The Richest The Voice Judge Might Surprise You
In 2011, the U.S. joined "The Voice" craze with its own branch of the franchise. Originating in Holland, the reality singing competition quickly struck a chord with viewers who enjoyed seeing A-list coaches put in the hot seat while vying for the attention of contestants whom they wanted on their respective teams. Other singing shows have sometimes focused on negativity and harsh criticism, but "The Voice" has kept a positive and inspirational tone many seasons later, with a healthy dose of competition, of course.
"The Voice" has seen some changes throughout the years, with the notable exception of "the self-proclaimed 'King of The Voice,'" Blake Shelton. From the coaches to the mentors and advisors, "The Voice" has become a place where the biggest names in music guide future generations of singers. That big-name recognition doesn't come cheap, with coaches pulling in multi-million dollar paydays. But the massive salaries paid to these reputable stars certainly have a return: A report from AdWeek's AgencySpy found that "The Voice" averaged $222,487 for each 30-second commercial during its fall 2015 season.
Find out how much the coaches on "The Voice" are worth and who has made the most — you might be surprised by where these celebs land.
Jennifer Hudson crosses the pond for The Voice
Jennifer Hudson famously got her start on that other reality singing show. Hudson came in seventh on the third season of "American Idol," but she has continued to prove she's a winner through her monumental career moves. Soon after her stint on "Idol," Hudson was cast as Effie White in "Dreamgirls." Starring opposite Beyoncé, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx, her scene-stealing role earned her a Golden Globe and an Oscar for best supporting actress, which kicked off the star's film career.
Since starring in "Dreamgirls," the star has booked several major film and TV projects and was chosen by Aretha Franklin herself to portray Franklin in "Respect." Hudson told WBUR, "For me, I grew up in a church singing, and it's every church girl, every church singer's dream to want to be like Aretha Franklin." Hudson came from a humble family background, telling the London Evening Standard (via Jennifer Hudson: A Biography of an American Music Idol), "We were poor, but we thought we were rich, because we had everything we needed."
The actor-singer has also performed on Broadway, starring in "The Color Purple," in addition to releasing three solo albums. Hudson resides in her native Chicago in a house estimated to be worth $3 million. She joined "The Voice" franchise in 2017 and was a coach for three seasons on the UK version of the show as well as Seasons 13 and 15 of the American version. Her paycheck for all five seasons is unknown, but her net worth totals an estimated $30 million.
Kelly Clarkson goes from Idol to The Voice
Kelly Clarkson became a household name overnight when she won the first season of "American Idol" in 2002, but it hasn't always been mansions and millions for this star. Raised mostly by a single mother, the family often lived from one paycheck to another, and when Clarkson was in the audition process for "American Idol," her LA apartment had burned down, forcing her to move home and look for work.
Now, the singer is worth millions thanks to her massive hits like "Since U Been Gone," her busy touring schedule, and her multiple TV gigs. In 2019, she played 28 shows in support of her eighth album, "Meaning of Life," and grossed $17.5 million, according to Billboard. This is almost double her previous tours, including 2005's "Breakaway Tour," which grossed $9.7 million, and 2006's "Addicted Tour," which grossed $9.1 million.
Clarkson's TV career has continued to pick up steam. Celebrity Net Worth reported that she makes a salary of $14 million, and her total net worth is estimated at $35 million. The singer became a permanent coach during Season 14 in 2018 and has continued coaching in 2021.
After announcing her divorce from husband and former manager Brandon Blackstock in June 2020, Us Weekly reported further information about Clarkson's finances based on court documents. Her monthly salary was listed as $1.9 million, which comprised her work on "The Voice" and her daytime talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," which debuted in 2019.
Nick Jonas has a grown-up bank account
Nick Jonas joined the cast of "The Voice" in Season 18 and returned for Season 20. Jonas may be one of the youngest coaches in the history of the series, but the actor and singer has a long showbiz history, beginning when he was 8 years old with roles on Broadway.
The youngest Jonas later set his sights on music and TV, creating a massive fanbase with brothers Kevin and Joe (as The Jonas Brothers) and parlaying their following into a successful Disney career with the "Camp Rock" films and the "Jonas" series. Nick Jonas has released five albums with his brothers (including "Jonas L.A."), four solo albums, and one album from his "Nick Jonas and The Administration" project. Nick's relationship with Joe and Kevin helped him channel his competitive spirit for "The Voice." "When you grow up with brothers, it's part of your DNA," he told "Today."
