Last Updated on March 3, 2024
Who Is Ray J?
William Ray Norwood Jr., better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, actor, television personality, and entrepreneur. Ray J began his music career in 1995 but shot to international fame in 2007 in a fairly controversial style.
In February 2007, the internet world was treated to a blaze of publicity following the leakage of a pornographic home video recorded back in 2002, depicting Ray J enjoying intimate moments with former girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. Despite being highly controversial, the sex tape played a critical role in popularizing Ray J and Kim Kardashian.
The duo also earned hefty paychecks from the video recording following a lawsuit filed against the tape owner, Vivid Entertainment. Kim received a one-time $5 million out-of-court settlement, while Ray J earns roughly $360,000 in annual royalties.
Quick Facts
Full Name: | William Ray Norwood Jr. |
Popular Name: | Ray J |
Gender: | Male |
Birth Date: | January 17, 1981 |
Age: | 42 years |
Parents: | Willie Norwood and Sonja Bates-Norwood |
Siblings: | Brandy Norwood (blood sister) and Danyelle “C-Dove” Brown (illegitimate brother born to Willie Norwood) |
Birth Place: | McComb, Mississippi |
Nationality: | American |
Ethnicity: | African-American |
Education: | Carson High School |
Marital Status: | Married |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Wife/Spouse: | Princess Love |
Children: | Melody Love and Epik Ray |
Dating: | N/A |
Net Worth: | USD $15 million |
Source of Wealth: | Album & Record Sales, Record Producing, Acting, Reality Television, Sex Tape Royalties, Endorsement Deals, and Other Entrepreneurial Ventures |
Height: | 5′ 7″ (1.7 m) |
Weight: | 74 kg; In pounds: 163 lbs. |
Early Life
William Ray Norwood Jr. was born on January 17, 1981, in McComb, Mississippi, to Willie Norwood and Sonja Bates-Norwood.
Ray J is the younger brother of recording artist and actress Brandy Norwood, who’s best known for hits like “The Boy Is Mine,” “Angel In Disguise,” and “Afrodisiac.”
Ray is also the first cousin of rapper and actor Snoop Dogg, best known for the smash hits “Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Gin and Juice,” and “California Gurls.
Music Career
Ray J kicked off his music career in 1995 by signing to Electra Records. The same year, he started working on his debut studio album titled Everything You Want, releasing the album in March 1997.
Ray J then recorded the single “Another Day in Paradise” alongside his sister Brandy. The song was an international hit, topping major charts in various countries, including Austria, Germany, the UK, and Switzerland.
Ray J released his second studio album, This Ain’t A Game, on July 26, 2001. He then took a 2-year break before returning to start working on his third album. The album, titled Raydiation, was released on September 27, 2005.
Raydiation was a commercial success, selling over 400,000 copies domestically. Its lead single, “One Wish” peaked at the top-20 position in the US, UK, New Zealand, and Ireland.
In February 2007, a sex tape of Ray J with former girlfriend Kim Kardashian surfaced. The pornographic home video, which was recorded in 2002, helped propel Ray further onto the international spotlight.
Ray J capitalized on the buzz generated by the leaked sex tape to sign a multimillion-dollar album deal with Koch Records and Deja 34 Entertainment Company. Through the deal, Ray was able to release his fourth and final album so far on April 1, 2008, titled All I Feel. The album’s lead single, “Sexy Can I” ft. Yung Berg, peaked at the #3 spot on the Top Singles (Hot 100) for a whopping six weeks.
Acting and Television Career
Ray J began his career in the television industry in 1989 by appearing in television commercials for various companies.
From 1993 to 1994, Ray landed a role in The Sinbad Show as a foster son. Following his outstanding performance in this series, Ray J was offered a role on the UPN series. He portrayed Dorian in the series from 1999 until the end of the show in 2001.
Other 90s film and television series featuring Ray J include:
• The Enemy Within (1994, film)
• The Enemy Within (1994, television movie)
• Once Upon a Time…When We Were Colored (1995, film)
• Mars Attacks! (1996, film)
• Steel (1997, film)
• Aftershock: Earthquake in New York (1999, film)
Ray J’s next acting role came in 2005 after he played the character D-Mack in One On One. In 2009, he began starring in his own VH1 reality dating show called For the Love of Ray J. The following year, Ray starred alongside his sister Brandy and their parents in another VH1 reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business.
Ray J is the current host of the reality game show series Bad Girls All-Star Battle, which airs on the Oxygen television network. Other reality television shows that Ray J has graced include My Kitchen Rules and Celebrity Big Brother.
Ray J’s Net Worth
Ray J has amassed a net worth of $15 million for the duration he has been active in the entertainment industry. A huge chunk of his wealth comes from album and record sales.
Ray also draws paychecks from his various endeavors in the film and television industries.
Ray J’s other major income earner is his leaked sex tape with Kim Kardashian. He reportedly earns $90,000 every three months in royalties from this pornographic home video. That works out to $360,000 per year.
Ray J is also a business mogul in his own right. In the corporate circles, Ray is best known for founding the line of consumer electronics, Raytroniks. Raytroniks includes smartphone-controlled fans, e-bikes, and smartwatches. The line’s most commercially successful brand is the Scoot-E Bike brand, which Ray J vigorously promoted. After employing viral digital marketing techniques, the rapper was able to secure product placements via renowned celebrities like Brandy, Snoop Dogg, Sean Combs, Justin Bieber, and Chris Brown. Ray J’s other notable business venture is a line of marijuana products known as William Ray LA, launched in June 2019.
Lessons from Ray J
1. Patience and perseverance pay
Ray J began his career in the entertainment industry way back in 1989. But it was not until 2007 that he truly became an international star. It definitely takes patience to wait that long.
2. Every publicity is good publicity
Leaked sex tapes have a way of ruining professional careers. However, Ray J capitalized on his sex tape with Kim Kardashian to grow his popularity. He also earns at least $360,000 in royalties from the video recording.
3. Take advantage of your networks to popularize your brand
Ray J has built powerful networks by working closely with fellow established artists. He was able to leverage his networks to promote his Scoot-E Bike brand successfully.
Famous Quotes by Ray J
• Brandy opened a lot of doors for me and is still helping me out. If I never ever swayed from being ‘Brandy’s brother,’ it wouldn’t be a problem. But being real to yourself, it shines through.
• I feel like everybody that’s successful owes everything to God.
• Keep your life in a positive perspective. We are not defined by our pasts.
• Men like us who live on the edge and had this player life – and for even some that still do – we gotta respect women – we gotta understand that their position here is much bigger than what we might give them.
• When you’re a parent, you spend time with the baby. You look at the baby’s face and envision her future and what you have to do as a parent to make sure she’s financially good and that she’s comfortable inside of the family and that she’s positive and learning every day.
Wrap Up
Ray J is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and actor who rose to international stardom courtesy of a sex video of him with former girlfriend, Kim Kardashian. Ray is considered one of the most talented R&B singers of his generation. He has a net worth of $15 million in 2023.