What is Kandi Burruss' net worth and Salary?
Kandi Burruss is a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, television personality, and Broadway producer who has a net worth of $30 million. Kandi Burruss rose to fame in the early 1990s as a member of the R&B girl group Xscape, which scored multiple platinum albums and Top 10 hits. But her true empire was built behind the scenes. Burruss is one of the most successful female songwriters in modern pop and R&B, having penned hit singles like TLC's "No Scrubs," Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills," and Pink's "There You Go." She even received a share of the publishing on Ed Sheeran's global hit "Shape of You" due to its similarity to "No Scrubs."
In addition to her music career, Burruss is a formidable businesswoman. She founded the adult lifestyle brand Bedroom Kandi, opened the TAGS Boutique fashion line, launched Kandi Koated Cosmetics—whose makeup brushes were named one of Oprah's Favorite Things—and co-owns the soul food restaurant chain Old Lady Gang with her husband, Todd Tucker. On Broadway, the couple has produced major revivals like "The Piano Lesson," "The Wiz," and a record-breaking run of "Othello" starring Denzel Washington.
Burruss also starred on Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" for 14 seasons, becoming one of the longest-running and highest-paid cast members in franchise history. Her ability to juggle artistry and enterprise has made her a model of modern multi-hyphenate success—and one of the few reality stars with a truly enduring legacy.
Early Life
Kandi Lenice Burruss was born on May 17, 1976, in College Park, Georgia. She grew up in a close-knit family, though it was marked by tragedy when her older brother, Patrick, died in a car accident at the age of 22 in 1991. The loss had a lasting emotional impact on her, but it also fueled her determination to succeed. Burruss attended Tri-Cities High School, a performing arts school in the Atlanta suburb of East Point, where her talent and ambition stood out early.
At just 15 years old, Burruss got her first national television exposure when she appeared on BET's "Teen Summit," a platform that spotlighted socially conscious youth. While still in high school, she co-founded the R&B group Xscape with classmates Tamika and LaTocha Scott, along with Tameka "Tiny" Cottle. Their big break came when they were discovered by music producer Jermaine Dupri, who signed them to his So So Def Recordings label.
Kandi graduated from high school in 1994, just as Xscape's career was taking off. Her early experiences in performance, television, and group dynamics laid the foundation for the multifaceted career she would go on to build, not just as a performer, but as a writer, producer, and business leader.
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Music Career
Xscape and Breakthrough Success
Kandi Burruss' music career took off while she was still in high school. In the fall of 1993, during her senior year, Xscape released their debut album, "Hummin' Comin' at 'Cha". It peaked at number three on the R&B charts and went platinum, thanks to hits like "Just Kickin' It" and "Understanding." The group quickly rose to become one of the premier R&B acts of the 1990s. Their second album, "Off the Hook" (1995), featured more top-10 singles, and their third and final studio album, "Traces of My Lipstick" (1998), included the hit "My Little Secret." After LaTocha Scott departed the group to pursue a solo career, Xscape went on hiatus. They later reunited briefly for soundtrack appearances on "Hardball" and "Big Momma's House," and again in 2005.
Hit Songwriter and Producer
Even as Xscape was dominating the charts, Burruss was already shifting into what would become her most profitable lane: songwriting. She co-wrote TLC's Grammy-winning smash "No Scrubs" and soon followed with a string of hits for major artists, including "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Bug a Boo" for Destiny's Child, "There You Go" for Pink, and tracks for Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, Usher, and *NSYNC. In 2017, Burruss and her co-writers were given publishing credit on Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" after acknowledging its similarities to "No Scrubs."
Solo Career and Record Label
In 2000, Burruss released her debut solo album, "Hey Kandi," which included the singles "Don't Think I'm Not" and "Cheatin' on Me." Her second album, "Kandi Koated," came out in 2010. Around this time, she founded Kandi Koated Entertainment, a record label and production company that further solidified her control behind the scenes.
(Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)
Business Empire
Beyond music, Burruss built a multifaceted business empire. She launched Bedroom Kandi, a high-end intimacy product line that expanded into a national home-party business model. She also founded TAGS Boutique, a trendy women's clothing store in Atlanta, and Kandi Koated Cosmetics, a cruelty-free makeup and grooming brand that earned a coveted spot on Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2024. Alongside her husband Todd Tucker, she co-owns Old Lady Gang, a Southern-style soul food restaurant inspired by the women in her family.
