From the day Ariana Grande stepped on the set of Victorious as Cat Valentine, America has been absolutely enamored by her presence. While a ton of childhood stars hit a rough patch after they leave childhood television, Grande's career has stood the test of time. Since leaving her Nickelodeon days behind a decade ago, her career has grown an impressive amount with chart-topping music and an appearance as Glinda Upland in the new movie rendition of Wicked, out in theaters now. Plus, in 2021 she dropped her vegan and cruelty-free beauty brand, R.E.M Beauty, which can be found in stores nationwide.
It goes without saying that Grande has done pretty well for herself over the years. For everything we know about her net worth in 2024 and the work that made her a star—read on below.
The sleuth of acting, music, and brand deals and creations have led Grande to a whopping estimated net worth of $230 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. While that unconfirmed number is obviously significant, the "God Is a Woman" singer is expected to get a notable boost from her Wicked performance, too (we're talking an estimated $15 million before the movie has even been released, according to Showbiz Galore).
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While some think of Grande's claim to fame as Cat from Victorious, she actually got her start in the entertainment industry a few years prior when she appeared in the Broadway musical 13. Her time on Broadway led to a National Youth Theatre Association Award for her role as cheerleader Charlotte and ultimately put her on the map pre-Nickelodeon. And before that, you could find Grande singing and performing anywhere and everywhere including a at cruise ship karaoke night, where the then eight-year-old Grande sang “My Heart Will Go On.”
In 2010, she landed the role of Cat Valentine on Victorious, a ditzy, bubbly redhead who is Jade and Tori’s best friend and Robbie's love interest. While the show ended after just three years on air, Grande quickly reprised her character in the spin-off series Sam & Cat, costarring with iCarly’s Jennette McCurdy. One year later, the spin-off ended, giving Grande the perfect opportunity to jump-start the music career she always dreamed of having.
“When I was six years old, I just kind of decided that’s what I’m going to do with my life, period,” she told Billboard in 2018. “I manifested it. I knew I would. There was never really a doubt in my mind.
“I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of the artist I can be, and I just want to keep growing and practicing and getting better,” she added at the time. “I never want to get lazy.”
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In 2011, while still part of the Nickelodeon family, she signed with Republic Records, a label owned by Universal Music Group. That year, Grande released her first single, "Put Your Hearts Up," as part of an album that was never released. Later that year she met Mac Miller, a famous rapper, producer, and songwriter. The pair became fast friends and later recorded a song, “The Way,” which was part of Grande's first album.
The album Yours Truly was released the same year Victorious ended and Sam & Cat started. The album exceeded expectations and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, making her the 15th female artist to ever debut at the top spot in the U.S. with their first album. In the first week alone, the album sold over 138,000 copies and gave Grande recognition as a serious music artist for the first time.
The next year, Grande released her second studio album, My Everything, which included award-winning songs like "Bang Bang" with Jessie J and Nicki Minaj. After her second album was released, she took two years to create Dangerous Woman, her third studio album, which was released in 2016. The album and its singles were nominated for two Grammy Awards and ultimately led Grande to win Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards in 2016.
In 2018, Grande released Sweetener, which she told Jimmy Fallon was in reference to "bringing light to a situation, or to someone's life, or somebody else who brings light to your life, sweetening the situation."
A year later, following the death of Grande's ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and her breakup with Pete Davidson, Grande released Thank U, Next, an album that attempted to put her "failed" relationships into perspective.
“We started at home base—me,” Grande told Billboard in reference to Yours Truly, “and then we went in this place where I kind of played the game for a little bit, and did the big, big, big pop records. Then we slowly started incorporating my soul back into it—and that’s where we’ve landed again with ‘Thank U, Next.’”
Grande's sixth and most recent studio album, Positions, was released in October 2020 and included her raunchiest singles yet. With songs like "34 + 35," "Motive" (with Doja Cat), and "Positions" making her fans' heads spin, it's safe to say Grande is no longer the teeny-bopper we once knew.
A year after Positions dropped, Grande joined costars Blake Shelton, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend on the 21st season of The Voice. While she was only on the show for one season, it's rumored she brought home around $20 to $25 million for her time.
Getty Images/Dimitrios Kambouris
In 2021, Grande founded R.E.M. Beauty, a high-performing and clean cosmetic brand crafted to promote self-expression. From colorful glosses to pigmented eye shadows, the clean, vegan, and cruelty-free brand offers an inclusive range of shades and products. Plus, it's newly PETA-certified.
"This has been a truly inspiring time for me as a founder, turning my passion for art, self-expression, and makeup into reality and watching r.e.m. beauty find its wings, especially now during this new era for the brand," Grande said in a press release. "I'm thrilled to have these amazing partners join us at this time, supporting our vision and expansion so that fans worldwide can continue to grow with us and enjoy our products. This next chapter could not be more exciting, and I can't wait for everyone to see what is yet to come."
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