Robert Sylvester Kelly, widely known as R. Kelly, is an American former R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. Once a dominant and commercially successful artist with nicknames like the “King of R&B,” his career ended with multiple convictions for child sexual abuse and other offenses, for which he is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence.

Early life and Education: R. Kelly was born on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois. He made a significant mark in the music industry, particularly in R&B, hip hop, and pop, achieving remarkable commercial success; earning him various titles including “the King of R&B,” “the King of Pop-Soul,” and “the Pied Piper of R&B.”

Kelly was raised in the Ida B. Wells public housing projects by his mother, Joanne, a schoolteacher. He sang in his church choir from the age of eight.

As a teenager, he began busking in the Chicago subway and later attended Kenwood Academy High School. His music teacher, Lena McLin, encouraged him to pursue music seriously after he won a talent show. He was diagnosed with dyslexia, dropped out of high school after one year, and continued performing on the street.

Early trauma: In his autobiography, Kelly revealed that he was sexually abused by an older female family member and an older male family friend during his childhood.

Musical career (1987–2019)

Initial success: After winning a talent show, he formed the group Public Announcement and signed with Jive Records in 1991. Their 1992 debut album, Born into the 90’s, was a commercial success. Solo success: As a solo artist, he released 18 studio albums and became one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with more than 75 million records sold worldwide.

Noteworthy songs and collaborations: His hits include “Bump N’ Grind” (1993), “I Believe I Can Fly” (1996), and “Ignition (Remix)” (2003). He also wrote and produced hits for other artists, including Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone” and Céline Dion’s “I’m Your Angel”.

Grammy awards: He won three Grammy Awards in 1998 for the song “I Believe I Can Fly”. “Trapped in the Closet”: A major part of his career was the “hip hopera” series Trapped in the Closet, which was heavily promoted alongside his 2005 album TP.3 Reloaded.

End of career: His contract with RCA Records was terminated in early 2019 following the release of the documentary Surviving R. Kelly, marking the end of his active musical career.

Marriages

Aaliyah (1994): In 1994, Kelly, then 27, illegally married singer Aaliyah, who was 15. The marriage was annulled in 1995, and he was later charged with bribery related to the marriage license.

Andrea Lee (1996-2009): He was married to dancer Andrea Lee from 1996 to 2009, and they had three children together. She publicly accused him of domestic abuse following their divorce. Allegations, convictions, and prison sentences Kelly faced decades of accusations of sexual abuse, often involving minors.

2008 acquittal: After a 2002 charge, he was tried and acquitted in 2008 on all child pornography charges.

Later indictments and convictions: Multiple indictments followed renewed interest sparked by the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly.

2021 (New York): A federal jury convicted him of nine counts of racketeering and violations of the Mann Act. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

2022 (Chicago): A federal jury convicted him of three counts of producing child pornography and three counts of enticing a minor. He received a 20-year sentence, with 19 years served concurrently with his New York sentence and one year served consecutively.

Current status: He is serving a combined 31-year sentence and, as of late 2024, is incarcerated at FCI Butner Medium I in North Carolina. In June 2025, the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, leaving his combined sentence intact. His projected release date is in December 2045, at which point he would be 78 years old.

Net Worth and Earnings: R. Kelly has an estimated net worth of $2 million.

At his peak, R. Kelly wasn’t just famous—he was a cultural phenomenon. With a staggering 75 million records sold, he stood among R&B royalty. Remember those unavoidable anthems? “I Believe I Can Fly” soaring through movie theaters, “Bump N’ Grind” setting dance floors ablaze, and “Ignition (Remix)” blasting from car speakers nationwide. Fans flocked to sold-out venues while his name dominated charts. Behind this massive success? A financial empire built on platinum albums, packed tours, and lucrative songwriting credits that funneled tens of millions into his accounts.

R. Kelly’s troubles have shifted to financial courts, where six abuse survivors won a $10.3 million civil judgment in 2023. Having received less than $500,000, they’re now suing for the remaining $9.9 million. The plaintiffs—Lizette Martinez, Lisa Van Allen, Kelly Rogers, Faith Rogers, Roderick Gartrell, and Gem Pratts—previously appeared in the “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary. Given Kelly’s dire financial situation, full payment seems unlikely.

Kelly’s financial woes began years before his legal storm hit. In 2012, the bombshell dropped: a staggering $5 million debt to the IRS. Meanwhile, his fortune was vanishing into thin air—swallowed by palatial homes, gleaming luxury cars, and outrageously generous gifts that defined his unsustainable lifestyle.

By 2018, he’d defaulted on his mortgage, lost properties to foreclosure, and sank into debt. #MuteRKelly and the “Surviving R. Kelly” documentary crushed his career, causing canceled concerts, streaming platform removals, and RCA Records’ termination. When federal charges came in 2019, he was broke—with overdrawn accounts and unable to post his $100,000 bail, which a fan paid instead.

Kelly’s victims are now targeting Universal Music Group to recover their $10.3 million unpaid judgment, claiming the company still collects royalties from his music. They want the court to redirect these funds directly to them. Kelly previously sold part of his catalog for $5 million, allegedly to hide assets from creditors, while Sony has frozen $3.5-4.5 million in royalties due to ongoing litigation. His attorney calls the judgment ‘outrageous’ and claims it was issued without Kelly’s knowledge while imprisoned, suggesting racial bias. Nevertheless, courts have already seized $28,000 from his prison account, and creditors continue fighting over every dollar from his catalog.

With debts to victims, the IRS, landlords, and lawyers, his incarceration prevents any income. Even a successful appeal likely won’t overcome his overwhelming financial troubles.