Who are the richest K-pop Idols with the highest net worth? Only a handful of K-pop singers end up becoming iconic. There are many stories of struggling K-pop trainees that end up never joining a group or releasing an album. However, to become one of the richest K-pop idols means they will have the potential to make lots of money. K-pop entertainment companies are making a lot of money and have started to go public. K-pop stars have also started to invest their money as well as expand out of the music industry and into the entertainment industry. BLACKPINK and BTS had a massive 2019 and their net worth should only grow as we move forward. A few things to keep in mind. Each member of BLACKPINK should have successful solo careers while BTS will have to take care of their military service at some point. 

Here are the richest K-pop Idols with the highest net worth. We take into account the money earned through their music, investments, and outside income through endorsements, TV appearances, Social Media Marketing, and films. We are not including income from Kpop merchandise because most if not all go to their entertainment companies. 

The Net Worth Estimates are just that, estimates. It is impossible to get the true net worth of a K-pop star. We took into account 5 factors when creating the list.

1. Salary from their Entertainment Companies
2. Endorsements
3. Investments (Businesses/Real Estate)
4. Assets
5. Influence

The Richest K-Pop Idols for 2019

1. Kim Jaejoong – Richest K-Pop Idols (Male)

Kim Jaejoong is considered the richest K-pop Idol. He is a singer, songwriter, actor, director, designer, and businessman. He was a member of the Kpop group JYJ and TVXQ. However, he also had a strong career as an actor in Korean dramas. These dramas include Triangle, Protect the Boss, Dr. Jin, and Manhole to name a few. He also started in Korean films such as Jackal is Coming and Heaven’s Postman.  

Richest K-Pop Idols for Real Estate

Kim Jaejoong bought an apartment in 2012 that is now worth close to $3 million. It is a 3,200 square foot penthouse apartment located in Samsung-dong. Two years later he bought the 7-story J-Line Building located in Seocho-dong for $7 million. He also owns a coffee shop called Cafe J-Holic in Myeondong and another one called Coffee Cojjee in Samsung-dong. In addition, he owns a bar in Gangnam called Holic-J and a Japanese restaurant in Gangnam called Bum Story. Jaejoong recently opened a new branch of KAVE Cafe in Osaka, Japan. In addition, he runs the KAVE MALL in Shibuya, Japan

He is known for having luxury cars such as the Bentley Continental, Lamborghini Murcielago LP-640, Mitsuoka Himiko, Audi R8, 2 Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Ferrari 458, and a Rolls-Royce Wraith.  

In 2015, Jaejoong started his own fashion company called MOLDIR.  He designs his own brand which he sells at his luxury clothing store in Cheongdam. 

Kim Jaejoong estimated net worth:  $80 Million

2. PSY (Park-Jae-sang) 

PSY is a Koren rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer. The world knows him for his global hit single Gangnam Style. PSY comes from a rich family with his father being the executive chairman of DI Corporation and his mother owned many restaurants around Gangnam. He started his music career in the early 2000s. However, it was in 2010 when he got signed by YG Entertainment where he started to take off. In 2012 alone, he was able to make over $28 million thanks to his hit single.  

Gangnam Style Blows Up the Internet – Youtube’s Richest K-Pop Idols

Gangnam Style was at one point the most viewed video on YouTube and him a global star. It is estimated Gangnam style generated $20 million from YouTube and streaming services. He also was able to get over 1 million followers on Instagram and he was able to charge around $2,000 per post.  

PSY also owns a condo in Westwood that is estimated to be worth $1.5 million. Since breaking into the U.S. market, he has worked with American musicians such as Will.i.am, Snoop Dog, and Black Eyed Peas just to name a few.  

These days he is very active in being a producer, but he still does concert tours around the world. He was able to make $300,000 for a single concert in Malaysia. Famous record executive Scooter Braun, the manager for Justin Bieber, is also the manager for PSY. He is also a film star and a television star in Korea. PSY has done endorsements for brands like Sonic Drive-in, Wonderful Pistachios, and Haute couture just to name a few. He also is involved with non-profit organizations such as World Vision and Rotary International.  

PSY estimated Net Worth:  $60 Million

3. Rain (Jung Ji Hoon) 

Rain is a singer, songwriter, dancer, music producer, and actor. His first success came in 2002 when he released his first solo album and appeared on a Korean show. His career has taken off ever since then and he has gone on to do a total of 7 albums. He has done major world tours and has starred in Korean and American films (Ninja Assassin). In 2015, Rain set up his own company called RAINCOMPANY. 

