With his 2014 single “Happy” Pharrell Williams increased his fan base and arguably enjoyed a new level of recognition in the music industry. However, he has been a mainstay in the hip hop and rap industry for years, even before “Happy” made him a household name. In fact, his Pharrell Williams net worth of $80 million can be traced to his earliest days in music, which actually began while he was still in high school. Now almost 20 years later, Williams stands out as one of the entertainment industry’s biggest recording acts and has collaborated with numerous other artists, including Daft Punk, Gwen Stefani, and Sean Paul.
Williams got his start in music while he was still in high school. As a member of his high school’s marching band, in which he played the snare drum, he joined with two friends to form the production group The Neptunes. He and his group mates, Shay Haley and Mike Etheridge, garnered the attention of music producer Teddy Riley, who signed the group to his label after watching the group perform at a high school talent show. Shortly after being signed to Riley’s label, Williams helped write and produce music for the group Wreckx-N-Effects. This earliest professional foray into hip hop gave Williams the foundation for his future success.
While still with The Neptunes, Williams had a hand in producing music for Britney Spears, namely her single “I’m a Slave 4 U.” They also produced Nelly’s song “Hot in Herre.” In 2003, the group put out its own album, entitled The Neptunes Present…Clones. The album hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the group’s most significant artistic success together. By 2005, however, Williams decided to focus on his own solo career as a hip hop recording artist. His debut album In My Mind debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and sold more than 140,000 copies in its first week.
How Much Is Pharrell Williams Worth Now?
With an estimated Pharrell Williams net worth of $80 million, people may wonder what other ventures have led to his financial success. In fact, Williams undertakes numerous other projects that helps him bring in money to his net worth. He is an accomplished artist and businessman, heading up his own art show in Paris in May, 2014. The show was held at the Galerie Perrotin and also featured the work of 37 other artists.
Aside from his artwork, Williams also makes money by creating fashion jewelry and clothing lines. In fact, he helped found the brands Ice Cream footwear and Billionaire Boys Club, opening a boutique in New York for his fashion creations. He likewise collaborated with Louis Vuitton to design a line of glasses and jewelry for Vuitton’s fashion house. His artistic endeavors are not relegated to clothing and accessories alone, however. He also has experience designing furniture for the company Domeau & Peres. The furniture he designed features realistic human arms and legs.
However, his greatest artistic efforts arguably come from his musical endeavors, including those that contribute to the soundtracks of popular movies. He had a significant hand in creating the soundtrack to the Despicable Me film series. In fact, a song from the original Despicable Me movie, “Rocket’s Theme,” was written for his son Rocket as well. Williams has also worked closely with musical icons like Hans Zimmer on the soundtrack for The Amazing Spider Man 2. A noted sci-fi fan, Williams conspicuously incorporates many science fiction references and sounds in his musical and fashion creations. When he is not working in the entertainment industry, he amuses himself by watching Star Trek programs and films.