Rap music is all about the high life. If you’re spitting about bling, fancy cars, and private jets, you better live it, too.
Take Bow Wow, for example. He likes talking about stackin’ up the dollars in his songs and real life.
But now that he’s been mostly retired, you might wonder if he’s squirreled away enough money to maintain that lavish lifestyle.
So, let’s dig into Bow Wow’s net worth and see if he’s still keeping up with the stereotype.
How Much Is Bow Wow’s Net Worth?
Born Shad Gregory Moss, Bow Wow burst onto the rap scene when he was 13 (he’s now 37). You’d expect his bank account to be flush with hit records and acting gigs under his belt.
Turns out, not entirely.
While stars like Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg have over a hundred million dollars each, Bow Wow’s net worth is a modest $1.5 million.
That’s a far cry from the $20 million or more he claimed to have made during his peak in several interviews. It’s not all that surprising, considering it’s been a while since he’s had any significant projects lined up.
On the bright side, that sum would still make most regular folks feel at ease financially. Then again, what counts as “financially comfortable” is relative, depending on who you talk to.
Bow Wow’s Career Over the Years
Bow Wow (then Lil Bow Wow) had a promising start in the music industry after being discovered by Snoop Dogg.
Throughout his career, he has released several albums:
- Beware of Dog (2000)
- Doggy Bag (2002)
- Unleashed (2003)
- Wanted (2005)
- The Price of Fame (2006)
- Face-Off (2007): A collaboration album with Omarion
- New Jack City II (2009)
Bow Wow has also appeared in the following movies:
- Like Mike (2002)
- Johnson Family Vacation (2004)
- Roll Bounce (2005)
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
- Hurricane Season (2009)
- Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011)
- Scary Movie V (2013)
- F9 (2021)
Bow Wow has popped up on TV over the years, and some of his standout projects include:
- Access Granted (2007) as a recurring guest
- Entourage (2008) as a recurring guest
- CSI: Cyber (2015–2016) as a main cast
- The Masked Singer (2020) as a contestant
- Growing Up Hip-Hop: Atlanta (2017–2021) as a main cast
Lastly, he took on hosting gigs, including:
- BET’s “106 & Park” Seasons 9–10 (2013–2014)
- Australian radio show “RnB Friday Nights” (2016)
- BET’s “After Happily Ever After” (2022)
What Car Does Bow Wow Drive?
Bow Wow had owned all the flashy rides you could imagine: Maserati, Lamborghini, and Ferrari.
Recently, he decided to go a bit unconventional and got a three-wheeled 2022 Polaris Slingshot through his connection with Polaris.
But he’s not entirely ditching the high-end cars just yet. He still has his Rolls Royce Phantom and a 2021 Mercedes-AMG GT 63.
Bow Wow was the proud owner of some supercars and luxury vehicles in the past, including:
- Lamborghini Gallardo
- Lamborghini Murcielago
- Ferrari F430
- Bentley Flying Spur
- BMW i8
- Maserati
Is Bow Wow Broke?
A net worth of $1.5 million doesn’t exactly scream “broke.” However, Bow Wow hit a rough patch in 2012 and declared himself bankrupt.
TMZ reported about his financial woes.
First, he owed the government around $126,000 in unpaid taxes. He also had to pay nearly $80,000 to French adult film star Celine Tran for using stolen clips of her in his “Drank in My Cup” music video.
If that wasn’t enough, he revealed having a paltry $1,500 in his checking account and only a $4,000 monthly income during a child support hearing. Initially, the court ordered him to cough up over $3,000 in child support.
To make matters worse, he had to shell out $11,500 in overdue child support on top of his monthly payments. That was after announcing a $200,000 hosting deal with BET after he said he was strapped for cash.
But what led Bow Wow down this path of financial ruin in the first place?
Bow Wow’s Financial Struggles
Bow Wow’s financial downfall started from his love of fast cars and a lousy accountant.
Bow Wow’s accountant failed to do his taxes for 2006, 2008, and 2010.
In 2008, Bow Wow splurged on a Ferrari F430 but quickly fell behind on payments within months. With interests piling up, his bill ballooned to an eye-watering $283,785.
He found himself in a similar pickle when he defaulted on a $300,000 loan for a Lamborghini Murcielago in 2012. But even after losing the car, he still owed SunTrust Bank $25,000 in repossession costs.
A Florida repo company also seized his Bentley for missed payments.
Bow Wow’s Comeback
While Bow Wow has released singles over the years, it’s been a while since he’s treated his fans to an entire project.
But after a hiatus since his 2016 collaboration with Soulja Boy, he’s ready to drop some new tracks. Recently, he hinted at teaming up with industry pal Chris Brown for something “exciting.”
And don’t blink because there’s a chance he might finally drop his retirement album this year, as he vowed to do back in 2021.
Final Thoughts
How Bow Wow’s net worth landed at $1.5 million is a lesson in money management. But despite his extravagant lifestyle and legal issues, it’s a surprise he still has plenty saved up.
But who knows? With talks of a final album in the works, Bow Wow might turn things around financially.