned to work to deal with her loss. She broke her engagement with Jermaine Dupri and paid respect to Michael during the MTV Video Music Awards. Later that year, she released the hits collection Number Ones, which included her 19th number one single on the Hot Dance Club Songs list. She also chaired amfAR’s inaugural gala, which raised $1.1 million for AIDS research.

From 2010 until 2014, Jackson maintained her diverse career. She appeared in films, including the sequels to Why Did I Get Married? and For Coloured Girls, and went on the Number Ones, Up Close and Personal tour. Jackson also published a self-help book called True You: A Journey to Finding and Loving Yourself, which became a bestseller, and acquired a film development contract with Lions Gate Entertainment. She also supported fashion lines, participated in philanthropic activities, and promoted Nutrisystem’s weight-loss programme while donating millions of dollars in food to the hungry.

On May 16, 2015, Janet Jackson announced a new album and a worldwide concert tour. She announced that she would release her next album in the autumn of 2015 under her own record label, Rhythm Nation, and distribute it through BMG Rights Management. This decision positioned her as one of the few African-American female performers to operate a record company. On June 15, 2015, she announced the North American leg of her Unbreakable World Tour, and the lead song “No Sleeep” became available on June 22. Unbreakable, the album, received excellent reviews upon its release on October 2, 2015, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 list.

2016

Jackson revealed in April 2016 that she was “planning her family” with husband Wissam Al Mana, postponing her tour. However, in May 2017, she announced the restart of her tour, now known as the State of the World Tour, which would focus on socially aware topics. The tour got favourable reviews, with special acclaim for Jackson’s post-pregnancy physical health and the inclusion of socially important topics in the concert set list.

Throughout 2018 and 2019, Jackson received several awards, including the Billboard Icon Award and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She also released new songs, including the tune “Made for Now” featuring Daddy Yankee. Jackson began on a Las Vegas residency dubbed Metamorphosis in 2019, performing concerts to commemorate the 30th anniversary of her Rhythm Nation album.

The COVID-19 pandemic postponed Jackson’s Black Diamond World Tour and the release of her twelfth studio album, Black Diamond, which were both scheduled for 2020. However, she stayed busy, headlining the 2022 Essence Music Festival and announced her Together Again Tour, which will begin in April 2023. In addition, a two-part documentary on her life aired in January 2022, with a follow-up series expected in March 2023.

Her discography includes: “Janet Jackson (1982),”  “Dream Street (1984),” “Control (1986),” “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 (1989),” “Janet (1993),” “The Velvet Rope (1997),” “All for You (2001),” “Damita Jo (2004),” “20 Y.O. (2006),” “Discipline (2008),” and  “Unbreakable (2015).”

Personal life

Janet eloped with James DeBarge in 1984 but annulled the marriage in 1985. In 1991, she married René Elizondo Jr. but the marriage ended in 2003.

Janet remarried again to Wissam Al Mana in 2012. The couple had a son Eissa before their seperation in 2017.

Controversies

The infamous “wardrobe malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show aroused considerable controversy and briefly overshadowed her musical accomplishments.
The episode sparked a media frenzy, and Jackson received retaliation, including the removal of her music and videos from Viacom platforms. Interestingly, this wardrobe disaster unintentionally gave rise to YouTube.

Awards and Achievements

Jackson has won six Grammy Awards, 11 Billboard Music Awards, eight Guinness World Records entries, 23 BMI Pop Awards. She received a a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Frequently Asked Questions About Janet Jackson

1. When was Janet Jackson born?

Jackson was born on May 16, 1966.

2. How old is Janet Jackson?

Jackson is currently 58 years old.

3. Where was Janet Jackson born?

Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, United States.

4. What notable album propelled Janet Jackson to international stardom?

Jackson’s album “Control” (1986) catapulted her to international stardom.

5. What is Janet Jackson’s net worth?

Janet Jackson’s net worth is around $180 million.

6. What movie did Janet Jackson star in alongside Tupac Shakur?

Jackson starred in the movie “Poetic Justice” (1993) alongside the late rapper Tupac Shakur.

7. How many Grammy Awards has Janet Jackson won?

Jackson has won a total of five Grammy Awards for her outstanding contributions to music.

8.  How many albums has Janet Jackson released?

Jackson has released 11 albums.

9. Did Janet Jackson marry?

Janet married three times.

10. Does Janet Jackson have any children?

Janet has one son, Eissa, born in 2017.

11. What controversial incident is associated with Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl halftime show performance?

The infamous “wardrobe malfunction” during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show sparked widespread debate and momentarily overshadowed her musical achievements. Interestingly, this wardrobe malfunction inadvertently gave birth to YouTube.

Conclusion

Jackson is a talented and influential artist who has made significant contributions to the music industry. She has continued to thrive and inspire new generations of artists and fans alike. Her legacy as a music icon, actress, and choreographer is undeniable.