Doja Cat Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Doja Cat’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $12 million, Doja Cat is known as a rapper, singer, and songwriter. She garnered attention during her teenage years by creating and sharing music on SoundCloud. At just 17, she secured a record deal and subsequently released the albums “Amala,” “Hot Pink,” and “Planet Her,” with the latter two reaching the top ten on the Billboard 200. Recognized for her social media skills, Doja Cat effectively uses platforms like TikTok and YouTube to promote her music.

In February 2022, Forbes released a list identifying the highest-paid individuals in hip-hop. According to that list, Doja Cat reportedly earned $25 million in 2021, attributing this to her music career and expanding international presence, along with partnerships with brands like Pepsi and CandyCrush. However, this figure was not verified.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, Doja Cat has a mother who is a painter and a father who is an actor, composer, and film producer hailing from South Africa. Shortly after she was born, her mother relocated them to New York City. After spending five years there, they moved to Oak Park, California, where Dlamini took lessons in tap, ballet, and jazz. The family returned to Los Angeles, living in a mountaintop ashram and practicing Hinduism. During this period, Dlamini developed a passion for dance, initially focusing on Indian classical dance before transitioning to breakdancing. In high school, she was part of a professional pop-locking troupe across Los Angeles, ultimately deciding to leave school to follow a music career.

Dlamini learned to sing and rap independently through the GarageBand app. After creating her tracks, she uploaded them onto SoundCloud. Her first notable upload, “So High,” attracted the attention of record producer Dr. Luke in 2012, leading to her signing with his label. In the summer of 2014, using the stage name Doja Cat, she released her debut EP, “Purrr!”

“Amala” and Meme Fame

In early 2018, Doja Cat launched the singles “Roll with Us,” “Go to Town,” and “Candy.” These tracks were later featured on her debut studio album, “Amala.” Initially, the album did not receive much attention from critics and failed to chart. However, her viral novelty song “Mooo!” caught greater attention that summer when its music video was uploaded to YouTube. Featuring her imaginative portrayal of wanting to be a cow, the video became a sensation and inspired a popular meme. Following this success, Doja Cat released the singles “Tia Tamera” and “Juicy” in early 2019, with “Juicy” subsequently being remixed, marking Doja Cat’s first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.

“Hot Pink” Breakthrough

Doja Cat achieved significant recognition in November 2019 when she released her second studio album, “Hot Pink.” The album eventually peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and produced hit singles like “Bottom”…

Tracks such as “Bitch,” “Rules,” and “Say So” contributed to Doja Cat’s rise, with the latter reaching number five on the Hot 100, marking her first top-ten single. In 2020, a remix featuring Nicki Minaj propelled it to number one.

Thanks to the success of “Hot Pink,” Doja Cat emerged as a breakout artist in 2020. Billboard acknowledged her by ranking her fifth on its Top New Artists of 2020 list, while Rolling Stone honored her with the top spot on its list of the year’s most significant breakthrough artists. Consequently, she received nominations for three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for “Say So.”

“Planet Her” and MTV Video Music Awards

In April 2021, Doja Cat teased her new album by releasing the single “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA. This song achieved a peak position of number three and remained in the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten for 19 consecutive weeks. A few months later, she followed up with “Need to Know” and “You Right,” ultimately releasing her album “Planet Her,” which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and earned top-three placements in Canada, Australia, and the UK.

After the success of “Planet Her,” Doja Cat took on the role of host at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. During the ceremony, she received nominations for Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Visual Effects. She won the awards for Best Collaboration alongside SZA for “Kiss Me More” and Best Art Direction shared with Saweetie for the video “Best Friend.”

Other Collaborations

Throughout her career, Doja Cat has collaborated with a wide range of musical artists. Notable names include The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, City Girls, Ozuna, Bebe Rexha, and Ariana Grande. In September 2021, she lent her talent to the track “Scoop” from Lil Nas X’s debut studio album “Montero.”

Personal Life and Controversies

Doja Cat typically keeps her personal life private, choosing not to disclose much about her relationships. Nevertheless, she has hinted at her queer sexuality and has been romantically linked to musicians like Jawny and Bree Runway. In early 2021, she purchased a home in Beverly Hills for $2.2 million, later listing it for $2.5 million the following year.

As a prominent figure on social media, Doja Cat has at times stirred controversy due to her comments. In 2018, she faced backlash after the word “faggot” appeared in one of her old tweets, prompting her to issue apologies and remove the tweet. She later encountered criticism for suggesting that COVID-19 was just a “flu” and for engaging in celebrations amid the pandemic.

In July 2022, she became embroiled in a texting privacy scandal involving actor Noah Schnapp and actor Joseph Quinn. After privately messaging Schnapp to connect her with Quinn, Schnapp shared a screenshot of their conversation on TikTok, exposing it to his 26 million followers.