Bow Wow Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Bow Wow’s Net Worth?

Bow Wow, an American rapper and actor, has a net worth totaling $1.5 million. His rise to fame in the music industry began at the age of 13 with the release of his debut album, where he was known as “Lil’ Bow Wow.” Following his musical success, Bow Wow expanded his career into acting.

Legal and Financial Issues

In July 2011, Bow Wow disclosed that he had a child named Shai with his former girlfriend, a claim he had previously denied for months. During a court proceeding in October 2012 concerning child support for Shai, Bow Wow informed the judge about his modest earnings of $4,000 per month and only $1,500 in his checking account at that moment. Subsequently, he was mandated to pay $11,500 in arrears for child support, along with $3,000 monthly from then on.

In the preceding year, TMZ uncovered that Bow Wow had outstanding debts exceeding $90,000 owed to the IRS. Additionally, the outlet revealed that he had seen both a $200,000 Bentley and a $220,000 Ferrari repossessed by various creditors in recent years. Furthermore, it was stated that Bow Wow still owed $280,000 to a luxury car leasing service.

Early Life

Born as Shad Gregory Moss on March 9th, 1987, in Columbus, Ohio, Bow Wow began crafting his own raps by the age of six, adopting the name “Kid Gangsta.” Influences during Moss’s youth included groups like N.W.A. It was around this time that he was given the opportunity to perform in Los Angeles. Snoop Dogg was present that day and admired the young rapper’s talent. Following the concert, the two met, leading Snoop Dogg to coin Moss as “Lil’ Bow Wow,” a moniker that remained with him.

Career

At that time, Snoop Dogg had yet to release his debut album but invited Lil’ Bow Wow to contribute to one of his tracks. “Doggystyle,” which launched in late 1993, featured Lil’ Bow Wow on “Gz and Hustlas,” marking his first encounter with professional music. Later that same year, he appeared on “The Arsenio Hall Show,” enhancing his visibility in the industry.

Five years later, he crossed paths with Jermaine Dupri, a producer committed to developing the 11-year-old into a polished artist. After creating a track included in the “Wild Wild West” soundtrack in 1999, Lil’ Bow Wow was set to release his debut album at the age of 13 in 2000. Titled “Beware of the Dog,” the album featured hits like “Bounce With Me” and “Bow Wow,” the latter including Snoop Dogg, who helped propel the song to the top of the rap charts, strengthening their ongoing partnership. The album performed phenomenally for a debut, selling over 2 million copies within just a year and exceeding 3 million in total, thus earning its platinum status.

In 2002, Lil’ Bow Wow made two pivotal changes: he rebranded himself as “Bow Wow” and released his second album, “Doggy Bag.” When questioned about his name change, Bow Wow clarified that the “Lil” prefix was common among many rappers, and he felt he was maturing. “Doggy Bag” achieved considerable success, peaking at number eleven on the Billboard Top 200 and receiving platinum certification again. The album included tracks such as “Take Ya Home.” Another significant song from Bow Wow in 2002 was “Basketball,” featured on the “Like Mike” soundtrack.

Released in 2003, Bow Wow’s album “Unleashed” featured collaborations with artists such as Birdman, Mario, and Amerie. While reviews were mixed, the album reached a peak position of number three on the Billboard Top 200 and sold 129,000 units during its initial week. Following that, his next album, “Wanted,” came out in 2005, also boasting several collaborative efforts, including one with Omarion. Similar to “Unleashed,” “Wanted” debuted at number three on the Billboard Top 200 and achieved first-week sales of 120,000 units. Bow Wow released “The Price of Fame” in 2006, which featured Chris Brown and T-Pain, debuting at number six and selling an impressive 262,000 copies in its opening week.

In 2007, after collaborating with Omarion on a joint album, Bow Wow launched “New Jack City II” in 2009. Notably, this was the first album of his to carry a parental advisory label due to its themes surrounding drug use. That same year, he joined Cash Money Records, marking the beginning of a challenging phase in his career. Despite appearing on various artists’ tracks and releasing mixtapes over the subsequent years, he frequently announced and postponed his next album, which ultimately never materialized. Eventually, Bow Wow reverted to his birth name, Shad Moss, and parted ways with Cash Money Records without releasing any music under their banner.

Later signing with P. Diddy’s Bad Boy Records, Bow Wow declared his intention to retire from rap following the release of one final album, “NYLTH.” As of May 2023, fans expressed disappointment over the album’s continued absence. Nonetheless, in 2016, Shad Moss did collaborate with Soulja Boy on a mixtape.

Acting/Hosting Career

Bow Wow cited a growing focus on his acting and hosting career as part of his decision to step back from music. He began acting alongside his music career, making his debut in the 2002 film “Like Mike.” A standout role of his was in “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,” and he has appeared in various television series, including “Smallville” and “Entourage.” In 2021, he reprised his role as Twinkie in “F9.”

Additionally, Bow Wow has built a significant career as a television personality and host. He began hosting BET’s “106 and Park” in 2013, although the show was canceled the following year. In 2016, he took on the role of host for “RnB Friday Nights,” which is an Australian program.

Personal Life

Once engaged to Erica Mena, Bow Wow also shares a daughter, Shai Moss, with Joie Chavis. He currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his mother.