How Blake Shelton Went From a House Painter to a Multi-Million Dollar Entertainer

From Prevention

As the longest-standing coach of The Voice, Blake Shelton has been a staple of the show since it first aired on NBC in 2011. The country star has raked in seven total wins as a coach, earning him the unofficial title of reigning Voice coach champion.

Of course, Shelton's success does not start and end with The Voice: The award-winning country singer and songwriter has charted 27 number one hits with his music over the years, including his most recent "Nobody But You" single, which he sang with his girlfriend and fellow Voice coach Gwen Stefani.

As a result of his chart-topping music, Voice coach success, and other creative endeavors like his new Smithworks Vodka brand, Shelton has built an insanely high net worth over the years totaling about $100 million, Celebrity New Worth reports.

Here's exactly how Shelton climbed the ranks of the entertainment industry to become one of the most successful country music artists of all time.

1. He grosses $1 million per concert.

Born in Ada, OK, Shelton began singing and writing songs when he was in high school. During one of Shelton's early performances, the late songwriter Mae Boren Axton took notice of the young star and encouraged him to pursue a career in music.

When he was 17, Shelton packed his bags and moved to Nashville, TN, with the goal of becoming a country star. There, Axton helped Shelton get on his feet by getting him a job as a house painter and connected him with people in the country music industry, including songwriter and producer Bobby Braddock.

In 2001, Braddock helped Shelton get a record deal with Giant Records, and he recorded his song "Austin" which rose to number one on Billboard’s country singles chart and to 18 on the Hot 100 listing. That same year, Warner Bros. picked up Shelton's contract and he released his first album "Blake Shelton." The debut album became the No. 3 country album in 2001 and Shelton's fame soared.

At 44, Shelton has released 11 albums over the years, with 55 songs reaching Billboard's Hot 100. Of those songs, 35 reached top 10 on the list, and 27 earned the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Hot 100. The country star has sold more than 10 million albums, 35 million singles, and reportedly grosses $1 million per concert.

2. He earns millions as coach of The Voice.

Shelton is basically synonymous with The Voice, as the country star has served as a coach on the popular singing competition since its debut season in 2011. In early seasons of The Voice, Celebrity Net Worth reports that Shelton earned a salary of $4 million per cycle.

It's no secret that NBC's The Voice has been well received over the years. The show attracted over seven million viewers for season 18, with its viewership only increasing each year. As the show enters its 19th season with Shelton, his girlfriend Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, and John Legend as coaches, Shelton is predicted to be bringing in $13 million per cycle.

Shelton has also hosted other shows, films, and events, like the "Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert" in 2013, the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards, Clash of the Choirs, Nashville Star, Pitch Perfect 2, and more, which likely brought in some pretty serious dough as well.

3. He owns a few different businesses.

Shelton has expanded his creative endeavors beyond the music industry. The country star is the owner of Old Red restaurants, which has four locations across Tennessee, Florida, and Oklahoma.

In addition, Shelton co-owns Smithsworks Vodka, which he promotes often on Instagram. The America-brand vodka is available in a number of U.S. states as well as Alberta, Canada. Although we don't know exactly how much Shelton is taking home from Ole Red restaurants and Smithsworks Vodka, we can probably guess that he's doing just fine.

4. He has multiple large properties.

The country star's $100 million net worth has allowed him to have some fun with real estate. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Shelton boasts a number of properties across the U.S., including a sprawling 1,200-acre ranch in Oklahoma, his 10 Point Ranch in Oklahoma, and a new $13 million estate in the foothills of Encino, CA.

Shelton and Stefani recently took their relationship to the next level by moving in together in their new Encino mansion, where Stefani's kids Zuma, Apollo, and Kingston also stay when they're not with the singer's ex-husband Gavin Rossdale.

5. He donates a portion of his wealth to charity.

Shelton has donated a chunk of his wealth to charitable organizations over the years. Celebrity Net Worth reports that the country star gifted $20,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in October 2013.

The Voice coach also donated $600,000 to the Jimmy Everest Center at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine in 2016, and he has donated more than $50,000 alongside Ryman Hospitality Properties to help raise funds for his hometown Tishomingo, OK.

Most recently, Shelton gifted a portion of his sales to MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund to help those impacted by coronavirus. In April 2020, he donated another $150,000 to the "Give from Home Day" fundraiser, which aided hungry families who were struggling with food shortage during the pandemic.

Over his decades-long career, Shelton has earned a net worth of $100 million, earning him the title of one of the most successful country music stars in the industry. And, with the success of his new songs "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere" out this year with girlfriend Stefani, it's clear that Shelton is not slowing down just yet.

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