Marriage to Kim Tae Hee – Richest K-Pop Idols (Couple)

Rain married Kim Tae Hee who is one of the top female actresses in Korea. The couple owns real estate in Cheongdam that is currently valued at over $35 million. Their home is valued at $5 million. They are considered the richest celebrity couple in Korea. 

Rain estimated Net Worth:  $45 Million

4. G-Dragon (Kwon Ji-Yong) – Richest K-Pop Idols (Big Bang)

G-Dragon is a rapper, songwriter, producer, model, and fashion trendsetter. He is a member of Big Bang and has written and composed many of their hit songs such as Haru Haru. In all, G-Dragon has over 180 songs copyrighted under his name. Seungri said in an article that his income from several businesses is minuscule compared to G-Dragon, who makes $700,000 a year just on songwriting royalties.

G-Dragon also went on to release his own solo album called Heartbreaker. He even collaborated with T.O.P. to release the album GD & TOP. His music revenue mainly comes from his copyrights, Spotify, and YouTube advertisement revenue. He also produces and writes music for himself and other artists which add to his income. 

G-Dragon Becoming a Fashion Icon in Korea

G-Dragon has broken into the fashion industry and has been shaping the fashion trends in Korea for the last few years. He has his own fashion brand (Peaceminusone) and jewelry lines and is the brand ambassador/model for Chanel. He is one of the highest-paid K-pop stars in Korea.  His endorsement deals are an average of around $2 million. He has endorsed companies like Nike, Hyundai, Airbnb, and many European and Asian fashion brands. He collaborated with Nike to create Peaceminusone PARANOISE shoes that retail for $200. In addition, he has made a lot of money from his investments in cafes (Untitled 2017), restaurants, hotels, and apartments in Korea. In 2013, he purchased a 2,500 square foot apartment in the Galleria Foret complex for $3 million.  He also owns the March Rabbit complex in Cheongdam which is estimated to be worth over $9 million.

G-Dragon is one of the few holders of the Black Honda Card. This is a credit card in Korea that only the top 0.05% can use. To hold this card, you will need to be exclusively invited to become a cardholder.

G-Dragon estimated Net Worth:  $40 Million

5. Choi Siwon

An argument could be made that Siwon will end up being #1 when it is all said and done as he is in line to inherit a fortune from his parents. Siwon is a singer, model, songwriter, actor, and businessman. He is a member of Super Junior which had many #1 albums in Korea from 2007 to 2017. Siwon also starred in films such as Attack on the Pin-Up Boys, A Battle of Wits, Dragon Blade, To the Fore, and Helios. In addition, Siwon played lead roles on Korean dramas such as Oh! My Lady and Poseidon. He comes from a very rich family who has an estimated net worth of over $600 Million. They are the owners of the Hyundai Department Store chain. In 2015, Siwon was appointed as the special representative of the South Korea Committee for UNICEF.

King of Twitter

Siwon was the king of twitter followers when twitter first launched in Korea by being the first K-pop star to reach 3 million followers. Currently, he has 6.7 million followers on twitter. He has done advertisements in not only Korea but also in China and Thailand. The majority of his income comes from China. He has endorsed companies like Black Jacket, Seoul Milk, and 12 Plus just to name a few.  

Choi Siwon estimated Net Worth:  $40 Million 

6. Lee Hyori – Richest K-Pop Idols (Female)

Lee Hyori is a part of the first generation of K-pop stars. She comes in at #6 on our list of the richest K-pop Idols. She started out with a very popular K-pop girl group called Fin.K.L. In 2006, she was the highest-paid female K-pop singer. She made even more money through advertising and endorsements for companies like Samsung and Korean soju brand Chum-Churum. She is married to a very rich producer named Lee Sang-soon in 2013. Together they produced a very popular variety show called Hyori’s Bed and Breakfast. It is filmed at Jeju Island at Hyori’s property called  “Hyori’s Homestay.” Besides singing Hyori also acted in Korean TV series such as Three Leaf Clover and Korean films such as Dancing Queen.  

Lee Hyori estimated Net Worth:  $25 Million

7. Taeyang (Dong Young Bae) 

Taeyang is a singer and songwriter. He is a member of Big Bang and also had a successful solo career. Similar to G-Dragon, Taeyang is also a fashion icon and has done a collaboration with Fendi for “Fendi for Taeyang”. He has over 30 song credits and owns a house that is worth around $3.5 million. In addition, Taeyang owns a building that is worth over $7 million. He is also a shareholder in YG Entertainment and is reported to have invested $600,000 in the company. 

