What is Doja Cat's Net Worth?
Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, is a rapper, singer, and songwriter with a net worth of $12 million. She initially gained fame as a teenager by releasing music on SoundCloud. Signing a record deal at 17, she continued to make waves with albums like "Amala," "Hot Pink," and "Planet Her," the latter two reaching the Billboard 200's top ten. Doja Cat is also known for her effective social media strategies, especially on TikTok and YouTube.
In February 2022, Forbes listed Doja Cat among the highest-paid people in hip-hop, claiming she earned $25 million in 2021 through her music career and partnerships with brands like Pepsi and CandyCrush. However, this number was not verified.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, Doja Cat's mother is a painter, and her father is a South African actor, composer, and film producer. After moving to New York City shortly after her birth, Doja Cat and her mother relocated to Oak Park, California, where Doja took dance lessons. The family later moved to Los Angeles and practiced Hinduism in an ashram. Her love for dance evolved into a passion for breakdancing, and she competed in pop-locking competitions in Los Angeles during high school, eventually dropping out to pursue music.
Using the GarageBand application, Doja Cat taught herself to sing and rap, uploading her music to SoundCloud. Her song "So High" caught the attention of record producer Dr. Luke in 2012, leading to her signing with his label and releasing her debut EP, "Purrr!" in the summer of 2014.
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"Amala" and Meme Fame
In early 2018, Doja Cat released the singles "Roll with Us," "Go to Town," and "Candy," which were included in her debut album "Amala." Initially overlooked, the album gained attention when she released the music video for "Mooo!" The novelty video, where Doja fantasizes about being a cow, went viral, turning into a popular meme. Following this success, she released the singles "Tia Tamera" and "Juicy" in early 2019, the latter becoming her first entry on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Hot Pink" Breakthrough
Doja Cat's breakthrough came in November 2019 with her second album, "Hot Pink," peaking at number nine on the Billboard 200. It included hits like "Bottom Bitch," "Rules," and "Say So." The "Say So" remix featuring Nicki Minaj reached number one on the Hot 100. Billboard named her one of 2020's Top New Artists, while Rolling Stone acknowledged her as the year's biggest breakthrough artist. She also received three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for "Say So."
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"Planet Her" and MTV Video Music Awards
In April 2021, Doja Cat released the single "Kiss Me More" featuring SZA, which spent 19 weeks in the Billboard Hot 100 top ten, peaking at number three. Subsequent singles "Need to Know" and "You Right" preceded her album "Planet Her," debuting at number two on the Billboard 200. The album achieved top-three rankings in Canada, Australia, and the UK.
Following "Planet Her's" success, Doja Cat hosted the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards, earning nominations for Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Visual Effects. She won Best Collaboration with SZA for "Kiss Me More" and Best Art Direction with Saweetie for "Best Friend."
Other Collaborations
Doja Cat has collaborated with many artists, featuring on tracks by The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, City Girls, Ozuna, Bebe Rexha, and Ariana Grande. In September 2021, she was featured on the song "Scoop" from Lil Nas X's debut studio album "Montero."
Personal Life and Controversies
Although private about her personal life, Doja Cat has hinted at her queer sexuality and was seen dating musicians Jawny and Bree Runway. In 2021, she bought a $2.2 million home in Beverly Hills and listed it for $2.5 million the following year.
Doja Cat's active social media presence has occasionally sparked controversy. In 2018, she apologized for using a homophobic slur in a past tweet. She later faced backlash for downplaying COVID-19 and attending gatherings during the pandemic.
In July 2022, Doja Cat was involved in a texting privacy breach scandal with actor Noah Schnapp over actor Joseph Quinn. Schnapp posted a private message where Doja Cat asked to be connected with Quinn, sharing the exchange with his 26 million TikTok followers.
