The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is a Canadian singer and songwriter known for his unconventional music production and artistic reinventions.
He has received six Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards and nine Billboard Music Awards, among other accolades.
The Weeknd began releasing music in 2009 and gained recognition after the release of his critically acclaimed mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence in 2011.
He has also been involved in various film and television projects, including the HBO drama series The Idol, which he co-created.
The Weeknd has announced his intention to retire the moniker of “the Weeknd” in favor of performing under his birth name or adopting a new pseudonym altogether.
Net worth | $300 million |
Profession | Singer |
Date of birth | February 16, 1990 |
Nationality | Ameican |
Background
The Weeknd’s mother and grandmother immigrated from Ethiopia in the 1980s, and his first language was Amharic.
Samra and Makkonen Tesfaye, split up shortly after his birth.
Raised by his mother and grandmother, The Weeknd’s early life was marked by his Ethiopian heritage and the challenges he faced, leading him to pursue a career in music and eventually become a renowned singer and songwriter.
Net worth
The Weeknd has a net worth of approximately $300 million.
His wealth comes from various sources, including his successful music career, film and television appearances and entrepreneurial pursuits.
The Weeknd has released three studio albums, as well as numerous mixtapes, and has collaborated with some of the most famous and influential musicians in the world.
He has also appeared in films and television shows, which has helped to further boost his net worth.
In addition to his music and acting career, The Weeknd has his own fashion label, XO, and has been involved in various brand partnerships and endorsements.
XO record label
The Weeknd co-founded the record label XO in 2011 with his managers Wassim Slaiby and Amir Esmailian and his creative director La Mar Taylor.
XO operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and is distributed through Republic Records. The label’s current acts include The Weeknd, Belly, Nav and Chxrry22.
XO has had six projects debut at number one on the Billboard 200, including albums by The Weeknd, Nav, and Belly. has had six projects debut at number one on the Billboard 200, including albums by The Weeknd, Nav, and Belly.
The label has released thirteen mixtapes, including The Weeknd’s critically acclaimed mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence.
XO has released thirteen studio albums, four EPs, and four compilation albums, including The Weeknd’s debut studio album Kiss Land and his Grammy-winning albums Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy.
The label has also expanded into other ventures, such as the HXOUSE LABS Global Tour and a radio show on Apple Music 1.
Real estate
In 2017, The Weeknd purchased a 12,547 square foot mansion in Hidden Hills, California for $18.2 million.
The property features an olive-tree lined driveway, a bridge made for storybooks, a 25-foot-tall entryway with custom glass walls, a massive living room with a fireplace and a wide wall of glass, a spacious kitchen with double islands, a formal dining room, a temperature-controlled wine room, a home office, a luxurious master suite with an all-glass shower, and a 1,200-square-foot guesthouse with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
The outdoor space includes a 12-foot-deep saltwater pool, a spa that fits ten, an outdoor kitchen, a barbecue pit and a party pavilion with spectacular views of the surrounding pastures, redwood trees and stunning landscaping.
In 2019, The Weeknd purchased a $21 million penthouse in Beverly Hills, California, known as the Mogul.
The unit measures 8,215 square feet, with wide-plank oak floors, dark navy decor, walls of floor-to-ceiling windows and private elevator access.
The penthouse features four bedrooms, four full bathrooms, one half bathroom, an open layout living room with double-height ceilings, an entertainer’s kitchen with Calcutta marble countertops and custom wood cabinetry, and a massive private outdoor space.
The building boasts amenities like a Turkish bath, a high-end gym, and a wine room.
In 2021, The Weeknd dropped $70 million for a Bel Air mansion, a 33,000-square-foot behemoth set on 1.6 acres overlooking the Bel Air Country Club.
The property features amenities like a gym, a movie theater, a music studio, a sauna, an indoor pool, an outdoor infinity pool with a waterfall and a sports court.
Career
The Weeknd began his music career in 2009 by releasing songs on YouTube under the pseudonym The Weeknd.
He gained recognition after the release of his critically acclaimed mixtapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence in 2011.
These mixtapes, which were released for free online, helped to establish The Weeknd as a major new talent in the music industry.
In 2013, The Weeknd released his debut studio album, Kiss Land, which was a commercial success and reached the Top 12 in the UK chart and the top spot in the UK R&B Albums chart.
He followed this up with the release of Beauty Behind the Madness in 2015, which was a major hit and included the singles, Can’t Feel My Face and The Hills.
The album was a critical and commercial success, and The Weeknd won several awards for his work on it.
In 2016, The Weeknd released his third studio album, Starboy, which was another major hit and included collaborations with artists such as Daft Punk, Lana Del Rey and Kendrick Lamar.
The album was a commercial success and helped to further establish The Weeknd as a major force in the music industry.
The Weeknd has also been involved in various film and television projects, including the HBO drama series The Idol, which he co-created.
He has also appeared in films and television shows, including The Simpsons.
Awards
The Weeknd has received numerous accolades for his music, including four Grammy Awards, 20 Billboard Music Awards and 22 Juno Awards.
He has also won six American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards and a Latin Grammy Award. In addition to these awards, The Weeknd has been nominated for an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award.
The Weeknd has also been recognized by Time magazine as one of the world’s most influential people and was dubbed the “world’s most popular artist” by Guinness World Records in 2023.
The Weeknd’s accolades reflect his significant contributions to the music industry and his influence as a musician and artist.
Guinness World Records
The Weeknd holds the title for the most monthly listeners on Spotify for a male singer, with an impressive 111.6 million listeners.
Additionally, he became the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify, solidifying his status as the “world’s most popular artist” according to Guinness World Records.
These achievements highlight his unparalleled influence and dominance in the music streaming landscape, surpassing other renowned artists like Miley Cyrus, Shakira, Taylor Swift and Rihanna in monthly listenership.
Philanthropic efforts
The Weeknd donated profits from the sales of his face masks to COVID-19 relief efforts in Scarborough, contributing $500,000 CAD to the Scarborough Health Network Foundation to support COVID-19 relief efforts in the area.
The Weeknd also donated $500,000 to MusiCares to aid musicians facing financial, medical, and personal health issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Feeling a personal connection to Ethiopia, The Weeknd pledged to donate $1 million through the United Nations World Food Program U.S.A. to provide 2 million meals for people in the Tigray Region facing severe food crises due to conflict.
He made significant donations to the University of Toronto’s Ethiopic Studies program, aiming to support academic, personal and professional achievements for individuals of Ethiopian descent.
His contributions have helped teach the ancient Ethiopic language of Ge’ez and decode historical excerpts.
In response to the explosion in Beirut in August 2020, The Weeknd donated $300,000 to the Global Aid for Lebanon fund, supporting organizations like the Red Cross Lebanon, the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon, and the United Nations World Food Programme.
The Weeknd’s philanthropic efforts showcase his dedication to making a positive impact on various causes, from supporting local communities during crises to aiding global initiatives for food aid and education.
Relationship history
The Weeknd has had notable relationship history with several high-profile individuals.
Notably, he has been romantically involved with Bella Hadid, with their relationship beginning in 2015 and experiencing an on-again, off-again dynamic until 2019.
Following his split from Hadid, The Weeknd was briefly involved with Selena Gomez in 2017. Subsequently, he has been linked to DJ/influencer Simia Khadra since 2022.
Additionally, there were rumors of a romantic connection with Angelina Jolie in 2021, although neither party confirmed the relationship.
The Weeknd’s dating history reflects his involvement with various celebrities and the public interest in his personal life.