Tekashi69: The Life, Times, And Money Of A Controversial Rapper

What’s Tekashi69’s Net Worth Right Now?

Let’s talk about Tekashi69. Born Daniel Hernandez, this guy is more than just a rapper—he’s a social media sensation and, well, a convicted felon. But let’s focus on the money for now. Tekashi69 has a current net worth of $1.5 million. Now, this might not sound like a ton for a rapper of his caliber, but considering the ups and downs of his life, it’s pretty impressive. He’s one of the most talked-about figures in the rap world, and not just because of his music. His life has been full of drama, both in his art and his personal life.

Back in 2015, Tekashi pleaded guilty to some pretty serious charges involving a minor, which earned him a felony. Then in 2018, he was arrested again, this time on charges that included racketeering, weapons, drugs, and even conspiracy to commit murder. But here’s the twist—Tekashi flipped. He testified against his old gang buddies, the Nine Trey Bloods, in exchange for a reduced sentence of just two years. And because of the pandemic, he got out even earlier than expected.

Even with all the drama, Tekashi’s career has still managed to rake in serious cash. He’s inked deals that could have paid him tens of millions of dollars. We’ll dive deeper into his finances in the next section, but let me tell you—it’s a wild ride.

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2024 Record Deal: A New Chapter

Fast forward to October 2024, and Tekashi69 is back in the game. He signed a new record deal with Kartel Music, and it’s a big one. They’re paying him $1 million for his next album and $250,000 per concert on his upcoming tour. If everything goes according to plan, Tekashi could walk away with up to $6 million. Now that’s what I call a comeback.

Financial Ups and Downs

Let’s be real—Tekashi69’s financial situation can be a little unpredictable from one month to the next. On one hand, he’s signed some multi-million dollar deals for records and concerts. He’s also made millions from streaming royalties, especially thanks to his massive YouTube presence, where he’s got 20 million followers and over 5 billion video views. That’s a lot of eyes and ears on Tekashi.

But life hasn’t always been smooth sailing. When Tekashi went to prison, his career basically hit pause for two years. In March 2022, he told a court he was struggling financially because his career had been on hold. He said he wasn’t getting any royalties and couldn’t tour to make money. In his own words, he was worried he’d never command the kind of money he used to. He even said if a lawsuit against him went forward, it could bankrupt him.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Just a month later, Tekashi posted a video on Instagram showing off millions in cash and some seriously expensive cars. So, was he broke or not? Let’s dig deeper.

When asked about the apparent contradiction during an appearance on “TMZ Live,” Tekashi claimed the cash in the video was just “prop money.” He said he didn’t have the money he owed in restitution, and his attorney had even mentioned the possibility of bankruptcy. But then there was that video flaunting all that cash. It’s a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

Early Life: From Brooklyn to the Spotlight

Tekashi69 was born Daniel Hernandez on May 8, 1996, in Bushwick, Brooklyn, New York. His mom’s Mexican, and his dad’s Puerto Rican. Daniel didn’t meet his dad until he was nine years old. Up until then, he thought his dad was dead. Turns out, Daniel’s dad was a heroin addict who was in prison. His dad later claimed the family kept him from seeing Daniel, even going so far as to tear up letters he sent from jail.

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Life wasn’t easy for the Hernandez family. They struggled financially, and things got even worse in 2010 when Daniel’s stepfather was shot and killed outside their home. Daniel was just 14 at the time. The trauma was so severe that he had to see a therapist to deal with PTSD and depression. Around this time, Daniel started acting out in school, eventually getting expelled in the eighth grade. To help his family, he started working at a grocery store.

Rap Career: From the Bodega to the Billboard Charts

Daniel’s rap journey began when he was 16. His big break came when he met Peter “Righteous P” Rogers, the CEO of a label called Hikari-Ultra. Peter was impressed enough to encourage Daniel to start releasing original songs. Daniel’s first song, fittingly titled “69,” dropped in 2014. Over the next few years, Daniel, who by then had adopted the stage name Tekashi 6ix9ine, released a series of albums and videos that earned him a following in the underground rap scene.

His breakthrough came with the 2018 album “Dummy Boy,” followed by 2020’s “TattleTales,” which debuted at #4 on the U.S. Billboard 200. Tekashi’s mixtape “Day69” also made waves, with his single “Gummo” hitting #6 on the US Rap chart, #7 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. The hits kept coming with “Kooda” and “Keke,” both of which were certified Gold.

Reported Record Deals: Fact or Fiction?

Tekashi69 loves to brag about his deals on social media. Back in January 2018, he claimed he signed a $7.5 million record deal. A month later, he said he inked a $15 million management deal with Birdman’s RICHGANG company. Then, he boasted about a $4.9 million deal to endorse a headphone company. But here’s the thing—industry insiders say there’s no proof any of these deals are real.

The $10 Million Deal: A Confirmed Win

In October 2019, Tekashi signed a confirmed $10 million deal with 10K Projects. The deal involves two future albums—one in English and one in Spanish. Now, that’s a deal worth talking about.

The GlobalStreamNow Deal: Streaming Success

In July 2020, Tekashi announced a $5 million deal with live-streaming company GlobalStreamNow. The deal covered one virtual performance, which took place on September 5, 2020. That’s a pretty sweet gig if you ask me.

Legal Issues: A Troubled Past

Tekashi69’s had his fair share of run-ins with the law. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to a felony involving a minor and got three years of probation. He wasn’t required to register as a sex offender as long as he didn’t post explicit content online and got his GED. Spoiler alert—he didn’t pass the GED test.

Then, in 2018, he was arrested on weapons, drugs, and racketeering charges. To avoid a potential 47-year sentence, Tekashi testified against members of the Nine Trey Bloods gang. He claimed the gang let him pretend to be a member as long as he funded them. He also said he earned about $60,000 a month from YouTube royalties and live performances after releasing “Gummo.”

In December 2019, Tekashi pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors. The judge sentenced him to just 13 months in prison, a far cry from the decades he could have faced. The people he testified against, though? They’re looking at life sentences.

In March 2020, Tekashi asked to be released early due to the pandemic. The government agreed, and he walked free in April 2020, months ahead of schedule.

Post-Prison Success: The “Gooba” Phenomenon

On his birthday, May 8, 2020, Tekashi released his new song “Gooba” and its music video. The video shattered records, hitting 40 million views in just 24 hours. That’s more than Eminem’s previous record of 38 million views in a day. Within a week, “Gooba” had over 150 million views.

The same day, Tekashi hosted an Instagram live, and over two million people tuned in simultaneously, smashing the previous record by over 1.7 million. Tekashi claimed he made $2 million off “Gooba” in under a week and announced plans to donate 10% of the profits to charity.

Personal Life: Beyond the Music

Tekashi started dating Rachel “Jade” Watley just before going to prison in late 2018. He’s also a dad to two daughters—one born in 2015 with Sara Molina and another born in 2018 with Marlayna M. Tekashi speaks Spanish and has even recorded songs in the language. He also has asthma, which adds another layer to his story.

When he got out of prison, Tekashi moved into a modest home in Lido Beach. Unfortunately, a nosy neighbor outed his location, forcing him to move. He reportedly relocated to Water Mill, New York, into an 8,500-square-foot home overlooking a tree farm. The place was listed for rent at $55,000 a month. Not bad for a guy who’s been through so much.