| Real Name: | Earl Simmons |
| Birthday: | December 18, 1970 |
| Net Worth | -$10 milion |
| Height: | 177 cm |
| Occupation: | American Rapper, Songwriter |
DMX is the only artist in the history of Soundscan to have his first four albums debut at No.1 on the Billboard Charts. So, with such popularity and success, how can he be in debt? Well, it is all due to child support and legal issues. How wealthy is DMX?
Born Earl Simmons, DMX is an American actor and rapper. He has an asset estimate of negative $10 million. He filed for bankruptcy three times since 2009.
A lot of people do not know that DMX is a devout Christian and reads the Bible every day. He wants to become an ordained pastor. Currently, the rapper is a transitional deacon. Let’s see how he earned his money and how he came into debt.
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How did he earn his money?
DMG was born on 18th December 1970. He had a rough childhood. His parents abused him, and then abandoned him. That led to frequent arrests and growing up in group houses. He had to earn money as a child to eat. Earl Simmons was brought up in the Jehovah’s Witness Faith.
He got a kick-start to his career in 1991. Gabriel Grevenstuk of the Source Magazine praised him. That led to signing a contract with the record label Ruffhouse. DMX released his first single under the label.
In 1994, he released his second single, called “Make a Move”. DMX also appeared on tracks with Jay Z and Geronimo in his debut album. As a DJ and rapper, DMX was an ideal candidate for collaborations. He appeared on tracks by LL Cool J, The LOX, and other artists.
Earl released his first album in 1998 titled It’s Dark and Hell is Hot. The album became an instant sensational hit. He sold more than five million copies and debuted as Number One on Billboard 200 Chart. In the same year, he released his second album, Flesh of my Flesh, Blood of My Blood. He was the first rapper to release two #1 albums in the same year.
He waited for a year to release his third album, And Then There Was X. His single Party Up is still one of the most popular hip-hop songs. It became his first Top Ten Hit on the R&B Charts.
Following his successful albums, he won American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop artist in 2000 and 2001. He even got a Grammy nomination and MTV Music video award.
During his career, DMX appeared in movies. His acting career is not as successful as his music career. But he appeared in a couple of movies, including his autobiography, EARL: The Autobiography of DMX. Some of them are cameo, and some are prominent roles. Some of his movies include Fresh Off the Boat, Exit Wounds, Last Hour, Death Toll, Third Watch, The After Party, Pimp, and more.
DMX Top 5 Albums
With more than 15 million in album sales, you have to wonder how DMX cash flow is negative $10 million. Let’s take a look at his most successful albums.
- It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, released on May 12, 1998, sold more than 4,670,000 copies
- Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, released on December 22, 1998, sold more than 3,400,000 copies
- And Then There Was X, released on December 21, 1999, sold almost 5 million copies
- The Great Depression, released on October 23, 2001, sold almost 2 million copies
- Grand Champ, released on September 16, 2003, sold more than 1,200,000 copies
How He Lost His Money?
DMX has 15 children, with the youngest in 2016. He pays child support for all his children. And that is the reason his cash flow is negative $10 million, instead of positive. He owes more than $1 million in back child support payments. And that is only a part of his debt.
In July 2013, he filed for bankruptcy. He revealed he has about $50,000 in his bank account and owes between $1 and $10 million. He also owes money to different creditors.
Due to his debt, he has restrictions. For example, DMX cannot get a passport. That will be the case until he pays off his debt. The purpose of his bankruptcy is to restructure the debt that will allow him to travel in the future. That way, he can travel overseas and perform where he has a huge fan base.
Besides child support and creditors, DMX was also guilty of tax fraud. He owed more than $1.7 million. He was found guilty in several charges in 2017 and 2018. He had to go to prison. They released him in January 2019.
Net Worth and Earnings in 2020
DMX is a multi-talented entertainer. He can earn money in more ways than most of us realize. He earned his money from different sources.
For example, in 2020, he earns money from social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. He can earn between $20,000 and $300,000 from his social media accounts.
Some estimates say his salary is between $16,000 and $100,000 in 2020. But at the same time, he has a payroll of up to $200,000.
Some recent projects include the soundtrack for the movie Deadpool 2. The movie grossed more than $785 million at the box office.
The good news is he also makes money from endorsement deals. Despite his debt and problems, DMX is still a popular and famous artist. He has lucrative agreements and promotional ads. Companies ask him to boost their sales.
Personal Life and assets
DMX married Tashera Simmons in 1999. The couple had four children. Later on, he found out some of the children are not his. When he got the news that Tashera cheated on him, he filed for divorce in 2013. After 14 years of marriage, their relationship came to an end.
He dated Desiree Lindstrom after the divorce, and he has a son with her.
He had to foreclose his New York home in 2014. His ex-wife withdrew money while he was in jail. At the moment, DMX lives in an apartment in Baltimore. He lives with his 9 dogs and owns a Mercedes Benz CL500.