<p id=”par-1_52″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/rappers/”>Rapper</a> Nelly garnered plenty of headlines in January 2025 when it was announced that he would be performing at President <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/donald-trump/”>Donald Trump</a>‘s inauguration. The “Hot in Herre” hitmaker along with a handful of other artists including <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/snoop-dogg/”>Snoop Dogg</a> and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/carrie-underwood/”>Carrie Underwood</a>, received backlash for agreeing to perform at the inauguration events. </p>
<p id=”par-2_37″>However, many of the musicians defended their decisions. And Nelly wanted to set the record straight that he is “not doing it for money.” Here’s more on that and what the hip-hop star’s <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/net-worth/”>net worth</a> is. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-nelly-shares-his-reason-for-performing-at-inauguration-ball”>Nelly shares his reason for performing at inauguration ball</h2>
<p id=”par-3_81″>Nelly was born on Nov. 2, 1974, in Austin, Texas, to parents Rhonda Mack and Cornell Haynes, who served in the Air Force. A source close to the rapper told <a href=”https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/nelly-defends-performing-trumps-inauguration-says-its-honor” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Fox News Digital</a> that in addition to his father, Nelly’s aunts and uncles “all served in the military for our democracy and the right for us all to vote. He has personally stayed away from politics and wouldn’t participate in campaigning for anyone, but this performance is for the highest office.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_15″>Nelly also talked about why he chose to perform at the Liberty Inaugural Ball. </p>
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<iframe title=”Nelly & Willie D GO AT IT About Him Performing At Trump’s Inauguration” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/TaPcJZn9d4U?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-5_23″>On a Jan. 18 episode of the <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7f9nozS1gw”><em>Willie D. Live</em> podcast</a>, Nelly spoke about performing for “the Office” of the President of the United States.</p>
<p id=”par-6_65″>When pressed about his decision, the “Dilemma” artist explained: “I’m not doing this for money. I’m doing this ’cause it’s an honor. I respect the office. It don’t matter who is in office. The same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever [is] in office.</p>
<p id=”par-7_25″>“So, if they can put their life on the line for whoever [is] in office, I can damn sure perform for whoever [is] in office.”</p>
<p id=”par-8_61″>Nelly also insisted: “If President Biden would’ve asked me to perform, I would’ve performed. If Vice President Kamala Harris would’ve won and asked me to perform, I would’ve performed … The politics, for me, is over. He [Trump] won! He’s the president. He’s the commander in chief of what I would like to say is the best country in the world.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-what-is-nelly-s-net-worth”>What is Nelly’s net worth?</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Nelly-performs-before-the-2024-NASCAR-Championship-Race-at-Phoenix-Raceway-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Nelly performs before the 2024 NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway” class=”wp-image-3764999″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Nelly performs before the 2024 NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway | John Medina/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
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<p id=”par-9_18″>When Nelly said he wasn’t performing for “money,” some wondered just how much the hip-hop artist is worth.</p>
<p id=”par-10_58″>Nelly’s been in the business for more than two decades. His debut album <em>Country Grammar</em> dropped in 2000. It sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and spawned the hits “E.I.,” “Batter Up,” and “Ride Wit Me.” Since then, he has released several more albums and sold over 40 million globally. The rapper’s catalog is valued at $100 million.</p>
<p id=”par-11_49″>In addition to his musical career, Nelly has done some acting too. He had a supporting role in the 2005 remake film <em>The Longest Yard</em> with Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Nelly also had a recurring appearance in <em>CSI: NY</em>. He has two clothing lines as well called Vokal and Apple Bottoms.</p>
<p id=”par-12_16″>Today, Nelly has an estimated net worth of $70 million, according to <a href=”https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/nelly-net-worth/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Celebrity Net Worth</a>. </p>