Fantasia Monique Barrino was born on 30 June 1984, in High Point, North Carolina USA, and is an R ‘n’ B singer and actress, who rose to prominence in 2004 when she appeared in the TV show American Idol 3, which she won and which opened the door to success. She released the song “I Believe”, which charted in the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and the release of the first single and her TV appearance obviously increased the popularity of Fantasia, and certainly added significantly to her net worth.
So just how rich is Fantasia, as of late 2017? It is estimated that Fantasia’s net worth is already over $4 million, accumulated during her relatively short career in the music industry.
Fantasia Barrino Net Worth $4 Million
Fantasia was born into a religious family, and sang in church, which was when she realized that she would like to be a singer. Fantasia has written an autobiographical book entitled Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, in which she recounts the story of her life from an early age. Before Fantasia came to prominence, her life was completely different and she faced many problems – Barrino attended Andrews High School, where she was raped by a classmate and so decided to drop out of school, and in 2001 gave birth to a daughter, Zion Quari Barrino , so at 17 Fantasia was an uneducated and unmarried woman with a child, living in poverty in High Point, North Carolina, and taking odd jobs to support her family. Fortunately, life took a different turn when Fantasia participated in and won the American Idol contest. As a result, Fantasia was well on the way to becoming rich. It is worth mentioning that the eventual release of her memoir caused discord between Fantasia and her father, who even sued his daughter for $10 million because he took umbrage at the things Fantasia had written about him.
After her victory, Fantasia signed a $1 million contract with J Records. Her debut album Free Yourself was certified platinum and nominated for four Grammy awards; consequently, Fantasia’s net worth significantly increased and she became much more famous. In total, Fantasia has now released four albums. Additionally, for the single “Bittersweet” Fantasia was rewarded with a Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.
Besides performing in concerts and releasing albums, Fantasia on occasion appears in films and in the theatre, including playing herself in the film “The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life is Not a Fairy Tale”, with actress Viola Davis playing the role of Fantasia’s mother. Fantasia also starred in the Broadway musicals “The Color Purple” and “After Midnight”, which performances also enlarged Fantasia’s net worth.
In her personal life, Fantasia gave birth to a son, Dallas Xavier Barrino in 2011. Having dated footballer Michael Clayton and rapper Young Dro, Fantasia married businessman Kendall Taylor in 2015. As her net worth increased, her lifestyle changed too: she used to own multiple homes, including one located in Glynmoor Lakes at Piper community which at one time was almost foreclosed to pay debts the singer had accumulated. Fantasia is also fond of designer brands such as Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin and Blackberry. Fantasia also enjoys relaxing in the Caribbean.
As a consequence of her experiences, Fantasia has always shown compassion for single mothers, and is rumoured to have planned to launch a chain of beauty salons, the profits of which are to be used to build a home for single mothers.
Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (2011), Theatre World Award (2007), NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist (2005), NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song/Outstanding Duo or Group, Billboard Music Award for Top-Selling Single of the Year/Top Selling R&B/Hip-Hop Single of t...
Record Labels
J Records, 19 Records, RCA, Concord Records
Albums
Free Yourself (2004), Fantasia (2006), Back to Me (2010)
Nominations
North Carolina Music Hall of Fame (2014), 100 Greatest Women in Music (Nr 32 VH1 in 2012)
Movies
Life Is Not a Fairytale: The Fantasia Barrino Story (2006), Celebration of Gospel: Taking You Higher (2006, musical), Soul Kittens Cabaret (2011, musical), The Best Man Holiday (2013)
TV Shows
"American Idol" (2013), "The Color Purple", "After Midnight", "Christmas special" (2004), After Midnight (2013)
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Trademark
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Normally performs barefoot.
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Her soulful voice
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Quote
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Me and my father, we don't have a really good relationship. That is something that's been out in the press and it's a very touchy situation for me to allow that to be seen. - On her feud with her father.
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He's still my father at the end of the day.
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You see good moments! I'll have my glass of wine, I still find a way to have a good time and hang out with my girlfriends. We only have one life to live and I can't let all the cares in the world weigh me down. I'll be 40 years old before I know it. - On her own reality show that dealt with more than family issues, that contained a lot of laughter.
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That's where I come from, that show opened a big door for me. I do feel that I have, music-wise and acting-wise, moved on, and I'm happy to just sit back now and give the new winners their props. I watch it all the time! - On her success on American Idol (2002).
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It's just the truth. Celebrities can be untouchable sometimes, but I've always given my story straight because I'm proud of myself and I'm proud that I can talk about what I've been through. People can relate to me. There are things going on with Fantasia that are probably going on with another family right around the corner. - On her own show that interests people.
