Benjamin Hammond Haggerty was born 19 June 1983 in Seattle, Washington State, USA, of part- Irish descent. He is a Grammy Awards- winning rapper, probably better known by his stage name of Professor Macklemore – or just Macklemore – and whose career has been active since the turn of the century.
So just how rich is Macklemore, as of late 2017? Authoritative sources estimate that his net worth reaches $18 million dollars, accumulated during a career which began at the turn of the century, and which makes him one of the multimillionaire rappers in the music industry,
Macklemore Net Worth $18 Million
The Macklemore family had just two boys, who were raised in Seattle. At the age of 14, Macklemore began writing lyrics, but later became interested in rap. Regardless, he enrolled at and graduated from The Evergreen State College having a BA degree. However, this didn’t stop Macklemore getting started on his career in music, he says influenced by Living Legends, Talib Kweli, Freestyle Fellowship and Aceyalone.
In 2000, under his new stage name he recorded a mixtape – “Open Your Eyes” – which he distributed himself and released in October 2000, and began working on his first official full-length album, called “The Language of My World”. However, it wasn’t released until 2005, with its lead single, “Love Song”, being announced the same day, featuring singer Evan Roman and produced by Budo, who would later go on to produce several more tracks for Macklemore. His net worth was now well established.
Macklemore released his second album in 2012, entitled ‘The Heist’, which was far more popular, peaking in first position of the US R&B and Rap charts, as well as New Zealand chart. The album was certified platinum in US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and gold in Britain, thus significantly increasing Macklemore’s net worth. The album also brought Macklemore an American Music Award for the Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album, and a Grammy Award for the Best Rap Album.
Macklemore has released several extended plays as well as a number of singles, together with Ryan Lewis, collaboration with whom was very successful, bringing a number of nominations and earning them an American Music Award for the Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artists, two AIM Awards for the Independent breakthrough of the year and the most played new independent act, a BET Award for the Best Group, a Grammy Award for the Best New Artist, the MTV Europe Music Award for the Best New Act including a Teen Choice Award and People’s Choice Award for the Favorite Hip Hop Artist. All these recognitions contributed to Macklemore’s net worth jumping high, on top of his now well-recognised profile.
Additionally, due to his popularity, he has appeared in lots of non-single guest performances with artists including Abyssinian Creole, Grynch, C-Nik, and Blue Scholars as well as Ryan Lewis. He has produced more than ten music videos, including ‘The Town’, ‘Wings’ directed by Zia Mohajerjasbi, ‘My Oh My’ directed by Jason Koenig, ‘Thrift Shop’ directed by Jon Jon Augustavo, among many others.
In his personal life, despite – or perhaps because of – his successful career Macklemore has acknowledged being addicted to drugs and alcohol, and going into rehab. Regardless, he has been married to Tricia Davis since 2015, after a long association. Macklemore has his own homepage, which also helps to increase his net worth and wealth, and on which is a myriad of information relating to the artist’s professional and personal life..
Grammy Awards - Best New Artist/Best Rap Album (The Heist)/Best Rap Song/Best Rap Performance, American Music Award, AIM Awards, BET Award for the Best Group, Grammy Award - Best New Artist, MTV Europe Music Award, People’s Choice Award - Favorite Hip Hop Artist
Record Labels
NWXMusic, Bendo
Albums
The Language of My World (2005), Gemini (Macklemore album, 2017), Open Your Eyes (2000, mixtape), Progress (2000), The Unplanned Mixtape (2009), VS. Redux EP (2010), This Unruly Mess I've Made (2016), The Heist (2012)
Music Groups
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (since 2008)
Nominations
# 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 (2012), #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 (2013)
TV Shows
Mac Miller And The Most Dope Family (2013), Under the Gunn (2014)
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Quote
1
It's easy to view politicians as corrupt and voting essentially an act of picking the lesser of two evils. I understand that perspective and feel it's valid.
2
I think people are enticed by indie rap and every time you have a group going against the grain, they're gonna be like, 'Wow, you did it yourself in 2012, that's impressive - how did you do it? What're you doing that's different? And how can I be a part of it?'
3
Thrift shopping is really just an extension of me being that same kid and going into a place that's completely unconventional that has really endless possibilities in terms of outfits that you can put together and really just expressing yourself.
4
You need to get outside of your comfort zone to write songs that are interesting, songs that are compelling, songs that are different from what other people are writing.
5
Consciousness rap - a term that I don't think exactly exists but gets thrown around a lot - is not exactly popular.
6
I don't write a great song every day. I don't write a great song every couple weeks. It comes in such random times.
7
I played baseball up until my freshman year of high school. That was my main sport. I played third base.
8
I think that civil rights issues take a lot of time to develop.
