John Legend, on the surface, may seem like a little more than an R&B pretty boy. After all, he was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2019.
But, in reality, he’s a shrewd businessman who has made several individual seed investments. He’s a multi-award-winning artist and performer who is the only Black man, to date, to win the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). And he’s worked hard enough to get, according to Celebrity Net Worth, a $75 million war chest.
But John Legend (born John Roger Stephens in Springfield, OH) takes it all in stride. In fact, he told UPI that were it not for the influence of his church, he wouldn’t have been inspired to sing in the first place.
“The church has been so important to who I am as an artist and as a human being, I felt like it was a no-brainer for me to say yes,” he said. “I knew I would be in good hands and that [Henry Louis Gates] would tell the story in a way that was really honoring the history of the Black church in our country. I was around all this singing and I wanted to be part of it. I think us learning about the resilience and the community that was built in the Black church is an essential part of us understanding how Black folks have made it this far in this country. There were so many forces that were conspiring against us doing so.”
Let’s take a look at all the ways John Legend has proved he’s more than just a pretty face.
Editorial note: The net worth listed in this piece is a speculative estimate drawn from a variety of online sources.
Music Career
Up until the release of “Get Lifted,” his 2004 debut album, he worked extensively with Kanye West and other artists on GOOD Music. He also collaborated with artists like Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Ms. Lauryn Hill. But Legend ultimately broke into the mainstream in 2013 with his smash hit, “All of Me.”
Today, he is one of only 16 recipients — and the only Black man — of the coveted EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). According to Billboard, he’s had three No. 1 hits, eight Top 10 hits, and has sold more than 10 million records in the United States alone.
'The Voice'
In 2019, John Legend joined the cast of NBC’s hit show, “The Voice.”
StyleCaster reports that Legend allegedly brings home $13 million a season for his work as a coach and judge. But even with that, he’s not the highest-paid coach and judge on the show. That title belongs to Ariana Grande, who reportedly brings home $20-$25 million a season from the show.
Real Estate
HouseBeautiful has quite the rundown of John Legend’s real estate investments.
His most recent purchase was in April 2020, when he and his wife, Chrissy Teigen, purchased a West Hollywood mansion for $5.1 million. They also purchased a Beverly Hills mansion in 2016 from its previous owner, Rihanna, for $14.1 million. The couple also owns two penthouses in Manhattan: one that they purchased for $9 million in April 2018, and one they purchased for $8 million just one month later.
They closed out 2020 with the purchase of this Beverly Hills mansion for $17.5 million.
Individual Investments
Believe it or not, John Legend is listed on CrunchBase as an individual investor in at least seven different companies. He’s the co-founder of Bungalow Clothing, and is listed as a seed investor in such companies as Walker & Company (which also counts Ryan Leslie and Andre Iguodala as investors), Thrive Market (which also counts Demi Moore as an investor), and Gobbler (which also counts Jared Leto as an investor).
And, as AfroTech previously reported, he’s also done some investing in the greater good of the country, as well. He, along with other celebrities, gave their time and money to those in need during the pandemic. He partnered with an accelerator program to give second chances to convicted criminals. And he formed a limited partnership with Google Assistant for a cameo.
Bernadette Giacomazzo
Bernadette Giacomazzo is the SEO Manager at Blavity, Inc. She is also a NYC-based editor, writer, photographer, and publicist with a career spanning more than two decades in the entertainment industry. Her work has been featured in People, Teen Vogue, BET, HipHopDX, XXL Magazine, The Source, Vibe, The Los Angeles Times, and more. Giacomazzo is also the author of The Uprising Series and is the CEO of G-Force Marketing & Publicity, which has been featured in The Hollywood Reporter and has obtained film, television, radio, and print placements for blue-chip clients all over the world. She will release "In Living Color: A Cultural History" on Rowman & Littlefield Press in February 2023, and "The Golden Girls: A Cultural History" on Rowman & Littlefield Press in August 2023.
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