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I would go in front of the mirror with an old, cheap can of hairspray and hold it like a microphone. I would go to sleep every night picturing myself singing in front of millions of people. - When she dreamed of stardom.
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Let me tell you this: That house was like a prison, but a good prison. They have somebody who sits (and watches), and they had security guards working in shifts. There's no way you can sneak out because there's a gate around the house. We had a curfew. We could leave the house if we weren't working, but we had to be back at certain time ... or you'd get in big trouble the next day. - On Corey Clark's restrictions.
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Judges were kept at a distance, with contact limited to maybe sometimes, after the show, they'd hug us or say something to us. - About the judges who knew of Corey Clark's volatile behavior on and off 'American Idol'.
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And my mom comes upstairs and she says, 'Something is wrong with you.' I wouldn't even talk. She says, 'Have you been touched?' I still said nothing. I laid in that bed for two days. I wouldn't even go to school. - On being sexually assaulted at aged 16.
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Oprah gave me a lot of advice. She sat me down ... Just, you know, how a lady should carry herself. How to manage your money. How to not put your trust in everybody. Just watch your back. But most of all, you have to watch what you do. You have to carry yourself in such a way. You have to just watch your every move and carry yourself as a lady. So other young ladies who are watching you will know this is how you do it. - On Oprah Winfrey, being her mentor.
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I like to go to the ocean and see the miracles that God has created. It reminds me of His power. He can do anything, like pulling me up from where I came, taking me through what I have been through, and bringing me to this point -- the point where I prayed to be my whole life. " - Fantasia, in her book, Life is Not a Fairy Tale
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Fact
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Though the surname "Barrino" has often been speculated as being of Hispanic (specifically Cuban) origin, Fantasia's patrilineal "Barrino" ancestors have lived in North Carolina since the 1800s, and were not of Hispanic origin. The surname was likely originally spelled "Barrineau".
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On August 9, 2010, she attempted suicide by drug overdose.
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(July 18, 2015) Married her boyfriend of a year Kendall Taylor following a 8-month-long engagement.
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Was in a relationship with Brandel Shouse from 1998 to 2003. They have a daughter together.
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Currently working on her sophomore LP, due out later this year. [February 2006]
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Fantasia Barrino's highly successful engagement starring on NYC Broadway as Celie in the show "The Color Purple", has been extended from 6 months to 9 months until January 6, 2008. [November 2007]
Currently in New York preparing for the starring role of Celie in the NYC Broadway Musical "The Color Purple". She will join the cast on April 10. [March 2007]
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Returned to work 4 months after giving birth to her son Dallas to begin recording her 4th studio album.
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Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 27, a son Dallas Xavier Barrino on December 13, 2011. Child's father is her ex-lover, Antwaun Cook.
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Announced that she is 4 months pregnant with her first child by her married lover Antwaun Cook (31 July 2011).
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Confirmed that she had fallen pregnant by her married lover Antwaun Cook, whom she began an affair with in December 2009, but had an abortion 3 months previously (25 November 2010).
Auditioned for the role of Effie White in the motion picture Dreamgirls (2006), but lost out to Jennifer Hudson.
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10 April 2007: Made her Broadway debut with the lead role of Celie in 'The Color Purple'.
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Dropped out of high school after a sexual assault that left her feeling embarrassed and harassed.
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Released autobiography and best selling book, Life Is Not A Fairy Tale, in 2005.
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Was physically, verbally, and emotionally abused by ex-boyfriend Brandel Shouse, who is also the father of her daughter Zion Quari Barrino.
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When Fantasia's song "I Believe" topped Billboard Hot 100 on July 1, 2004, Fantasia Barrino became the first solo artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to debut at number one with their very first chart appearance.
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Just two months after its release, her debut album, Free Yourself, sold over one million copies and went platinum.
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On May 28, 2005 she made Billboard chart history when she became the first female artist to place three songs in the top five of the Adult R&B Chart and then the very next week she became the first artist to have two of the top three songs on that chart with
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Fantasia's Number One hit song, I Believe, was co-written by another American Idol contestant, Tamyra Gray from Season 1, who also contributed background vocals to I Believe.
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Her cousins are R&B singers K-Ci (Cedric Hailey) and JoJo (Joel Hailey) who formed the singing group Jodeci along with the DeGrate brothers in 1990.
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Her first single from her first album, Truth Is, released February 2005.
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3rd Season American Idol Winner of 2004.
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Gave birth to her 1st child at age 17, a daughter Zion Quari Barrino on August 8, 2001. Child's father is her ex-boyfriend, Brandel Shouse.