Benzino Net Worth
Benzino is an American hip-hop star, media mogul, and producer with a net worth of $400 thousand. His monetary success has been propelled by his record-breaking albums, such as “The Benzino Project” (2001), “Redemption” (2003), “Arch Nemesis” (2005), and “The Antidote” (2007). Benzino is also a veteran on VH1’s hit show, “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” (2012-2014).
| Name | Raymond Leon Scott |
| Birth Date/age | July 18, 1965 |
| Birth Place | Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. |
| Profession | Hip Hop rapper |
| Ex-girlfriend | Althea Heart |
| Net Worth | $600 thousand |
Benzino has a list of impressive works to his name, including releases with The Almighty RSO, Made Men, and Wiseguys. He was also a co-owner of “The Source” and “Hip Hop Weekly” magazines alongside David Mays. His credits include films like “Bloodline” (2005), “Baghdad” (2011), “Turnt” (2020), and “Indictment:
Who Is Jonathan Carter?” (2020). Benzino has also acted in the television movie “Hollywood Hearts” (2016) and the TV series “Single Ladies” (2014). Additionally, he executive produced the documentary “Benzino: Arch Nemesis” (2004).
Early Life
Raymond Leon Scott, also known as Benzino, was brought into the world on July 18th, 1965 in Boston, MA. His parents were Mary Scott and Edward DeJesus; Mary Scott had a long career with the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 1999. Benzino has two siblings: Maureen (a physician) and Anita (a vet).
Career
Initially called Raydog, Benzino began his music career as part of the rap group Almighty RSO, which released the album “Doomsday: Forever RSO” in 1996. That same year, he released the album “In Tha Company of Killaz” with Wiseguys and later formed the rap group Made Men, whose album “Classic Limited Edition” dropped in 1999. In 2001, Benzino released his first solo album, “The Benzino Project.” Following that, he issued four more solo albums and the “The Benzino Remix Project” (2002).
In 2002, Benzino gained public attention through his dispute with fellow rapper Eminem. Dubbed “2003 Vanilla Ice” by Benzino, the conflict was triggered when the magazine “The Source” he co-founded gave “The Eminem Show” four out of five mics. This resulted in Eminem blaming Benzino, as he believed the rating was unjust.
Eminem refused Benzino’s request to interview him regarding his film “8 Mile,” and both began producing diss tracks targeting each other (Benzino’s: “Pull Your Skirt Up” and “Die Another Day,” Eminem’s: “The Sauce” and “Nail in the Coffin”).
After 2005, the argument dissipated. Seven years later, Benzino confessed, “I was wrong. In the end, Eminem is a remarkable lyricist who has the right to be creative within hip-hop like anyone else.”
Personal Life
Benzino had a romantic relationship with his “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” co-star Karlie Redd, and he is the father of two sons – Zino (born in November 2015) and Chavo, as well as a daughter, Coi Leray. Benzino and his ex-girlfriend, Althea Heart, appeared on the “Marriage Boot Camp” reality show from 2015 to 2016, and the two were even engaged during the filming of “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.”
However, the couple was fired from the show after getting into an altercation with two other cast members during a reunion special and Benzino reportedly threatened one of the producers.
Althea then sought a restraining order against Benzino, alleging he had “threatened her, prevented her from calling for help, held her against her will, stalked her, and was violent before her children.”
The order mandated Benzino to stay 500 feet away from her, and after Althea confronted Benzino outside the court, she was sentenced to 10 days in jail. In response, Benzino filed a paternity suit against Althea, but it was dismissed in early 2018 as he failed to attend court. Both Coi and Chavo are active in the music industry.
In March 2014, Gai Scott, the nephew of Benzino, shot his cousin in the back and shoulder during his mother’s funeral in Duxbury, Massachusetts. According to Gai, the act was done to protect himself and his family, claiming he was “in fear for my wife and a baby”.
Three years later, in January 2017, Benzino was arrested in Atlanta due to possession of THC oil gummies and MDMA pills, to which he pleaded guilty. As a result, he was ordered to serve two years’ probation and pay a $500 fine.
April 2019 marked the next instance in which Benzino ran into legal trouble when a police officer stopped him in Georgia for failing to obey a stop sign. After finding out that the car had no insurance policy, the vehicle was towed and Benzino was issued a citation.
He later failed to appear in court for the citation, which ultimately led to his arrest in June of 2019, with reports indicating that Benzino was hurling profanities and racial slurs at the officers who arrested him.
Net Worth
By January 2023, Benzino had acquired a net worth of $1 million, attributed to his income from The Source and his success as a recording artist. His musical legacy has been passed on to his daughter Coi Leray, who has stayed in the rap game herself, maintaining Benzino’s continued relevance.
Key takeaways
When it comes to doing what you love, there are many ways to do it
Benzino found success with his passion for music, even if it wasn’t groundbreaking. Yet he has become more renowned for The Source magazine, a publication that serves to keep listeners informed on the hip-hop industry. His example serves to remind us that one doesn’t necessarily need to be exceptionally talented or innovative to succeed in an area related to something one enjoys.
You don’t have to be afraid to leave your friends behind
Growing up in his hometown, Benzino and some of his friends started a rap group, though they didn’t quite achieve the success they hoped for. By taking his own initiative and going solo, he was able to achieve more recognition as an artist. By striking out on his own, Benzino proved that sometimes it pays to venture beyond the confines of childhood camaraderie in order to accomplish great things.