While Ariana Grande is already receiving Oscar buzz for her performance as Glinda Upland in John M. Chu’s 2024 film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked,” she made sure not to let her celebrity status get in the story’s way.
In fact, composer Stephen Schwartz revealed that when he was reimagining the song “Popular” for the big screen, he tried to add a hip-hop spin.
But Grande would have none of that, Schwartz admitted to The Los Angeles Times, saying that after he presented the idea, Grande responded by telling him “I want to be Glinda, not Ariana Grande playing Glinda."
It’s a revealing moment from a pop star known for her capacity to deeply connect with others through her music.
With 376 million fans on Instagram alone, Grande has more social media followers than the United States has people, and she has minted millions sharing her innermost thoughts on love, heartbreak, and even tragedy through her sweet and often soulful songs.
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The 31-year-old already has seven albums and three world tours to her name, yet her success thus far seems like just a warm-up to what could be her greatest role yet — as the blond and beautiful Glinda. Through her relationship with Elphaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo), Glinda transforms from a self-centered sorceress into the Good Witch, growing in love and empathy along the way.
Related: I saw 'Wicked' opening weekend — here's my take on the box office smash
How much did “Wicked” make at the box office? How much did Grande make playing Glinda?
With $214.3 million in ticket sales its first weekend alone, “Wicked” became an instant hit, smashing previous records to gain the title of highest-grossing movie ever to be based on a Broadway musical. It also already ranks as one of the most popular films of 2024.
Grande earned raves for her performance, particularly her singing ability (she does, after all, have a four-octave range), as well as her chemistry with Erivo, with the two declaring each other “best friends” by the end of filming.
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Although reports on social media circulated that Grande received $15 million from Universal Pictures (UVV) while Erivo made just $1 million, a spokesperson was quick to squash these rumors, releasing a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, which said that both women received equal pay, although they did not disclose the exact amount.
Whatever their paychecks turned out to be, you can be sure there’s a lot more coming. When “Wicked” ends its theatrical run, it’s expected to be streamed on NBCUniversal’s streaming app, Peacock, as well as be available for purchase on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+.
In addition, a second installment of “Wicked” has already finished filming; it will feature all members of the original cinematic cast, including Grande, and is set to be released in theaters on November 21, 2025.
Naturally, a Broadway musical turned into a Hollywood film also has a soundtrack, and since Grande is credited on 7 out of its 11 tracks, that should further boost her bottom line.
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What is Ariana Grande’s net worth?
It’s time for Forbes to do an update. The venerable business magazine lists the “God Is a Woman” singer as having a hefty net worth of $72 million — in 2020.
Grande was designated as the highest-paid female musician that year, and 17th on its list of Celebrity 100.
But that was nearly five years ago.
Other online sources, like Celebrity Net Worth and Yahoo!, have placed Grande’s wealth much higher in the intervening years, with the former estimating her wealth could be as high as $230 million in 2024.
Ariana Grande's wealth and income explained
Celebrity Net Worth does not provide sources for its figures or describe how its estimates are calculated, so we looked into Grande's earnings from her musical catalog, tours, business ventures, and real estate holdings in order to provide a more thorough picture of the multi-hyphenate star's income streams contribute to her wealth:
World tours and albums: $180 million and counting
Ariana's first album, “Yours Truly,” was released in 2013 and featured collaborations with Big Sean, Mike, and Mac Miller. It sold over four million equivalent album sales and debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200.
Her next album, “My Everything,” was another hit, selling more than 16 million equivalent album sales and landing her again at the top of the Billboard charts. It expanded on the “1990s retro R&B style” of “Yours Truly” while adding in new, electronic-pop beats.
Iggy Azalea, Big Sean, Childish Gambino and The Weeknd all made guest appearances on the album, and Grande embarked on her first world tour in 2015, The Honeymoon Tour, which grossed $41.8 million.
Grande's 2016 album, “Dangerous Woman,” sold another 11 million equivalent album sales and earned Grande a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album. Grande received comparisons to Mariah Carey on its “hooks and slick production.”