9
Sampling is kind of prehistoric, given the technology and the textures you can create.
10
I put myself in the place of the listener when editing my writing. The last thing that I want to do is be preached at and told who to be or what to think when listening to an artist. However, I do want to be inspired. There's a fine line.
11
I think that there will always be artists out there who think they need to sign a major label deal in order to be successful. And that machine is what is going to work for them - there's tons of examples of pop stars who need that machine.
12
I'm someone that examines culture and tries to break down why things are the way that they are whether its hip-hop music, sex, race, or consumerism. I try to examine it and scrutinize it to the point where I can write a song.
13
I'm not more or less conscious than any other rapper out there.
14
Reading a piece of poetry with no beat in front of 20 people is way more challenging than rocking for 10,000 people.
15
I think what's wrong with the fashion world, particularly men's fashion, is the lack of creativity behind it.
16
I'm a very conceptual writer.
17
The fame and the money and all that stuff that comes along with it is all great, but that's not the sole purpose of why I make music.
18
I definitely use 'smiling while rapping' as a tool in the booth. I want to have fun while recording.
19
I think music should be experienced by people all ages.
20
I want to make music that I like; not something that I have to make because I think it's going to sell.
21
I shop at thrift shops probably five times a week.
22
I'm as honest as I can be.
23
When I write, I don't have any expectation of what kind of song it will become or who it might reach.
24
'The more expensive the better' is kind of the American way, and if you spent $600 for a sweatshirt, then that makes it better.
25
You have major labels that are willing to take unconventional approaches because the old model is crumbling in front of us.
26
My partner has to have good sized bones.
27
I just want to give the people 100% of myself as an artist.
28
Music is therapy. Music moves people. It connects people in ways that no other medium can. It pulls heart strings. It acts as medicine.
29
I find that when I put my spiritual life first, the rest of my life is easy. When I put my career first, that's when I have problems.
30
You can only watch injustice go on for so long until you're compelled to say something. To speak out against it.
31
'Vote Love' means vote equality. It means vote change. It means vote what's right for humanity.
32
Bullying is a national epidemic.
33
Gay people and women are still the most oppressed people in hip-hop culture. You can only watch that for so long. I have gay family. I have gay friends. That's the beautiful thing about writing songs. You get to take on issues that you're passionate about.
34
[on his song 'Thrift Shop'] Commercial hip-hop tends to be about spending money or buying things. And I think that's gotten fairly boring. 'Thrift Shop' is the polar opposite. It's about saving money, finding bargains, bragging about the deals you're coming up with.
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Fact
1
Became a father, when his daughter Sloane Ava Simone Haggerty, was born on May 29, 2015.
2
He is only the second artist to have a number one hit on the US singles chart while not being signed to any record label, and the first with multiple number ones. His first two singles "Can't Hold Us" and "Thrift Shop" both reached number one. (The first unsigned artist with a number one hit was Lisa Loeb with "Stay" in 1994).
3
Has a brother named Tim.
4
Briefly attended The Evergreen State College.
5
Rapper who became wide known for his song 'Thrift Shop,' featured on his debut album The Heist.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 2014 - 2015 writer - 2 episodes, 2014 - 2015
Friday Night Football
TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 2015 writer - 2 episodes, 2015
Lip Sync Battle
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2015 writer - 1 episode, 2015
Rap Critic Reviews
2013-2015
TV Series performer - 3 episodes
Glee
2015
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2015
2014
TV Movie writer: "Thrift Shop" - as Ben Haggerty
Todd's Pop Song Reviews
2014
TV Series performer - 4 episodes
Horrible Bosses 2
2014
performer: "Can't Hold Us" / writer: "Can't Hold Us" - as Ben Haggerty
Tammy
2014
performer: "Thrift Shop featuring Wanz" / writer: "Thrift Shop featuring Wanz" - as Ben Haggerty
Bates Motel
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
About a Boy
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
Dancing on Ice
TV Series performer - 2 episodes, 2014 writer - 2 episodes, 2014
Pastor Mike Online
2014
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The 56th Annual Grammy Awards
2014
TV Special performer: "Same Love" / writer: "Same Love"
Danville 2nd Ward Young Men
TV Series performer - 1 episode, 2014 writer - 1 episode, 2014
American Music Awards 2013
2013
TV Special performer: "Can't Hold Us" / writer: "Can't Hold Us"
Waterloo Road
2013
TV Series performer - 1 episode
2013 MTV Video Music Awards
2013
TV Special performer: "Same Love" / writer: "Same Love" - as Ben Haggerty
So You Think You Can Dance
2013
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
2013
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Dancing with the Stars
2013
TV Series writer - 1 episode
2013 Billboard Music Awards
2013
TV Special performer: "Thrift Shop" / writer: "Thrift Shop"