Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas’ days spent in the Murder Inc. studios are long over, but that doesn’t mean the Glen Cove-born vocalist doesn’t still enjoy her time in the spotlight. Lately, most of the attention coming her way has been a result of her rekindled romance with Nelly – not to mention their unofficial pregnancy announcement that has longtime fans of the pair teetering with excitement. It’s unclear if motherhood will lead the “Happy” hitmaker to retire entirely from performing, or if Ashanti’s net worth will continue to rise thanks to inspiration that might arise during this new chapter of her life.
Determining the estimated value of those who were famous before the internet age isn’t easy; this is why there’s a lot of discrepancy about the 43-year-old online. While some sources peg Ashanti at roughly $5 million, other outlets have suggested she’s sitting closer to $22M. Whatever the truth is, we can confirm that the alleged expecting mother has put in a lot of work to secure the bag.
Ashanti’s Musical Accomplishments
Though she’s done a lot over the years, what people best know Douglas for is her beautiful R&B voice, which first blew up thanks to “Always On Time” with Ja Rule and Fat Joe’s “What’s Luv.” Her mom recognized the black-haired beauty‘s talent at an early age when she heard Ashanti singing Mary J. Blige, but still, it wasn’t easy for her to secure a record deal. Eventually, Irv Gotti of Murder Inc. saw her talents, commissioning her to write hooks and provide background vocals for rap songs. This eventually led to the release of her 2002 self-titled debut LP, bringing home a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album and setting the record for highest first-week sales for a breakout artist.
Ashanti’s following albums (2003’s Chapter II and Ashanti’s Christmas) didn’t quite live up to her first numerically, but they definitely resonated with listeners. The former ultimately was certified Platinum by the RIAA, and in 2004 she returned with Concrete Rose before taking a brief hiatus from the studio. Before leaving Gotti’s embattled label in 2009, she dropped The Declaration, which earned her lowest sales numbers to date. Nevertheless, she wasn’t discouraged and came back triumphantly in 2014 to release Braveheart.
While she doesn’t consistently bless us with albums as we saw in the early 2000s, Ashanti continues to boost her net worth by booking regular performances. She and Nelly love to show out on stage together, and we wouldn’t be opposed to hearing them collaborate in the studio again instead of just in the bedroom.
Film & TV Credits Help to Distinguish Her
What sets Douglas apart from contemporaries is her expansive film and television resume. The New Yorker got her start in the industry early on, doing extra work as a child and flaunting her good looks in various music videos. In the same year as her debut album, she made appearances in Sabrina the Teenage Witch and American Dreams. Her supernatural theme continued the next year thanks to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and she dabbled in voice acting on The Proud Family. One of Ashanti’s biggest roles came in 2005’s Coach Carter, which was followed by an impressive run in The Muppets Wizard of Oz, John Tucker Must Die and Resident Evil: Extinction.
Amid her Murder Inc. fallout, the 43-year-old took a break from the spotlight, but upon her triumphant return in 2013, she had multiple projects to share – Army Wives, Law & Order: SVU and Christmas in the City. Sure, she’s not exactly landing blockbuster roles, but Ashanti has been regularly cast in smaller movies like Unforgettable, Mothers and Daughters, Honey Girls and The Plus One throughout the past decade.
Mansion Sale Earns Ashanti Nearly $2 Million
Yet another facet that’s ensuring some income for Ashanti is last summer’s sale of her Old Westbury home. Back in 2003, she purchased the residence for $1.95M, and over two decades later she listed it for sale for $2.2M. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the two-acre property was initially built in 1999, and sold after nearly a year on the market for her initial buying price. Now that she’s reportedly got a little one on the way, we can’t wait to see how Douglas and her man decorate their nursery and set their baby up to follow in their footsteps to success.