In addition to his music, film, and TV career, Jonas has also had several sponsorship deals. With John Varvatos and the Stoli Group, he's a co-founder of Villa One tequila. The fashionable singer also has a clothing line with Varvatos. Jonas is worth a cool $70 million, which Celebrity Net Worth reports is actually a "combined" figure with that of his wife, actor Priyanka Chopra. With that kind of coin in the bank, it's no surprise the pair was able to plunk down on a $20 million Los Angeles home one year after they were married, per The Wall Street Journal.
John Legend brings his EGOT power to The Voice
In 2016, EGOT winner John Legend joined "The Voice" to lend his skills to the next generation of musicians. Combined with the wealth of his wife, influencer, TV host, and cookbook author Chrissy Teigen, John Legend has a net worth of $75 million, with OK! claiming the established judge makes "$13 million per season" on "The Voice."
Since releasing his 2014 debut album, "Get Lifted," Legend released six more solo albums through 2020, appeared on the albums of several notable artists, and logged a handful of acting credits. He's even made savvy business deals with companies such as Sperry and Stella Artois. Although it seems like everything Legend touches turns to gold, the musician assures fans it hasn't always been this way. "I've been unsuccessful in my career, you just didn't know about it because I wasn't famous yet," he told Khan Academy in 2014. "I was trying to get a record deal for six years, and I kept getting turned down." Legend said even the label that eventually signed him initially turned him down. "You have to keep on through all those 'nos' until you get to 'yes,'" he added.
Along with Teigen, Legend owns several luxury homes in California and New York, including two New York penthouses that are each worth nearly $10 million, a $5.1 million West Hollywood house, and a $17.5 million home in Beverly Hills.
Blake Shelton proves kings wear denim
Blake Shelton may have kept his look casual in jeans for his 2021 wedding to fellow "The Voice" coach Gwen Stefani, but it wasn't because the cowboy couldn't afford a tux. As the OG coach on "The Voice," Shelton has been with the reality show for 20 seasons, which has helped his net worth hit $100 million. Yee-haw, indeed.
Shelton makes a supposed $13 million per season on "The Voice" (as reported by The Wrap), which can buy a lot of denim. His career as one of the biggest country artists of the 21st century has led to 10 million (or more) albums sold. Shelton also owns a restaurant and music venue chain called Ole Red and has a handful of sponsorship deals, including one with Smithworks Vodka.
Shelton may be worth millions now, but the singer remembers the early days of his career that often included playing for free. "I struggled for so long to get by. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't trade those times for anything," he told CMT News in 2021. "Those days when the big struggle was, 'Man, do I pay my rent or my electric bill, or do I just say screw it and go buy some beer?' You had to decide because you didn't have enough to go around."
Shelton has shared pictures from his and Gwen Stefani's ranch in Oklahoma, which takes up more than 1300 acres (their home itself is approximately 15,000 square feet!). They also purchased a $13.2 million mansion in the San Fernando Valley area of California.
Adam Levine left with a big paycheck
Adam Levine and Blake Shelton were the two longest-running coaches on "The Voice" until the Maroon 5 frontman decided to part ways with the reality singing competition after Season 16. Levine's time in the big red chair likely had an impact on his net worth, which is estimated to be $120 million.
The musician has also made oodles of cash with his band. Since the release of their 2002 debut album, "Songs About Jane," Maroon 5 has claimed a piece of the pop culture pie. Billboard reported in 2015 that the group's "Maroon V Tour" grossed an impressive $71.1 million, a figure they reached before completing every leg of their world tour. In 2016, Forbes put the band's earnings at $33.5 million, which did not include Levine's paycheck from "The Voice."
Even with his success, Levine isn't ready to call himself a mogul, instead telling Men's Journal, "I take a lot of opportunities that come my way." In addition to his work in front of the mic, Levine owns 222 Records and 222 Productions, with the latter behind the TV shows "Sugar" and "Songland." He also got into the fragrance business in 2013 and has sold cologne for men and women. He has made some impressive real estate deals, as well. In 2019, the New York Post reported that the singer sold his Beverly Hills mansion to Ellen DeGeneres and Portia deRossi for $47 million. The home featured five bedrooms and nine bathrooms.
Gwen Stefani is a rich woman
Gwen Stefani is definitely a rich girl. The No Doubt frontwoman, solo artist, fashion designer, and "The Voice" coach has amassed great wealth since releasing her breakthrough "Tragic Kingdom" album in 1995 with her band. Stefani's writing and vocals helped No Doubt excel. As a solo artist, she has released four albums, and her 2005 "Harajuku Lovers Tour" grossed $22 million.
In 2003, Stefani launched her high-end streetwear clothing line L.A.M.B., which included accessories like shoes, fragrances, and purses. The line has since shifted to eyewear, and Stefani has appeared in some of the brand's promotional images.
