In light of the NFL’s controversial decision to have Justin Timberlake perform at the 2018 Superbowl, Janet Jackson has been thrust into the center of the debate. But aside from the Superbowl fiasco, the iconic singer has also left a lasting legacy on pop music and the entertainment industry. The youngest of the Jackson five, she remained largely in the shadows of her siblings successful music careers until she shot to fame with her classic 1986 album Control. Following her successful music career, she also ventured into acting, starring alongside Eddie Murphy in The Nutty Professor and Tupac Shakur in Poetic Justice.
As of 2019, Janet Jackson’s Net Worth is $175 million.
Let’s take a look at how Janet accumulated her wealth!
Early Life-1982
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Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, on May 16, 1966, the youngest out of the ten Jackson children. She was immediately thrust into the limelight because of her famous brothers and sisters, and occasionally performed on their show hit television series The Jacksons. She initially did not want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and was looking into becoming an entertainment lawyer. However, she became influenced by her siblings’ pursuit of the music industry and decided to venture into the recording studio. It wasn’t until Janet signed a record deal with A&M records at the age of 16 that her solo career began. Her debut album dropped in 1982 to mixed reviews from critics, peaking at 63 on the Billboard 200.
1986-1992
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Jackson’s third studio album, “Control”, launched the singer’s success as an international pop icon. The album was raved by critics, and spawned numerous hit singles including “Nasty” and “When I Think of You”. The album solidified Janet’s status as a sex symbol and an independent artist outside of The Jackson Five.
1989- 1995
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Jackson dropped her fourth album, “Rhythm Nation”, in 1989 to even more critical acclaim. This time around, Jackson was heavily involved in the creative process and expressed her desire for the album to revolve around political themes and social consciousness. The music videos accompanying the singles were also widely acclaimed, displaying innovative and experimental dance moves, costumes, and videography. Jackson launched her world tour in 1990, which went on to become one of the highest-grossing tours of the decade.
1993-1996
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Jackson made her film debut in 1993 with Poetic Justice, starring alongside rapper Tupac Shakur. While the film was considered a commercial failure, it has since developed a cult following. During this time period, she also released her fifth album Janet.
1997-2003
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In 1997, Jackson released her sixth studio album, The Velvet Rope. The album was another commercial success and dealt with erotic subjects such as sexuality, masturbation, and BDSM to name a few. The album also explored emotionally sensitive topics such as depression, body image, and self-harm. Prior to releasing the album, Jackson struggled with body dysmorphia and depression herself, thus inspiring her decision to explore these topics. During this time period, Jackson also appeared in The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, alongside actor Eddie Murphy.
In 2001, her seventh studio album All For You was released, debuting at number 1 on the Billboard 200.
2004-2010
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Jackson was involved in a Superbowl controversy in 2004 when Justin Timberlake publicly groped and exposed her breast on live television during the halftime performance. Her eighth studio album, Damito Jo, was set to release weeks after the incident and was blacklisted by major television and radio stations as a result of the controversy. Her ninth album, 20 Y.O., was also blacklisted and thus underperformed on music charts.
In 2009, Jackson’s brother Michael died suddenly due to cardiac arrest. Jackson received the news during the filming of Why Did I Get Married. She addressed her brothers death during the BET Awards ceremony later that month, stating “I’d just like to say, to you, Michael is an icon, to us, Michael is family. And he will forever live in our hearts.”
2010-present
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Jackson has continued to venture into acting, starring in the critically acclaimed Tyler Perry film For Colored Girls in 2010. Since then, she has also launched her seventh world tour, the Unbreakable World Tour. However, she had to cancel several show dates due to her 2016 pregnancy with husband Wissam Al Mana. Jackson gave birth to a baby boy on January 3, 2017. After giving birth, Jackson announced that the tour would resume in September.