In 2017, Grande began her second world tour, The Dangerous Woman Tour, which had stops in North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe, and by the time of her May 22, 2017 concert in Manchester, England, it had grossed $71 million.
Tragically, after her performance ended, an Islamic suicide bomber struck concertgoers as they exited the arena. 22 people were killed and more than a thousand were injured. Grande suspended her tour and held a benefit concert the following month entitled "One Love Manchester," which raised over $21 million for victims and their families.
“Sweetener,” released in 2018, had hits like “No Tears Left to Cry,” and “God Is a Woman.” It was her third album to top the Billboard charts, and according to the magazine, it generated over 126 million streams. It also launched her next concert series, The Sweetener World Tour, which grossed $146 million.
Grande’s most popular album to date, “Thank U, Next,” was released in 2020 and was an immediate success, thanks to its refreshing perspective on unsuccessful relationships. It amassed 55.4 million views on YouTube and 8.19 million on Spotify — the highest ever for the platform at the time. It also generated 307 million streams, cementing her status as one of the most streamed female artists in history (although the title remains in Taylor Swift’s guitar-strumming hands).
Grande’s next album, 2020's “Positions,” explored more mature relationship themes while staying true to her R&B pop style. It debuted at the top of the Billboard charts and would go on to be streamed 173 million times.
Her latest album, 2024’s “Eternal Sunshine,” set a record for the most streamed album on the day of its release, with 58.1 million streams. Another Billboard chart-topper, it contains tracks such as “Yes, And?” and “We Can’t Be Friends,” and has 194 million streams to date.
TV appearances: $20–$25 million
In 2021, Grande appeared as a judge on the 21st season of NBC’s “The Voice,” and with her warm and outgoing personality, she instantly bonded with contestants — even giving out her cell phone numbers to stay in touch.
A source revealed to OK Magazine that Grande received between $20 and $25 million for the stint, although she later vowed never to do it again, telling Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers on the Las Culturistas podcast that she simply got too emotionally attached to everyone.
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Companies: $1+ billion
2021 was a big year for the pop star; in addition to her lucrative stint on “The Voice,” Grande also launched a celebrity cosmetics brand, R.E.M. Beauty. Sold online and in Ulta Beauty stores, it became instantly popular with both fans and beauty editors, garnering awards from Allure and Cosmopolitan magazines, to name a few.
The brand is noted for its inclusive range of foundation shades, lip oils, and themed collections that tie-in to Grande’s albums. At the end of 2023, it had generated $88.7 million revenues.
Grande also has eighteen fragrances to her name, beginning with “Ari by Ariana Grande,” which launched in 2015. Created in partnership with Luxe Brands, the perfume blends notes of raspberry, pear, and vanilla. Other scents from Grande include a whipped-cream-and-lavender confection, “Cloud,” which was released in 2018, and “Thank U Next,” which was released in 2019 alongside her album. It has notes of coconut and macaroon sugar.
Sales of her fragrances topped a staggering $1 billion in 2022.
Homes and real estate: $30+ million
Befitting her status as a hitmaking powerhouse, Grande's million-dollar properties span the globe, with properties in major cities like Los Angeles, New York City, and even London.
According to Architectural Digest, Grande was a longtime renter before she started putting down Benjamins for her luxurious abodes in 2018. This was when she bought her first apartment in New York's Chelsea neighborhood, a $16 million penthouse designed by another superstar talent: Architect Zaha Hadid. The 6,000 square-foot residence sported its own IMAX theater as well as a private pool and sauna.
Grande's west-coast homes range from a $9.1 million Montecito, Calif. mansion she originally purchased from Ellen DeGeneres and Portia DeRossi to a $4.9 million Hollywood Hills hideaway that was previously owned by Cameron Diaz.
During the filming of "Wicked," Grande rented an enormous mansion in England, in the trendy North London neighborhood. It boasted a private garden and screening room, and her neighbors included comedian Ricky Gervais and Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher.
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Ariana Grande’s early years
Grande’s full name is Ariana Grande-Butera, and she used it professionally for the first time on the credits for “Wicked.” In an interview for “The Streaming Service,” Grande explained that she chose to do so because that was her name when she saw “Wicked” for the first time on Broadway — at the tender age of 10, in 2003.