While fans are used to seeing Stefani as a fashion and music icon, husband Blake Shelton recalls his first impression of the Grammy winner as a more down-to-earth person. "The thing I remember saying about her when people would ask was, 'Oh my God, that girl is unbelievable. She drives a minivan to work!' I thought rock stars drove Rolls-Royces, and Gwen was driving a black minivan," Shelton told People (via Yahoo! Money).
Gwen Stefani has coached on Seasons 7, 9, 12,17, and 19 of "The Voice." While her official "The Voice" salary is undisclosed, we're going to assume there are a lot of zeroes involved. After all, her net worth is estimated to be $150 million.
Alicia Keys' bank account is on fire
It's not surprising that Alicia Keys has an estimated fortune of $150 million. She joined "The Voice" in Season 11 and coached on Seasons 12, 14 and 15. The singer burst onto the music scene in 2001 with her debut album, "Songs In A Minor," which sold more than 16 million copies and earned Keys an incredible five Grammys. Keys' 2004 "Ladies First Tour" with Beyoncé and Missy Elliott grossed $19 million (per a Rolling Stone archived report). Her success has been consistent throughout her career.
In 2019, Keys and producer-rapper husband, Swiss Beatz, traded up from their $3.1 million Arizona home to a $20.8 million dollar futurist cliffside La Jolla mansion that looks the combined fever dream of Tony Stark and Frank Lloyd Wright. Keys is also a published author and entrepreneur. In 2020, after years of glowing on TV without makeup, Keys teamed up with e.l.f. Beauty to launch her Keys Soulcare beauty and skincare line.
Keys discussed the struggle she endured while growing up in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of New York with her mother. She told The Guardian, "I am that person. ... who was supposed to end up being a [sex worker], a young mother at 16 years old, or addicted to drugs." She continued, "A dream is a luxury, if you have to pay all these bills and put food on the table for your kids. That is why I understand so much about what it means to have the strength to follow your own path. All the songs I've ever written that have been considered empowering or uplifting, I've written them at my lowest point. Because I needed to remind myself: don't forget that."
Miley Cyrus' success can't be tamed
Miley Cyrus "just being Miley" helped the former child star make the difficult transition to adulthood. She famously got her start in the industry when she was cast as the star of Disney's "Hannah Montana." Along with the series, Cyrus starred in "Hannah Montana: The Movie," which made over $155 million at the box office. An impressive discography followed, and the artist has allowed her past to propel her forward.
Her time with the pop star character impacted her artistic approach years later. "The concept of the show is that when I would alter my image and I would put on a wig and I would put on sparkly things ... I held a new value ... It did translate into my real life," Cyrus told Kevin Hart on "Hart to Heart." "On that kind of psychological level, I guess that's kind of why originally when I first started doing solo projects as my own identity, I'd almost create kind of alter-egos of myself." She explained that "Hannah Montana's" 15-year anniversary inspired her to consider "what [she] wanted to do with [her]" next 15 years.
Cyrus joined "The Voice" for Season 11 in 2016 and returned for Season 13. The "Midnight Sky" singer, who was the youngest coach to ever appear on the series at the time, likely earned a reasonable sum on the show. She can also earn money with social media revenue, which runs companies over $800,000 per post. Her estimated net worth is $160 million.
Christina Aguilera doesn't need a genie in a bottle
After an impressive "Star Search" appearance, Christina Aguilera was cast in the relaunch of "The Mickey Mouse Club" and performed next to Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Ryan Gosling. Aguilera has made major bank from her pipes. Her 2007 "Back to Basics Tour" reportedly pulled in $90 million, and Billboard estimated in 2019 that Aguilera had sold 1.5 million concert tickets throughout her career. The singer's work has included some notable film roles, most famously opposite Cher in "Burlesque." She's also enjoyed sponsorship deals throughout her career with companies including Coke and Sears.
Aguilera was there for the early years of "The Voice," sharing the dais with Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, and CeeLo Green for the first three seasons and later returning for Seasons 5, 8 and 10. The Wrap reported that Aguilera made $17 million for Season 3, with her pay going down to $12.5 million in Season 5. Even with the pay decrease, Aguilera has an impressive estimated net worth of $160 million.
One of her favorite ways to spend her earnings is on pieces by Banksy, a British graffiti artist. "I got in with him early — I'm proud of that," Aguilera told Women's Health. The singer has purchased numerous works from Banksy's catalogue. She pointed out a child releasing "a red heart-shaped balloon" and said, "It says so much about how I try to live my life. Just surrendering and knowing that I've done my best."
