Issa Rae Net Worth

Issa Rae’s Net Worth: A Deep Dive into Her Career and Finances

Issa Rae, a multi-talented American actress, comedian, writer, producer, and director, has built a remarkable career, amassing a net worth of $8 million. From her humble beginnings to her current status as a Hollywood powerhouse, Rae’s journey is an inspiring story of creativity, perseverance, and entrepreneurial success. This article delves into Issa Rae’s net worth, exploring her diverse ventures, early life, career milestones, and personal achievements.

Early Life

Born Jo-Issa Rae Diop on January 12, 1985, in Los Angeles, California, Issa Rae’s upbringing was shaped by diverse cultural influences. Her parents, Delyna and Abdoulaye Diop, instilled in her a strong sense of identity and a global perspective. Her mother is from Louisiana and her father is from Senegal. She has four siblings, and the family’s brief time in Dakar, Senegal, during her childhood exposed her to a different way of life. Rae grew up in Potomac, Maryland. She has described her upbringing as including “things that aren’t considered ‘black,’ like the swim team and street hockey and Passover dinners with Jewish best friends.”

Upon returning to Los Angeles, Rae’s family settled in the affluent View Park-Windsor Hills neighborhood. It was during her time at King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine and Science that she began to explore her passion for acting. She further honed her creative skills at Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in African and African-American Studies in 2007. During her time at Stanford, she wrote and directed plays, created music videos, and developed the satirical web series “Dorm Diaries.” This early experience laid the groundwork for her future success in the entertainment industry. After earning her degree, Rae was awarded a theater fellowship at New York City’s Public Theater, and she and Oliver began taking courses at the New York Film Academy. She considered going to law school or business school, but after “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” gained popularity in 2011, she decided not to pursue either idea.

Career

Issa Rae’s career took off with the web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” Debuting on YouTube in 2011, the series quickly gained a cult following, leading to widespread media attention. To fund the project, Rae and Tracy Oliver launched a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $56,000 from more than 1,900 donors. The show won a Shorty Award for Best Web Show in 2012. She created other successful YouTube shows, including “The Choir” (2013–2015) and “Roomieloverfriends” (2013–2014). In 2014, Issa was involved with several short films, writing “Black Twitter Screening” and producing “Hard Times” and “Protect and Serve.” In 2015, Rae made her feature film debut in “A Bitter Lime” and produced the movie “Killing Lazarus.”

In 2016, Rae’s career reached new heights when she co-created, wrote, produced, and starred in the HBO series “Insecure.” The show, which aired for five seasons and 44 episodes, earned critical acclaim for its authentic portrayal of contemporary Black life. “Insecure” received numerous accolades, including 14 Primetime Emmy nominations and three Golden Globe nominations. The series was honored with a Peabody Award in 2018 for its ability to capture the lives of young Black people, and the American Film Institute named it one of 2017’s Top 10 Television Programs.

Rich Fury/Getty Images

In addition to her television work, Rae has also made a significant impact in film. She appeared in “The Hate U Give” (2018), “Little” (2019), “The Photograph” (2020), and “The Lovebirds” (2020). She voiced Mom in the 2019 Oscar-winning animated short film “Hair Love.” Rae has also expanded into production, with over 25 production credits to her name. She created the HBO Max shows “Sweet Life: Los Angeles” (2021) and “Rap Sh!t” (2022), further solidifying her presence in the industry. Her production company, Hoorae, entered into a five-year deal with WarnerMedia in 2021, demonstrating her growing influence. Issa launched the record label Raedio in 2019.

Personal Life

Issa Rae’s personal life is marked by significant milestones, including her marriage to businessman Louis Diame in July 2021 in France. She has been vocal about social and political issues, using her platform to advocate for change. After the 2016 shooting of Alton Sterling, she raised $700,000 to support his children’s education. She is also an advocate for women’s rights and civil rights and has worked with organizations such as Black Lives Matter and the ACLU. Rae often highlighted Black-owned businesses on “Insecure,” which she said has resulted in gentrification in South L.A., where her show was filmed. She told “The Hollywood Reporter” in 2021, “I’m like, ‘Oh, what have I done, but I also feel proud of the Black businesses that we’ve heralded and the areas that we’ve championed.”

Awards and Nominations

Issa Rae’s talent has been recognized with numerous awards and nominations. She has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmys for her role in “Insecure.” The series has also garnered awards from the BET Awards, Black Reel Awards for Television, Gracie Allen Awards, NAACP Image Awards, NAMIC Vision Awards, Pena de Prata, and Satellite Awards. In 2022, she was honored with the Visionary Award at the PGA Awards, and in 2017, she received the Vanguard Award at the “Essence” Black Women In Hollywood event. In 2019, she won a Webby Award for Video Person of the Year. In 2020, Issa earned People’s Choice Award nominations for Favorite Drama Movie Star for “The Photograph” and Favorite Female Movie Star and Favorite Comedy Movie Star for “The Lovebirds.”