Flavor Flav has an estimated net worth of $3 million. He is an American rapper and hype man.
Flavor Flav’s career can be demarcated into two periods. The first Era saw the rapper rise to fame as a member of the renowned hip-hop group, Public Enemy. The second era witnessed Flav’s transformation into a popular reality TV star, thanks to several VH1 shows. So, what is Flavor Flav’s net worth? What has the rapper turned TV personality got to show for all of his exploits? All these and more questions are answered below.
An Inside Look at Flavor Flav’s Net Worth
Flavor Flav, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., now has a net worth estimated at a respectable $3 million, most of this has come from his career as a rapper and a TV personality.
The musician got started on his music career early; Flav grew up in New York City and dabbled into music as a child. He taught himself how to play several instruments and also sang in the church choir.
He, however, got into several troubles with the law and wound up in jail. Flav’s life story changed when he met rapper, Chuck D, in college. The two joined hands to found the successful hip-hop group, Public Enemy.
How He Made His Money As A Public Enemy Member
Public Enemy was founded by Chuck D and Flavor Flav in Long Island in 1985. The hip-hop group also included other members such as Professor Griff, DJ Lord, and Terminator X. Public Enemy dropped their first album, Yo! Bum Rush the Show, in 1987. The album was both a critical and commercial success. It received four-star ratings from multiple sources and sold over 500,000 units, earning a gold certification.
The group continued this impressive form all throughout their career; releasing other successful albums such as It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Fear of a Black Planet and Apocalypse 91 … The Enemy Strikes Back. Public Enemy was also renowned for its politically-charged songs. This, however, did not affect their commercial appeal as they sold millions of records. The proceeds from these sales, as well as other group revenue, boosted Flavor Flav’s net worth.
How Flava Flav’s Restaurant Ventures Have Affected His Net Worth
Aside from music, Flavor Flav is also an entrepreneur. He has made several inroads into the restaurant business, with varying degrees of success. The rapper first ventured into the food industry in January 2011 when he opened Flav’s Fried Chicken in Clinton, Iowa.
The outfit was a joint venture with chef, Nick Cimino, and the recipe was based on the rapper’s homemade fried chicken. Both partners hoped that their business would eventually turn into a national franchise chain, much like KFC.
These lofty dreams, however, failed to materialize due to a management dispute. Flav accused Cimino of underhanded practices, including serving expired salads and owing workers. Cimino, on his own part, accused the rapper of trying to reap where he did not sow. The restaurant eventually closed down four months after opening. Undaunted by this setback, Flavor Flav opened another eating establishment, Flavor Flav’s House of Flavor, in Las Vegas in March 2012.
Despite several aggressive promotional campaigns, Flavor Flav’s House of Flavor failed to make much headway and closed down in September of that same year.
The undeterred Flav did not waste any time to bounce back; he teamed up with two partners, Gino Harmon and Salvatore Bitonti, to launch Flavour Flav’s Chicken and Ribs in December 2012. The casual dining experience was situated in Sterling Heights, Michigan and lasted for just seven months.
The establishment later closed down in July 2013 due to it’s inability to pay rent. This 3rd unsuccessful outing put a damper on Flav’s zeal. He, therefore, turned his attention to some other ventures until December 2018 when he launched Flavor Flav’s Chicken & Vinny’s Pizza in Las Vegas.
The outfit was a collaborative venture with long-term pal, Vinny Cimino. It lasted for just a month before Flav pulled his name out of the deal. These failed enterprises have no doubt put a dent in Flava Flav’s net worth.
The Cost Of An Expensive Drug Habit
Flavour Flav’s overall net worth was also affected by his drug habit. The rapper was addicted to crack cocaine for several years. At the height of his addiction in the 90s, he often spent as much as $2,500 a day to sustain his habit. This pattern persisted for six years and took a large chunk of the rapper’s money.
Flav, fortunately, survived his devastating habit and turned his life around in 2010. The rapper has been clean ever since then. He has also been preaching about his experiences in order to deter others from going down the route.
List of Flava Flav’s Income Sources
- His rap career
- Reality television career
- Businesses