Born on June 26, 1993 in Boca Raton, Fla., Grande’s parents, Joan Grande and Edward Butera, separated when she was a child; she lost touch with her father as a teenager but they later reconciled, and she brought him to the 2020 Grammy Awards. Grande describes her heritage as Italian American with roots in Sicily and Abruzzo.
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Her aptitude for singing was apparent at a young age, as she performed with orchestral and theater groups around Fort Lauderdale — even on cruise ships. Her first major role was in the Broadway production of “13: The Musical,” as a cheerleader named Charlotte.
In 2009, Grande was cast in the Nickelodeon show “Victorious,” where she portrayed the adorable yet dimwitted singer, Cat Valentine. Although she enjoyed acting, she told Rolling Stone that “music has always been first and foremost with me.”
Grande says she became a singer entirely due to the powers of manifestation. She started a YouTube channel and recorded covers of songs by Adele, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey; an executive at Republic Records heard them and signed her to a recording contract in 2011.
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Ariana Grande’s personal life
Grande has amassed material for several lifetimes’ worth of songs through her relationships. Her first boyfriend, Graham Phillips, was a castmate in “13: The Musical.” She has also dated English singer Nathan Sykes, artist and producer Jai Brooks, her backup dancer Ricky Alvarez, and rapper Big Sean.
In 2016, she began dating Mac Miller, who had collaborated with her on “Yours Truly,” her first album. They split up in 2018, and Grande began seeing “Saturday Night Live” comedian Pete Davidson, although Miller tragically died from “mixed drug toxicity,” or an accidental drug overdose, later that year. As a result, the grief-stricken Grande ended her relationship with Davidson, with the comedian revealing to radio host Charlamagne on the “Live Your Truth” podcast that he knew they were over when he heard about Miller’s death.
Sadly, Davidson became the subject of online bullying after their breakup and even admitted to suicidal thoughts. Grande asked her fans to “be gentle” with Davidson and waxed poetic about him and Miller in the lyrics of her 2019 single, “Thank U Next.” The music video set records as the most-watched video on YouTube in a 24-hour period.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Grande met Dalton Gomez, a luxury real estate agent for the Aaron Kirman Group; his boss actually sold Grande the Hollywood Hills mansion she purchased that year for $13.7 million.
Is Ariana Grande married? Who is she dating?
On May 15, 2021, Grande and Gomez were married in a private ceremony at her Montecito, Calif. home. Grande later posted photos of her wedding dress on Instagram, which at the time became the platform's all-time most-liked human image, amassing 25 million likes; however, she later deleted all of her wedding photos when the couple separated in February 2023.
Both cited "irreconcilable differences,” and their divorce was finalized that October. The couple had a prenuptial agreement in place, and sources reported that Gomez walked away with a one-time $1.25 million alimony payment, proceeds from the sale of their Los Angeles home (it would be picked up by Bad Bunny for $8.3 million in 2024), and his attorney fees.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images
Grande raised eyebrows when, a few days after her split with Dalton, it was announced that she had moved on with actor Ethan Slater. The Broadway star had been married to his high school sweetheart, Lily Jay, and they had a son together in 2022 before separating in July 2023.
Grande and Slater both denied rumors that they had cheated on their respective spouses, and they have kept their relationship mostly low-profile, although fans believe Grande references him in her 2024 single “Yes, and?” Slater also appears in the “Wicked” franchise, as a Munchkin man named Boq Woodsman.
Who is richer, Taylor Swift or Ariana Grande?
We'll just have to wait and see when the official word from Forbes comes out, but as of December 2024, Grande has yet to enter the 8-figure club. Taylor Swift, the country music star turned pop icon, singer-songwriter, and all-around musical force of nature, officially became a billionaire in October 2023, thanks in part to her massive "Eras" World Tour, which grossed $1.1 billion from ticket sales alone.
But Grande's already bright star continues to rise, and so, giving her signature Glinda hair toss, we'll say we won't be surprised to see a few more commas added to her net worth in the coming years — if not sooner.
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