Jelly Roll Turned His Raps Into Riches — How the Singer Became a Multimillionaire

American rapper, singer, and songwriter Jelly Roll is no stranger to the streets. In fact, his criminal record spans over a decade. The recording artist first found himself in trouble with the law at only 14, and his life of crime didn’t end there. He went on to spend most of his teens in and out of juvie.

Throughout his tumultuous teenage years, Jelly Roll pursued his passion for music, and eventually, it paid off — literally and figuratively. Following the release of his 2023 Hulu documentary Jelly Roll: Save Me, viewers have one question: what’s his net worth?

We have answers …

As of this writing, Jelly Roll is worth an estimated $4 million (per Celebrity Net Worth). Although he’s a multimillionaire now, he comes from humble beginnings. His massive net worth is likely thanks to merch, streams, and his time on the road. It’s also very likely that he was paid a pretty penny for his documentary on Hulu.

He initially gained popularity in the music industry as a rapper in the early 2000s, collaborating with artists like Lil Wyte and Struggle Jennings. Eventually, he garnered a massive following. However, it wasn’t until later, when Jelly Roll crossed over to country music, that he actually gained mainstream recognition.

Following the release of his certified-platinum 2022 single “Son of a Sinner,” he rereleased his viral hit — “Save Me” — with Lainey Wilson in 2023.

Jelly Roll, born Jason Bradley DeFord, hails from Antioch, Tenn.

Not much is known about his mom, Louise Monette, who reportedly battled addiction, but they seem to be close today. The CMA award-winning singer’s father was a meat salesman by day and bookie by night.

In the past, the Jelly Roll: Save Me star has gotten candid about his close-knit relationship with his dad, who died in 2018. “He was my best friend … he taught me how to live, and later in life he taught me how to die,” he wrote in an October 2020 Facebook post.

On his road to fame, Jelly Roll found love with his now-wife, Alyssa DeFord, aka Bunnie XO, who started the podcast Dumb Blonde in 2019. Although the two don’t share any children, the artist has two kids from past relationships.

Aside from being an entertainer, husband, and father, Jelly Roll is now serving as an advocate for the FEND Off Fentanyl Act. In January 2024, Jelly Roll, a former drug dealer, stood before Congress insisting that they pass an anti-fentanyl trafficking bill. The “Son of a Sinner” singer’s plea for drug control comes at a time when America’s battle with drug addiction is still quite high.

Before diving into his speech, the singer acknowledged, "In these five minutes I'll be speaking, somebody in the United States will die of a drug overdose, and there is almost a 72% chance that during those five minutes, it will be fentanyl-related." In addition to urging Congress to make changes, Jelly Roll shed light on the numerous lives that have been lost, some near and dear to his heart, to drug addiction and overdose.