This Is How Much Money Charlamagne Tha God Is Actually Worth
Charlamagne Tha God (whose real name is Lenard Larry McKelvey) is an all-around star in the hip-hop industry. Not only does he cohost The Breakfast Club with DJ Envy and Angela Yee, but he's also a television producer, podcaster, and author. It should come as no surprise that Charlamagne Tha God's net worth matches his immense set of skills and résumé. The radio personality is worth an estimated $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Dubbed by Rolling Stone in 2014 as "hip-hop's Howard Stern," Charlamagne Tha God has forged a reputation in the industry as someone who speaks his mind at all times. It's part of what makes him so popular, but success didn't come easy. Charlamagne had a rough start in life, including multiple stints behind bars in his younger years. "I was hustling, selling dope, carrying guns – stupid s**t," he told Rolling Stone. But he was also hustling on the airwaves at several stations.
"I'd get hired, raise the station's ratings like from No. 14 to No. 2, and then get fired for one reason or another," he told Vulture. Not to be deterred, Tha God figured out "how to sound like me" and become one of the most popular DJs in the world. He's also taken his talents to TV, appearing on Guy Code, Girl Code, Charlamagne & Friends, Wild 'N Out, Uncommon Sense with Charlamagne, and more.
Charlamagne Tha God believes in 'Black Privilege'
Charlamagne Tha God has relied on authenticity — and sometimes controversial opinions — to further his success. In 2017, he released his first book, Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It. He referred to the New York Times bestseller as a "self-help guide to the hood," telling People, "It's a privilege to be black." The multi-hyphenate believes "if you live a true, authentic life — if you're your true authentic self at all times — you can create opportunities for yourself."
That philosophy had a hand in how he developed a moniker that he felt embodied his story. "When I used to hustle, I called myself Charles because I didn't want the people who bought crack from me to know my real name," he told The New York Times in 2013. "And then when I was in night school, I was reading in the history book about Charlemagne, which is French for Charles the Great." He went on to say that he added "Tha God" because he thought it was cool, but choosing to spell the French leader's name with an "a" on the second syllable was perhaps less intentional. "I think I just spelled it wrong," he said. Regardless, Charlamagne Tha God is certainly making history on his own terms today.
Charlamagne Tha God shares his wealth with his communities
Radio personality Charlamagne Tha God is generous when it comes to money, and he never forgets his roots. In fall 2019, he donated $250,000 in scholarships to South Carolina State University's alumni association, according to WLTX. When he shared a photo with the check on Instagram, he wrote: "Always remember investing in an HBCU [historically black college and university] is investing in the future of our people so the next time an HBCU ask for money, open that wallet. It's a blessing to be a blessing! All Praises Due To God!!!" The Ford Family Endowed Scholarship Fund (named after his mother) is designed for Black women in South Carolina who major in English or communications, and for "any sister that wants to be a mental health professional," he wrote on Instagram.
Charlamagne and the rest of The Breakfast Club also helped raise nearly $1 million in 2019 to donate to The Thurgood Marshall College Fund, a scholarship program the radio show hosts year after year. According o his Instagram post, as of Nov. 22, 2019, he's helped raise $1.7 million to put toward scholarships at HBCU schools. This goes to show that while Charlamagne Tha God is worth millions himself, he shares his wealth with deserving people who need the help and inspires his peers to do the same.
Charlamagne Tha God has channeled his success into other endeavors
Charlamagne Tha God may be worth upwards of $10 million, but he knows there are things in life that are much more valuable. When he cleaned up his act before launching his career, he put himself on a path to grow from his mistakes, which has helped him reach success today. In 2018, he told the HBCU 468 podcast: "It's difficult when you are thinking a different way and people are using things from five years ago, six years ago, seven years ago, eight years ago and trying to paint a narrative of you now. If you want to judge for me old things, I'm fine with that. My narrative has completely changed. But you can't compare 20-year-old Charlamagne, 30-year-old Charlamange to 40-year-old Charlamagne, who's a father and husband."
Charlamagne Tha God has placed a lot of focus, energy, and effort into mental health. His second book, Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me, is exactly what it sounds like: his journey with his own mental health and anxiety, which he's very outspoken about. He frequently shares motivational quotes related to mental health on his Instagram alongside his own messages of encouragement to anyone who's struggling. He has been able to channel his own struggles into a fruitful career, focusing on what he knows and how he can help people, which ultimately, has led to incredible wealth and success for him.