Kelly Rowland: How the Singer Built Her $12 Million Fortune

Kelly Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality with a net worth of $12 million. She is best known as a key member of Destiny’s Child, one of the highest-selling girl groups ever.

Alongside Beyoncé Knowles, Rowland was part of the group’s original lineup, which underwent several changes before settling on its trio format with Michelle Williams. After the group paused their activities to focus on solo careers, Rowland quickly found success with her Grammy-winning collaboration with Nelly on “Dilemma.”

While Michelle Williams explored gospel music, Rowland achieved notable fame overseas, more so than in the U.S., and has been featured on various European television shows.

She has also toured extensively and served as a judge on the American version of “X-Factor.” Despite her success, Rowland’s solo career has not reached the heights of Beyoncé’s, who has become a global phenomenon.

Early Life

Kelly Rowland was born Kelendria Trene Rowland on February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia, to parents Christopher Lovett and Doris Rowland Garrison. At the age of six, after leaving her father who was an abusive alcoholic with PTSD, Kelly moved with her mother and brother, Orlando, to Houston.

In 1995, she moved in with Beyoncé Knowles, her future Destiny’s Child bandmate, and Beyoncé’s family. This marked a significant turn in her life, setting the stage for her future success in the music industry.

In the early ’90s, Kelly Rowland and Beyoncé Knowles were part of Girl’s Tyme, performing on “Star Search” and locally around Houston. Despite early setbacks, including being dropped by Elektra Records, their persistence paid off.

By 1997, under the new name Destiny’s Child and managed by Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, they signed with Columbia Records.

Their breakthrough came with the 1999 release of “The Writing’s on the Wall,” featuring hits like “Bills, Bills, Bills” and “Say My Name,” which won Grammy awards. Their success continued with the album “Survivor,” which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in 2001 and included the hit “Bootylicious,” pushing global sales over 12 million copies.

Solo Career

After Destiny’s Child disbanded in 2005, Kelly Rowland launched her solo career with the release of her second album, Ms. Kelly (2007), which featured international hits like “Like This” and “Work.”

She later expanded her presence in entertainment, co-hosting the first season of The Fashion Show in 2009. That same year, she collaborated with DJ David Guetta on the dance hit “When Love Takes Over,” which became a global sensation and influenced her shift toward dance music on her third album, Here I Am (2011).

The album produced major hits, including “Commander” and the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart-topper “Motivation.”

In 2011, Rowland joined The X Factor UK as a judge for its eighth season and later served as a judge on the third and final season of The X Factor U.S. in 2013. That same year, she returned to her R&B roots with her fourth album, Talk a Good Game, which received positive reviews and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Throughout her career, Rowland has collaborated with numerous artists, including Nelly on the chart-topping hit “Dilemma,” as well as Lil Wayne and Big Sean.

Rowland has cited Janet Jackson and Whitney Houston as her biggest musical influences, along with inspirations like Sade, Mariah Carey, and Beyoncé. As a solo artist, she has achieved multiple chart-topping records in the U.S. and has scored nine top-ten singles in the United Kingdom.

Despite a wardrobe malfunction during a 2011 concert in New Jersey that briefly exposed her chest, Rowland remained a commanding presence in the music industry, continuously evolving and expanding her artistry.

Acting Career

Kelly Rowland expanded her career into acting in 2002 with a guest appearance on the sitcom The Hughleys. She continued working in television with roles on UPN’s Eve and Girlfriends.

In 2003, she appeared in the NBC drama American Dreams, portraying Martha Reeves of Martha & The Vandellas and performing a rendition of their hit song Nowhere to Run.

Rowland made her big-screen debut in 2004 in the horror film Freddy vs. Jason, playing Kia Waterson, one of the lead roles. While the movie received mixed reviews, it topped the U.S. box office in its opening weekend, earning $36.4 million and ultimately grossing $114 million worldwide.

She returned to film in 2005 with The Seat Filler, starring alongside Duane Martin and Shemar Moore. Produced by Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film was released in a limited number of festivals before going straight to DVD in 2006. Rowland also contributed two songs to its soundtrack.

In 2008, she auditioned for the role of Louise in Sex and the City: The Movie but lost the part to Jennifer Hudson. She later had a supporting role in the 2012 film Think Like a Man, appearing alongside Chris Brown and Gabrielle Union.

Her presence on television grew with her role as a judge on The X Factor UK in 2011, which earned her the Ultimate TV Personality award at Cosmo’s Ultimate Women of the Year event. She was also named TV Personality of the Year at Glamour’s Women of the Year awards.

Rowland continued her involvement in music reality TV with Chasing Destiny (2016), The Voice Australia (2017–2020), and American Soul (2019).

Her more recent film credits include Bad Hair (2020), Beyoncé’s visual album Black Is King (2020), the sports comedy Fantasy Football (2022), and the Netflix horror-comedy The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022), showcasing her versatility in both film and television.

Philanthropy

Kelly Rowland’s Philanthropic Efforts: Giving Back to Communities

Supporting Hurricane Katrina Victims – Alongside the Knowles family, Rowland co-founded the Survivor Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing transitional housing and support for victims of Hurricane Katrina and other storm evacuees.

Empowering Youth in Houston – She helped establish the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a multi-purpose community outreach facility in Houston, aimed at supporting and mentoring young people.

Fighting AIDS Through Awareness Campaigns – In 2006, Rowland joined forces with other artists for the ALDO Fights AIDS campaign, using her platform to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS research and support.

Designing for a Cause – Partnering with Kanye West and other artists, Rowland helped design a limited-edition Nike sneaker for an eBay auction, with all proceeds going to AIDS awareness initiatives.

Advocating for Global HIV Awareness – As an ambassador for MTV’s Staying Alive Foundation, Rowland has worked to reduce discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

She has traveled to Tanzania and Kenya to promote awareness and even took an HIV test in Africa to lead by example and encourage open discussions about the disease.

Rowland began dating her manager, Tim Weatherspoon, in 2011. She announced their engagement in 2013 during an appearance on The Queen Latifah Show. The couple tied the knot on May 9, 2014, in a private ceremony in Costa Rica, with her former Destiny’s Child bandmates among the guests.

Later that year, in November 2014, they welcomed their first child, Titan Jewell Weatherspoon. Their family grew again in 2021 with the birth of their second son.

In June 2020, Rowland shared that she had reconciled with her estranged father, Christopher Lovett, after years of separation.