PROFILE DETAILS
NAME: The Weeknd
REAL NAME: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye
AGE: 36 years old
Gender: Male
weight: Approx. 172 lbs (78 kg)
Height: 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
Birthdate: February 16, 1990
Birth Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NET WORTH: $350 Million (Estimated)
Salary: $85M – $100M (Annual average during tour cycles)
MAIN INCOME SOURCE: Music Streaming, Global Touring, and Brand Partnerships
Profession: Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Actor
RELIGION: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo
FAMILY: Samra Tesfaye (Mother), Makkonen Tesfaye (Father)
PARENTS: Samra and Makkonen Tesfaye
SPOUSE: Unmarried
CHILDREN: None
CAREER: 2010–Present
Nationality: Canadian
SOCIAL PROFILES: Instagram (@theweeknd), X/Twitter (@theweeknd), YouTube (The Weeknd Official)
What is The Weeknd Net Worth and salary?
As of early 2026, The Weeknd’s net worth is estimated at $350 million. His wealth is the result of a multi-faceted empire. His “After Hours Til Dawn” Global Stadium Tour (2022–2025) became one of the highest-grossing tours of the decade, surpassing $350 million in total ticket sales.
His annual salary fluctuates based on release cycles; however, in years featuring major tours or album launches—such as the 2025 release of Hurry Up Tomorrow—his earnings have peaked at over $90 million. Beyond music, his “XO” lifestyle brand and partnerships with companies like Apple, Binance, and Puma contribute significantly to his bottom line.
Early Life
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye was born in Toronto and raised in the district of Scarborough. He is the only child of Ethiopian immigrants who arrived in Canada in the late 1980s. Following his father’s departure from the family when Abel was a toddler, he was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother. Growing up, his first language was Amharic, and he was deeply immersed in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which heavily influenced his later vocal style.
Before fame
Tesfaye’s path to stardom was tumultuous. He dropped out of high school at age 17, an event that inspired his stage name (he and a friend “left one weekend and never came back”). During this period, he experienced homelessness and struggled with substance abuse while living in a one-bedroom apartment in Parkdale with friends. He began uploading songs to YouTube anonymously in 2010 under the name “The Weeknd,” sparking a viral underground mystery that eventually caught the attention of Drake and Pitchfork.
Awards
The Weeknd is one of the most decorated artists of the 21st century. His accolades include:
- 4 Grammy Awards
- 20+ Billboard Music Awards
- 22 Juno Awards
- 1 Academy Award Nomination (for “Earned It”)
- The Allan Slaight Honour (Canada’s Walk of Fame)
- World Record Holder: Most monthly listeners on Spotify (surpassing 100 million in 2023).
Personal Life and Relationships
The Weeknd’s personal life has been a frequent subject of media scrutiny. He had a high-profile, on-and-off relationship with model Bella Hadid between 2015 and 2019. He also dated singer Selena Gomez for ten months in 2017. Since 2022, he has been linked to DJ and entrepreneur Simi Khadra, though he maintains a high level of privacy regarding his current domestic status.
Family life
Tesfaye remains very close to his mother, Samra, often crediting her for his work ethic. While his relationship with his father was non-existent for most of his life, he has expressed a sense of peace regarding his upbringing in recent interviews. He does not have children and has often stated that his “art is his family” for the time being.
Associated with
- Drake: Early collaborator and fellow “OVOXO” affiliate.
- Daft Punk: Collaborators on the hits “Starboy” and “I Feel It Coming.”
- Max Martin: The legendary producer behind his biggest pop hits.
- Lily-Rose Depp: Co-star in the HBO series The Idol.
- Ariana Grande: Frequent collaborator on multiple chart-topping remixes.
Real Estate
The Weeknd is known for his elite taste in architecture. His portfolio has included:
- Bel-Air Mansion: A $70 million estate featuring a gym, movie theater, and music studio.
- Beverly West Penthouse: A “mansion in the sky” purchased for $21 million.
- Hidden Hills Estate: Previously owned and sold to Madonna for $19.3 million.
Net Worth History
- 2015: $10 Million (Breakout year with Beauty Behind the Madness)
- 2018: $90 Million (Success of Starboy and global touring)
- 2021: $150 Million (Post-Super Bowl and After Hours success)
- 2024: $300 Million (Stadium tour revenue and catalog valuation)
- 2026: $350 Million (Expansion into film and final trilogy album)
Trivia
- He removed the “e” from “The Weeknd” to avoid copyright issues with a Canadian band already named The Weekend.
- He is a massive cinephile, often citing directors like David Cronenberg and Martin Scorsese as influences on his music videos.
- In 2025, he officially began the transition to performing under his birth name, Abel Tesfaye, signaling the “death” of The Weeknd persona.
- He donated $2.5 million to the UN World Food Programme to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza and Ethiopia.
BIOGRAPHY
Executive Summary
Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, known globally as The Weeknd, stands as a definitive icon of the 2010s and 2020s music landscape. Emerging from the shadows of the Toronto underground in 2011 with his groundbreaking mixtape House of Balloons, Tesfaye redefined R&B by infusing it with indie-rock sensibilities and dark, cinematic lyricism. Over the course of fifteen years, he successfully transitioned from a reclusive internet enigma to a Super Bowl halftime headliner and one of the highest-selling artists in digital history.
As of February 2026, Tesfaye has reached a pivotal crossroads in his career. Following the conclusion of his ambitious “Trilogy” (comprising After Hours, Dawn FM, and the 2025 release Hurry Up Tomorrow), he has begun the process of retiring “The Weeknd” moniker. This evolution reflects his growing interest in film and television, following his controversial yet highly-discussed foray into acting with HBO’s The Idol and subsequent feature film projects.
His impact extends beyond music; Tesfaye is a cultural tastemaker whose aesthetic—ranging from the “red suit” era to the prosthetic-heavy visuals of Dawn FM—has influenced fashion and visual arts globally. With a net worth of $350 million and a legacy cemented by record-breaking chart longevity (notably “Blinding Lights,” the most-streamed song in history), Tesfaye’s shift toward his birth name, Abel, marks the beginning of a new chapter. Whether through haunting vocals or avant-garde filmmaking, he remains a singular force in the entertainment industry, consistently prioritizing artistic reinvention over commercial safety. His philanthropic efforts, particularly in Ethiopia and with the World Food Programme, further solidify his status as a global leader beyond the stage.