Taeyang married a Korean actress named Min Hyo-Rin in 2018.  

Taeyang estimated Net Worth:  $25 Million

8. T.O.P (Choi Seung Hyun)

Coming in at #10 for the richest K-pop Idols is T.O.P.  T.O.P is a rapper, singer, songwriter, for the K-Pop group Big Bang. He released the album GD & TOP in 2010 which hit #1 in Korea. TOP has been involved more and more as a record producer and actor these days. He has over 50 song credits. In addition, he is an avid art collector. He is known to have purchased original artworks from Andy Warhol. 

T.O.P has done many TV commercials and it is estimated his price is at least $500,000 for a six-month endorsement deal or $1 million for a year-long endorsement deal. He owns a villa that is valued at over $2.5 million. He revealed to his fans that he had purchased a whole grape field in Argentina which is known to produce on average, 8,000 bottles of wine.

Some of his endorsements include an outdoor clothing brand called Millet, Cass (Korean Beer) and Nongfu Spring (tea brand). He owns a building in Hannam that is worth over $2 million.

T.O.P estimated Net Worth:  $25 Million 

9. DARA (Sandara Park) – Richest K-Pop Idols (2NE1)

DARA is a singer, actress, and host.  She became famous for being a member of one of the top girl groups of all time, 2NE1. After the group disbanded she has been able to have a very successful solo career. She has been able to have a successful acting career is Korean dramas such as One More Happy Ending and Missing Korea. She also was in a Korean movie called Bcuz of You which got her many acting awards. DARA has appeared on many television shows in the Philippines as well. She also hosted a fashion show called Get It Beauty and is considered a fashion icon. She has her own fashion line called “Dara Park Seduction”.  

DARA has endorsement deals from brands such as Etude House, Clio, Nikon, Mitsubishi, Moonshot, CoverGirl, BNY Jeans, Tekki Asian Classic Noodles, Canon, Cass beer, Head & Shoulders, and Penshoppe just to name a few. Nikon even named a camera after her. It is called Sandara Digicam. Dara went to school in the Philippines. She is a huge star in the Philippines and was nicknamed “BoA of the Philippines” by Kpop fans. 

She has taken her money and invested it sell in smart stock investments, real estate, and restaurants. DARA has even launched her own brand of Vodka and has a top-selling perfume called “With Love from Dara”. She also became YG Entertainment’s public relations director. 

DARA also has her own YouTube Channel called Dara TV which has over 686,000 subscribers.  

DARA estimated Net Worth:  $20 Million 

10. IU (Lee Ji-Eun)

IU is considered one of the most popular K-pop stars in Korea. She debuted at the young age of 15 as a singer-songwriter. IU is known for composing and producing her own songs. This allows her to continually increase her royalty earnings. Her album Good Day was one of the most successful albums of all time. IU has done over 50 advertisements for companies such as Samsung, Sony Korea, SK Telecom, Le Coq Sportif, S-Oil, Guess, and even Korean soju brand Chamisul. She lives in Caelitus which is one of the top Luxury Apartments in Seoul.  

She has created the IU scholarship at her former high school and has donated over $88,000 to the Green Umbrella Children’s Fund.  

IU estimated Net Worth:  $15 Million 

11. BOA (Kwon Bo-Ah) 

BOA is a singer, dancer, composer, and actress that is not only famous in Korea but also Japan. She has been able to sell over 1 million album copies in Japan alone. She speaks Japanese, English, and Korean.  Furthermore, she has recorded songs in Mandarin. All this has led to her success all across East Asia. She is considered the “Queen of K-Pop” as she has spent over 20 years in the K-Pop industry.  

BOA has been a judge/mentor for many music competition shows such as Produce 101 and K-Pop Star. She was also in a Hollywood movie called Make Your Move 3D.  

BOA estimated Net Worth:  $15 Million

12. Yoona (Im Yoon-ah)

Yoona was a singer for the very famous K-pop girl group SNSD.  She has done over 20 commercials for K-Beauty brands such as Innisfree and was the first overseas endorser of Alcon Taiwan. In fact, before she was a singer, she was a model and filmed many commercials. She is the top SNSD member in regards to doing the most number of solo ad shoots. Yoona is the face of Innisfree and has traveled across Asia promoting the brand.  

Yoona also acts and appeared in a Chinese drama called God of War, Zhao Yun and got over $2.5 million for the role. In addition, she also starred in many Korean dramas such as Love Rain and The King in Love, just to name a few.  

