Doja Cat, the talented rapper, singer, and songwriter, has accumulated an impressive net worth of $16 million. Her journey to fame began as a teenager, creating and sharing music on SoundCloud. At the age of 17, she signed a record deal, leading to the release of successful albums like Amala, Hot Pink, and Planet Her, the latter two of which made their mark on the Billboard 200. Apart from her musical talents, Doja Cat has gained recognition for her social media presence, particularly on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where she promotes her work.
In February 2022, Forbes published a list highlighting the highest-paid figures in hip-hop, with Doja Cat reportedly earning $25 million in 2021. This amount was attributed to her growing international fame and collaborations with well-known brands such as Pepsi and Candy Crush. However, this figure could not be verified, and its accuracy remained uncertain.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Doja Cat, born Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini in 1995 in Los Angeles, California, comes from a diverse and artistic background. Her mother, a painter, and her father, a South African actor, composer, and film producer, had a significant influence on her early life. Shortly after her birth, Dlamini and her mother moved to New York City before relocating to Oak Park, California, where Dlamini began taking tap, ballet, and jazz lessons. The family then moved back to Los Angeles, where they lived in an ashram and practiced Hinduism, which played a key role in shaping her childhood.
During her time in Los Angeles, Dlamini developed a strong interest in dance, particularly Indian classical dance, and later transitioned to breakdancing. In high school, she competed as part of a professional pop-locking troupe. Ultimately, Dlamini dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music. She taught herself to sing and rap using GarageBand and began uploading her music to SoundCloud. In 2012, her song “So High” caught the attention of renowned record producer Dr. Luke, who signed her to his label. In 2014, under the stage name Doja Cat, she released her debut EP Purrr!
“Amala” and Meme Fame
In early 2018, Doja Cat released the singles “Roll with Us,” “Go to Town,” and “Candy,” which were featured on her debut album Amala. While the album itself didn’t make a significant impact upon release, Doja Cat’s viral moment came in the summer of that year with the release of the quirky music video for her song “Mooo!” In the video, Doja Cat humorously imagines herself as a cow, which became a viral sensation, resulting in the song being widely shared as a meme across the internet. Following this success, Doja Cat released the singles “Tia Tamera” and “Juicy” in early 2019, the latter of which later saw a remix that propelled her into the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time.
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Doja Cat truly broke through as an artist in November 2019 with the release of her second studio album, Hot Pink. The album peaked at number nine on the Billboard 200 and featured successful singles like “Bottom Bitch,” “Rules,” and the chart-topping “Say So.” The song “Say So” marked a major milestone for Doja Cat, becoming her first top-ten single on the Billboard Hot 100. In 2020, a remix of the song featuring Nicki Minaj catapulted it to number one on the chart. Thanks to the success of Hot Pink, Doja Cat emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2020. She earned a spot on Billboard’s Top New Artists of 2020 list and was named the Biggest Breakthrough Artist of the Year by Rolling Stone. Doja Cat also received three Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist and Record of the Year for “Say So.”
“Planet Her” and MTV Video Music Awards
In April 2021, Doja Cat previewed her highly anticipated album with the release of the single “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA. The song became a massive hit, spending 19 consecutive weeks in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at number three. Shortly thereafter, Doja Cat released additional singles such as “Need to Know” and “You Right” before dropping her third studio album, Planet Her, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. The album also performed well internationally, reaching the top three in countries like Canada, Australia, and the UK.
Following the success of Planet Her, Doja Cat took on the role of hosting the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in 2021. She was nominated for multiple awards, including Artist of the Year, Video of the Year, and Best Visual Effects. Doja Cat won two VMAs that year: Best Collaboration, which she shared with SZA for the song “Kiss Me More,” and Best Art Direction, which she shared with Saweetie for the music video to “Best Friend.”
Other Collaborations
Doja Cat has collaborated with a wide array of artists across different genres. Her collaborations include songs with The Weeknd, Lil Wayne, City Girls, Ozuna, Bebe Rexha, Ariana Grande, and many others. In September 2021, Doja Cat was featured on the song “Scoop” from Lil Nas X’s debut studio album Montero, further solidifying her place as one of the most sought-after artists in the music industry.
Personal Life and Controversies
Despite her immense popularity, Doja Cat tends to keep her personal life private and avoids disclosing too much about her relationships. However, she has openly discussed her queer sexuality and has been romantically linked to musicians such as Jawny and Bree Runway. As an influential figure on social media, Doja Cat has occasionally sparked controversy due to her remarks and actions. In 2018, she faced backlash for a tweet containing the word “faggot,” which led her to apologize and delete the tweet. Later, she faced criticism for downplaying the severity of COVID-19, referring to it as merely the “flu,” and for attending public events during the pandemic.
In July 2022, Doja Cat became embroiled in a texting privacy breach scandal when actor Noah Schnapp shared a private message from her asking if he could connect her with actor Joseph Quinn. Schnapp posted the exchange on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, leading to widespread attention and backlash.
Real Estate Ventures
In February 2021, Doja Cat purchased a $2.2 million home in Beverly Hills. However, by July 2022, she listed the property for sale at $2.5 million. After a few months, she accepted an offer of $2.35 million, reflecting her involvement in the real estate market.
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