Whether you know her from her music, her bubbling personality, or her critically acclaimed films such as One Of Them Days or Nope, Keke Palmer is an undeniable icon. The former child star has navigated the throes of Hollywood for over 20 years now, and has amassed a fortune that will provide generational wealth for many years to come. Today, Palmer has racked up nearly 130 screen credits on IMDb, a hosting slot on Saturday Night Live and a laundry list of accolades, including two Primetime Emmys and numerous NAACP Image Awards.

Whether you’re a new fan of the multi-talented performer or you’ve been following her since day one, you may be wondering just how much money Keke Palmer has made during her illustrious career. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with a comprehensive look into Palmer’s life, net worth and career earnings.

What did Keke Palmer’s mom do before her rise to fame?

Long before Keke Palmer was hitting notes and crafting quotes, she was born to a humble Illinois family. Her parents, Sharon and Larry, had both attempted to launch acting careers of their own before moving on to more stable work. While things didn’t pan out for the couple on the big screen, their passion, drive and knowledge of the industry likely helped to push Keke into the spotlight from a young age. Before Keke’s star launched into the stratosphere, her mother found work as a teacher, while her father worked for a polyurethane manufacturer.

Once the multi-talent’s career started to take off, she requested that her family uproot their lives and move to Hollywood. Her parents agreed that an acting career would be the best way for Keke to score enough cash to go to college and live a better life, so they agreed. From there, Sharon took on a new role as her daughter’s talent manager and worked tirelessly to ensure that Keke was getting the most out of her contracts. Larry wound up becoming ordained as a deacon in the Catholic church, and pressed his children to maintain a strong relationship with God as they navigated the landscape of Los Angeles.

How did the actress become a millionaire at 12 years old?

Keke Palmer’s first major gig saw her sharing the screen with big names like Ice Cube, Queen Latifah and Cedric The Entertainer in 2004’s Barbershop 2: Back In Business. She shot her scenes at the age of nine, and rapidly established herself as a charismatic force on the big screen. Before long, she booked massive front-and-center roles on films such as Madea’s Family Reunion, Akeelah And The Bee and The Longshots.

She also took on massive TV projects, with starring roles in shows like True Jackson VP, Winx Club and Scream Queens. According to Palmer herself, she crossed the threshold of her first million dollars at the age of 12, and continued to stack her paper as the primary breadwinner for her family for years to come.

Keke Palmer credits her family and her frugal spending habits as key reasons for avoiding some of the major pitfalls of child stardom. During a May interview with CNBC, she explained, “I live under my means. I think it’s incredibly important. If I have $1 million in my pocket, my rent is going to be $1,500 – that’s how underneath my means I’m talking. My car note is going to be $340. I don’t need a Bentayga, I’ll ride in a Lexus.”

She went on to outline some of the key spending guidelines that her parents laid out for her. With her mother as a manager, and her father keeping her close to God, Keke Palmer managed to save her money, invest wisely and finance a better future for her siblings and extended family members.

How much did Palmer make for ‘True Jackson, VP’?

Keke Palmer’s talent didn’t go unrecognized as she worked her way through the Hollywood system. Thanks to some prudent negotiation from her team, combined with her obvious star power, Keke managed to bring in $20,000 per episode of True Jackson, VP. According to a 2010 report from Pop Eater, this made her one of television’s highest-paid child actors, ranking above A-list names like Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato.

As her career continued to progress, she would come to double that figure, and double it again. During a recent episode of the Club Shay Shay podcast, Palmer joked that “My parents, at their best, made $40,000 a year. I was making that a show.” These days, Palmer makes six-figure sums at a minimum for her appearances in big-budget blockbusters and likely takes home millions per year on residuals and profit percentages alone.

What business does the mother of one own?

In recent years, Keke Palmer has ventured into her mogul era, and launched her own entertainment network under the title KeyTV. She funded the business with $500,000 of her own startup cash, and plans to launch nearly a dozen new television and film ventures. Currently, Palmer says that all of these new projects will be helmed by a new generation of writers, directors and creators, and that the entire venture will serve as a pipeline for new talent to enter the TV industry. With any luck, we may see a whole new team of creative people flourishing under Keke’s tutelage.

What is Keke Palmer’s net worth?

Though not much is known about Keke Palmer’s personal finances, we do know that she purchased a Mediterranean-style home in Studio City, California back in 2021. The abode, which Palmer purchased for over $1.3 million, spans 2,600 square feet and comes with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Earlier this year, Palmer listed the home for sale at a price of $1.8 million, showcasing a sizable return on investment.

While these figures are impressive to the average home buyer, they pale compared to Keke’s primary residence in Encino, which came with a price tag of over $5 million. According to Architectural Digest, the Lightyear actress also owns a Brooklyn penthouse, which she is currently looking to sell for nearly $3 million.

There’s no word on why Palmer plans to offload multiple residences this year, but it certainly isn’t due to a shortage of finances. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Keke Palmer currently touts an estimated net worth of over $7.5 million and counting. With nearly a dozen projects in various stages of active production on IMDb, we can assume that she’ll be bringing in quite a bit more over the next few years. Any way you slice it, Keke is an iconic performer whose rise to fame and time at the top can be seen as one of the hallmarks of the 21st century.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many biological children does Keke Palmer have?

Keke Palmer has one child, named Leodis “Leo” Andrellton. She gave birth to her son back in February 2023, after first announcing her pregnancy on an episode of Saturday Night Live.

Who is Keke Palmer’s baby daddy?

The father of Keke’s child is a former college football player turned fitness instructor by the name of Darius Jackson. Though the couple has recently been seen together, their relationship has been quite tumultuous. Shortly after Leo was born, Keke and Darius split up, with both alleging that the other had committed acts of abuse and physical violence. For now, it seems that the mud-slinging has died down, and the former couple have begun a path towards co-parenting, but it doesn’t look like they’re in a romantic relationship anymore.

How much does it cost to book Keke Palmer?

According to resources such as All American Speakers and Celebrity Talent International, Keke Palmer can be booked for live speaking engagements for a price tag of $200,000. Virtual events come at a discount, allowing you to book Keke for rates as low as $100,000. Her specialties include anti-bullying seminars, personal empowerment speeches and celebrations of Black heritage with groups such as Black Lives Matter.