Mary J. Blige's Net Worth (Updated 2022) | Wealthy Gorilla

Net Worth:	$20 Million
Age:	54
Born:	January 11, 1971
Gender:	Female
Height:	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Country of Origin:	United States of America
Source of Wealth:	Professional Singer
Last Updated:	Dec 15, 2025

Table of Contents

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• Introduction
• Before Wealth & Fame
• Power Book II: Ghost Salary
• Financial Issues
• Lawsuits
• Real Estate
• Highlights

Introduction

Mary J. Blige is an American professional singer and actress with an estimated net worth of $20 Million.

Before Wealth & Fame

Growing up in the projects in Yonkers, New York, Mary J Blige lived in a tough neighborhood with high poverty and high levels of crime. Her father served in the Vietnam War and was also a jazz musician, but suffered from PTSD and left the family when Blige was still young.

In her teens, Mary dropped out of Roosevelt High School and worked various part-time jobs while pursuing a music career. This included working as a waitress and landing gigs as a background vocal singer. Her first big break came when she recorded a cover of “Caught Up in the Rapture” by Anita Baker at the karaoke booth in a mall. Her stepfather decided to pass on the recording to Uptown Records, which later led to Blige’s first recording contract.

Power Book II: Ghost Salary

Mary J. Blige earned an estimated $400,000 per episode for starring in 50 Cent‘s Power Book II: Ghost. This figure was reported in 2019, a year before the first season aired. Since the show is in its fourth season, it’s unknown whether her salary has remained the same. Assuming a minimum of $400,000, Blige potentially earned $4 million per season, totaling $16 million.

Financial Issues

Blige has encountered various financial struggles throughout her career, which she has previously attributed to her marriage to Martin “Kendu” Isaacs, who was in control of her finances. She has also mentioned that she once “owed hundreds of millions of dollars,” stating, “I owed so much money that I never thought I’d get out of debt.”

These issues came to light in 2013, when the IRS filed a tax lien against the singer for $3.4 million in unpaid income taxes that had been owed on earnings over a three-year period. But this wasn’t the only issue for Blige that year. The State of New Jersey also filed a tax lien against Blige for $901,769.65 in back taxes.

Lawsuits

In addition to her tax liens, which, according to the above, total roughly $4.3 million, Mary J. Blige has also faced several lawsuits.

Signature Bank Lawsuit

This includes a 2012 lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court by Signature Bank, which alleged that Blige and her husband failed to repay a $2.2 million loan from the bank. In the suit, Signature Bank sought to recover the initial $2.2 million loan, plus an additional $58,000 in interest.

That same year, the Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now, Inc. was also sued for failing to repay a $250,000 bank loan. The foundation was accused of misappropriating funds.

Bank of America

Yet another lawsuit was filed against Blige in 2012 by Bank of America, alleging default on a $500,000 loan from the bank. Bank of America loaned the singer the sum in 2005, with zero issues for several years, until Blige allegedly stopped making the repayments in June 2012.

According to the lawsuit, Blige owed Bank of America a total sum of $511,324, which included the initial loan of $500,000 minus seven years’ worth of payments, plus interest.

Real Estate

In August 2001, Mary J. Blige paid $1.95 million for a 6,152-square-foot, six-bedroom, ten-bathroom mansion in Cresskill, New Jersey. She returned the property to the market in 2008, seeking $2.5 million, but the listing was quickly removed. In recent years, Blige has continued trying to sell the home, for as much as $3 million in 2022, but it appears that a sale has not yet occurred. The property taxes currently cost Blige roughly $53,000 annually.

In April 2008, Blige paid $12.3 million for a 12,608-square-foot mansion in Saddle River, New Jersey. This property turned out to be a terrible investment, and after numerous price drops, she eventually sold it for just $5.5 million in April 2020. After considering property taxes and agent fees, she potentially lost between $7.5 million and $8 million on the investment.

Highlights

Here are some of the best highlights of Mary J. Blige’s career:

• Mary Jane (Song, 1994)
• Family Affair (Song, 2001)
• Be Without You (Song, 2005)
• Just Fine (Song, 2007)
• Just Sing (Song, 2020)
• It’s All Love (Song, 2020)