Usher slides into the millionaire club
From singing and dancing to acting and producing, there's not much that Usher can't make look effortless. The multi-talented entertainer did a one-two-step into coach CeeLo Green's chair on "The Voice" in Season 4 and returned for Season 6, reportedly making $7 million for his first season, per The Hollywood Reporter. Usher has since returned to the show as a mentor and advisor, and it's no surprise that new artists want to work with the Grammy winner, who helped find and catapult Justin Bieber to superstardom. Along with Bieber's longtime manager Scooter Braun, Usher is the founder of RBMG Records, which has released all of Bieber's studio albums.
Selling more than 75 million records in his own solo career and amassing an estimated $180 million net worth, Usher is considered one of the all-time bestselling artists in music. The star has been involved in big-ticket sponsorship deals with MasterCard and Samsung, and in 2005, he became a stakeholder in the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.
Those moves are some of the many smart decisions in Usher's long career, which started when he was still a teen. When Billboard asked Usher about his "veteran status" in a seemingly youthful music industry, the singer responded, "It's not easy to sustain a career, but there are artists who have managed to do it and have been here for some time ... I just hope I'm in that same category. But it hasn't changed my ability to embrace new artists coming up ... I definitely understand the reality — and the idea — of embracing [the] new."
Ariana Grande has made it to the top
Ariana Grande joined the cast of "The Voice" in 2021, and she's already making history as the show's highest-paid coach at the time of this writing. Grande's commitment to "The Voice" is earning the singer somewhere between $20 to $25 million, according to OK!. That puts her far ahead of her fellow coaches, and the appointment contributes to the singer's net worth of an estimated $180 million.
Grande began her career on TV as a series regular on Nickelodeon's "Victorious," which was a stepping stone for the star to reach her musical dreams. "I never really saw myself as an actress," she told Vogue. "But when I started talking about wanting to make R&B music at 14, they were like, 'What the f*** would you sing about? This is never going to work. You should audition for some TV shows and build yourself a platform and get yourself out there, because you're funny and cute and you should do that until you're old enough to make the music you want to make.'"
Grande eventually broke out of the child star mold and set her sights on a solo career in music. The Grammy winner has amassed millions of fans with her six albums, and her "Sweetener World Tour" made a stunning $146.4 million. As one of the most followed people on social media, she also commands big money from companies who want her to post ads, with Hopper HQ putting her at $1.5 million per post.
Pharrell Williams is a jack of all trades
Clap along if you're in the $200 million club. Pharrell Williams' net worth is the result of years of hard work and one of the most varied portfolios in the entertainment industry.
Pharrell joined "The Voice" for Season 7 in 2014 and remained on the show until Season 10. It's unclear exactly how much he made during his time in the red chair, but the prolific producer has also been charting hits since the late '90s. Pharrell's many credits include "I'm A Slave 4 U" by Britney Spears, "Sing" with Ed Sheeran, and hits of his own, such as "Happy" and "Blurred Lines."
The Grammy winner is a fashion designer who launched Ice Cream footwear and Billionaire Boys Club. He's also worked with Chanel and Adidas on limited edition lines. As for how Pharrell spends his millions, the musician owns a home in Miami valued at $30 million and a house in the Hollywood Hills that is worth $7 million. He still makes time for his hometown of Virginia Beach, where he's staged festivals to help promote the local art scene and drum up business for shops. "This is a community festival," he told Rolling Stone in 2019 of the Something In The Water festival. "I wanted everyone — corporations, artists, community leaders, the City Council — to participate and express themselves." Pusha T, Travis Scott, and Anderson.Paak were among the musical artists who participated.
Shakira's hips and checkbook don't lie
Shakira was only a coach on "The Voice" for Seasons 4 and 6, but that hasn't stopped the Colombian pop star from hitting the number one spot on our list with a net worth of $300 million. The singer earned $12 million for her first season, per The Hollywood Reporter, and though it's unclear how much she made for Season 6, we do know she's earned plenty of dough in other ventures.
The Grammy winner signed her first record deal at only 13 and has gone on to sell about 75 million albums. Billboard reported that Shakira's "Oral Fixation Tour" made an incredible $100 million. In 2008, she signed a $300 million, 10-year deal with Live Nation. Let's not forget her sponsorship deals with Pepsi and that little thing called "performing at the Super Bowl." When asked on "60 Minutes" how she knew she'd make it in the United States, the star replied, "Destiny? I had no doubt in my mind. I had visions of what was gonna happen to me since a very early age."
Not only has Shakira amassed a fortune on her own, but her partner, professional soccer player Gerard Piqué, is also well-off. As of 2021, Piqué had signed on to play for FC Barcelona until 2024 with an annual salary of £10,900,000 (about $15 million).