How Much Is RuPaul Actually Worth?
RuPaul is undeniably the most famous drag queen in the world. Born RuPaul Andre Charles, the queen of drag hails from San Diego, California, and surprisingly didn't start performing in drag until he moved to Atlanta, Georgia. According to Britannica, RuPaul moved in with one of his older sisters at 15 and attended a performing arts high school. After getting his start in the underground movie and nightclub circuit in Atlanta, he moved to New York City to begin his career in go-go bars and television.
RuPaul got his start in the entertainment industry on the MTV show "The Gong Show" and while doing so, quickly made a name for himself in the New York drag scene. His tall stature and gorgeous looks quickly projected him to fame, and after the release of his hit song "Supermodel," RuPaul's career was launched. From there, RuPaul made a number of film appearances and became the first drag queen to be the spokesperson of a major makeup line, M.A.C Cosmetics. But in 2009, RuPaul became a household name due to his popular show "RuPaul's Drag Race" — a show that has seen some amazing transformations and iconic moments. So after a fruitful career in the entertainment industry, how much is RuPaul worth?
RuPaul's large net worth is due to his popular show and his music career
Though RuPaul has had a long career in television and film, his most notable role is as the host of the wildly popular competition series "RuPaul's Drag Race." RuPaul — alongside judges such as Santino Rice and Michelle Visage — has been leading the search for the most glamorous drag queen of the year for 13 long seasons (via IMBD), and as always, the best woman has won. The original series has earned RuPaul many awards, including 19 Emmys, making him the titleholder for the most Emmy wins for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Show (via Guinness World Records).
In addition to hosting one of the most popular competition series on television, RuPaul also has a very impressive music career. In 1993, RuPaul made his mark with his hit single "Supermodel (You Better Work)." The track peaked at an impressive No. 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. As of publication, RuPaul has about 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, RuPaul is worth $60 million as of 2021. However, that amount will likely increase, as "Drag Race" has announced there will be a season 14 (via Bustle) and the franchise has two new international spinoffs in the works (via Screen Rant).