Broadway Production
In recent years, Burruss has emerged as a major force on Broadway. She and Tucker co-produced a string of high-profile shows including "Thoughts of a Colored Man" (2021), "The Piano Lesson" (2022), "The Wiz" (2024), and "Othello" (2025), the latter of which broke the eight-performance gross record previously held by "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." Burruss, who never trained formally in theater or business, credits her relentless work ethic and willingness to take risks with her success across so many industries.
Reality TV
Kandi Burruss became a household name beyond the music industry when she joined Bravo's "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" in its second season in 2009. Over the next 14 seasons, she became the longest-running cast member across the entire Real Housewives franchise and one of its highest-paid stars, reportedly earning $450,000 per season at her peak. Audiences connected with her mix of sharp business savvy, musical credibility, and emotional vulnerability, particularly in storylines involving her family, career, and marriage to Todd Tucker.
Her impact wasn't limited to on-camera drama. Burruss also helped shape the business side of reality TV, with Bravo executive Andy Cohen crediting her for influencing production standards and spin-off strategy. In addition to the main show, she headlined several Bravo offshoots, including "The Kandi Factory," a talent competition series, and "Kandi's Wedding," which documented her road to marriage. She also co-created and hosted the sex and relationships web series "Kandi Koated Nights," which was later adapted for television.
Beyond Bravo, Kandi made guest appearances on scripted shows such as "Are We There Yet" and "Single Ladies," and even helped a contestant win $1 million on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." She was also a standout contestant on "The Masked Singer," winning Season 3 in 2020 as the character "Night Angel"—becoming the first woman to ever take home the top prize.
Burruss left "RHOA" in 2024, closing out a historic run that reshaped how musicians and entrepreneurs navigate—and dominate—reality television.
Kandi Burruss Real Housewives Salary
At her peak, Kandi earned $450,000 per season when she appeared on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." At one point, this was the highest amount paid to any version of the show. It's now understood that Lisa Vanderpump is the highest-paid housewife of the franchise. Lisa earns $500,000 per season.
Personal Life
Kandi Burruss and her ex-boyfriend Russell "Block" Spencer have a daughter named Riley, who was born in 2002.
In early 2009, Burruss got engaged to Ashley "A.J." Jewell after dating for just a few months. Jewell was killed during a fight on October 9, 2009, outside a strip club.
In January 2013, Burruss revealed that she was engaged to Todd Tucker, a former line producer for "The Real Housewives of Atlanta." The two started dating in 2011 while the fourth season was being filmed. They got engaged in 2013 and married in April 2014. In January 2016, Burress and Tucker welcomed their son Ace. In November 2019, their daughter, Blaze, was born via surrogate.
She is a fan of the television show "The Chi" and had a recurring role as Roselyn Perry in the third season.
Kandi's parents, Joyce and Reverend Titus Burruss, are divorced. In 2014, leading up to her wedding, her father, Titus, addressed the reasons why he and Kandi's mom, Joyce, got divorced. He claimed he was smoking and drinking a lot, and Joyce threw him out. Kandi said her mom said he cheated on her. He said that's a lie. He said he came home from work, and the locks were changed. He said Kandi's mother took out a restraining order against him so he couldn't see her.
In the summer of 2020, Kandi shared a photo with her mother, Joyce, and her kids, Ace and Blaze, and fans ate it up.
Real Estate
In 2002, Burruss bought her first home in Georgia for $250,000. She held the property for 15 years before selling it in 2017—for the same price she paid. In 2012, she upgraded to a 7,000-square-foot mansion in Atlanta, purchasing the seven-bedroom home for $512,000. She reportedly spent around $200,000 on renovations shortly after moving in, transforming it into a showpiece property. Today, the home is estimated to be worth at least $1 million.
The mansion has been featured prominently on "The Real Housewives of Atlanta," especially during key storylines such as her wedding preparations and family drama. It also houses space for Kandi's businesses, including a dedicated area for Bedroom Kandi operations and a home studio.