Along with Innisfree, she has modeled for Danish jewelry brand Pandora, as well as S-Oil, Crocs, and Lee Jeans.  

Yoona estimated Net Worth:  $15 Million

13. Suzy

Coming in at #15 on our list of the richest K-pop Idols is Suzy.  Suzy is a former member of K-pop girl ground Miss A. Back in 2013, Suzy made over $9 million in endorsement deals mainly in eyewear and nutritional supplements. However, she has endorsed almost everything such as skincare products, BBQ chicken, kimchi refrigerators, cellphones, pizza, theme parks, and even GPS devices.  Because Suzy is both a K-pop singer and an actress, she has the best conditions available as an endorsement model.  

Suzy starred in a Korean film called Architecture 101 and Korean dramas such as Dream High and Gu Family Book. Therefore, she was one of the most highly sought after female celebrities in the advertising industry. 

Suzy owns a couple of floors of a building in Gangnam worth over $3.8 million.

Suzy estimated Net Worth:  $15 Million

14. J-Hope (Jung Ho-Seok) – Richest K-Pop Idols (BTS)

J-Hope is considered the highest earner form the K-pop boy group BTS. Based on their earnings from BTS, every member has gotten at least $8 million. J-Hope has done a lot of solo work and has been featured on other K-pop artist’s works. He also debuted his solo rap mixtape called Hope World. Recently, J-Hope has purchased a luxury apartment that is valued at around $2 million. He has donated over $200,000 to ChildFund Korea along with other members of BTS. In addition, his name is credited for many of BTS’s songs.  

J-Hope estimated Net Worth:  $12-14 Million

15. Taeyeon (Kim Tae Yeon)

Taeyeon is a singer, TV personality, and actress. She made a name for herself as a member of SNSD. She has recorded many songs for movies, TV dramas, and commercials. Taeyeon is very active on social media and produces a lot of content for her channels. She has had a very successful solo career. A few years ago she bought an apartment for her parents that is valued at over $1 million. She has three cars, a Mercedes Benz SLK 55 AMG, Porsche Boxster, and a BMW M4.

Taeyeon estimated Net Worth:  $10 Million

16. Jay Park

Jay Park is a rapper, dancer, actor, and music producer. Park founded his own Korean independent Hip Hop record label called AOMG. AOMG also acts as an agency that represents Korean UFC fighter Jung Chan-sung (Korean Zombie). He is the CEO of AOMG (2013) and global label H1GHR MUSIC (2017) and he has signed many rappers and artists. Jay Park was a member of the K-Pop boy group 2PM. He has a contract with Roc Nation (Jay-Z’s company). Jay is known for building bridges between the international music scenes. He recently finished up his first world tour in 2019.

Jay Park estimated Net Worth: $10 Million

17. RM (Kim Nam-Joon) 

RM is the leader and one of the rappers for BTS. Not only is RM a rapper but he is also a songwriter and has written songs for Korean K-pop group Glam. He has also produced and written songs for BTS. He has writing credits for over 130 songs where he continues to get revenue.  

RM released a solo mixtape while working with famous U.S. rapper Warren G. He also made a single for the Korean soundtrack to the movie Fantastic Four. Furthermore, he has been on many Korean reality TV shows like Problematic Men.  

RM estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

18. Suga (Min Yoongi) 

Suga is a rapper, producer, and songwriter for BTS. He has also worked with other artists by composing songs. He has writing and producing credits for more than 70 songs. Suga owns a multi-million dollar apartment.

Suga estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

19. Jimin (Park Jimin) 

Jimin is a singer and dancer for BTS. He has done TV shows like Hello Counselor. In addition, he has also earned endorsements from high profile brands like Puma, Coca Cola, and Hyundai Motors. Aside from the $8 million he gets with BTS, he also makes around 1-2 million from his endorsement deals. 

Estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

20. Jungkook (Jeon Jeong-kook)

Jungkook is the main vocalist, dancer, and producer on some of BTS’s music. In addition, he has appeared on many Korean TV shows like Flower Crew and Celebrity Bromance. He recently bought a $1.7 million dollar apartment in cash.  

Jungkook estimated Net Worth: $8-10 Million

21. V (Kim Tae-Hyung)

V is a singer, producer, songwriter, actor, and dancer for BTS. He made most of his money from BTS’s record-breaking music releases because he is credited with some of BTS’s songs. Furthermore, he has started to do some acting and recently landed a supporting role in the historical Korean drama Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth. V also broke the record for most views on V-Live.  

V estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

22. Jin (Kim Seok-jin)

Jin is one of the lead vocalists for BTS. He has produced and writing credits for BTS. In addition, he is active in the food industry as he has opened a Japanese style restaurant in South Korea with his brother. Recently, he purchased a $1.8 million dollar apartment in Seoul. Jin comes from a rich family as his father is the CEO of a major Korean company and his mother is a former Miss Korea.  

Jin estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

23. Lisa (Lalisa Manoban) – Richest K-Pop Idols (Blackpink)

Lisa was born in Bangkok, Thailand. She is a dancer and lead rapper for the K-pop girl group Blackpink. Lisa breaks into the top 30 for the richest K-pop Idols. She comes from a wealthy family as her father is a famous chef in Thailand. What makes her different from the other members is her influence in Thailand. Therefore, she has been able to generate a lot of extra income due to her Thai ads. She also has her own video game. Lisa has her own YouTube Channel called Lilifilm Official which has over 1.9 Million subscribers. In addition, her Instagram has over 28 million followers! Therefore, Lisa is known as the Queen of Kpop Idols on Instagram. 

Lisa estimated Net Worth:  $8-10 Million

24. Jennie ( Jennie Kim) 

Jennie is a rapper, singer, and model. She is a member of the K-pop girl group Blackpink. In addition, Jennie has also done solo work and released her debut studio album Solo in 2018 and it reached #2 in Korea. She has done collaborations with Chanel, Hera, and streetwear brands.  

Jennie estimated Net Worth:  $8-9 Million

25. Jisoo (Jisoo Kim) 

Jisoo is a singer, actress, and model. She is a member of Blackpink and is the 10th most followed K-pop Idol on Instagram. She has over 19 million followers.  

Jisoo estimated Net Worth:  $8-9 Million

26. Rose (Roseanne Park)

Rose grew up in Melbourne, Australia before moving to Korea. She is BLACKPINK’s main vocalist and lead dancer. She comes from a wealthy family as both her father and sister practice law. Rose was featured on the single ‘Without You” by G-Dragon which was a huge success. She also competed on the Korean reality show The Mask Singer in 2017.

Rose estimated Net Worth:  $8-9 Million

27. CL (Lee Chae-rin) 

CL is known for being the leader of the girl group 2NE1.  She has gone on to record a few singles as a solo artist. Her singles Hello Bitches and Lifted were also successful in the US. She has gone on to collaborate with Diplo, OG Maco, and Riff Raff and her song Doctor Pepper. In addition, her Hello Bitches Tour went on to sell out in 9 cities in the US and Canada. She even went on to perform at the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. She has gone on to do endorsements for Maybelline.

CL estimated Net Worth:  $8 Million

28. Sooyoung (Choi Soo-young)

Sooyoung is another SNSD member. She has been able to move on from SNSD and has made great investments in real estate. Sooyoung bought an apartment located in Nonhyeondong for $2.6 million. Her eye for real estate might come from her grandfather who was the CEO of a large architect company in Korea that helped build the Seoul Arts Center. She also owns a BMW Mini Cooper. She has done endorsements for brands such as Cadillac. Furthermore, Sooyoung also is an actress and came out with a movie called Girl Cops in 2019. For now, she is focusing on acting with new projects lined up for 2020.  

Sooyoung estimated Net Worth:  $8 Million

29. Suho (Kim Jun-myeon) 

Suho is a singer, actor, dancer, and the leader of K-pop boy group EXO. He is known for being the richest member of the group. Not only is Suho a great singer but he also is a great actor. He got the leading role for the MBC drama The Universe’s Star and has taken lead roles in several dramas and films. Currently, Suho is focusing more on films. In 2019, he was in a short film called The Present which is a story about a young Korean startup founder.  

Suho estimated Net Worth:  $8 Million

30. Chenle (Zhong Chenle) 

Chenle is a Chinese singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor and is known for being a member of the K-pop boy group NCT. He has gone on to have a successful solo career and released three solo albums. In addition, he has done many variety shows in China as well as Korea. He comes from a wealthy Chinese family. Chenle is the grandson of a billionaire conglomerate that is one of the 20 most successful entrepreneurs in China. He owns a house in Korea but also has a luxury apartment in Shanghai. The apartment has bamboo forests, swimming pools, and has an estimated value of $3.5 million. In addition, he owns a Tesla Model X that is valued at close to $100,000. 

Chenle estimated Net Worth:  $8 Million

 

reference : https://seoulz.com/top-30-richest-k-pop-idols-with-the-highest-net-worth-best-of-2019/