Darryl McDaniels Net Worth: Books & Charity
An American rapper Darryl McDaniels aka DMC has a staggering net worth of $45 million.
Darryl McDaniels, a founding member of the iconic hip hop group Run-D.M.C., was born in Harlem, New York, in 1964.
McDaniels was born and raised in the Queens community of Hollis. He was born to an unmarried mother who gave him up to the New York Foundling Home.
Further moving on, this musician has had a long and successful career as one of the founders of hip-hop culture.
In 1984, he launched his self-titled debut with his mates Joseph “Run” Simmons and Jam-Master Jay.
Besides “Raising Hell,” their third album, was their most commercially successful, peaking at number six on the Billboard 200 and topping the hip-hop charts.
Meanwhile, his bandmates’ collaboration grew weaker by the month, and he eventually chose to leave and pursue a solo career.
Moreover, in 2006, Congress honored him with the Angels in Adoption Award for his work with children.
Later “Checks Thugs and Rock N Roll,” his debut solo album, came out in 2016.
Above all, in 2016, Run DMC made history by becoming the first rap group to win a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement.
On August 13, 2018, DMC returned to the stage with O.A.R. to perform “Walk This Way.”
Quick Facts
Let us have a look at some of his details in brief.
Full Name | Darryl Matthews McDaniels |
Known as | Darryl McDaniels |
Nick Name | D.M.C., Easy D |
Date of birth | 1964-05-31 |
Place of birth | Harlem, New York, U.S |
Age | 60 Years Old |
Marital Status | Married |
Spouse | Zuri L. McDaniels |
Children | 1 (Darryl M. McDaniels, Jr) |
Father’s name | Byford Mcdaniels |
Mother’s name | Banna Mcdaniels, Berncenia Lovelace (Birth mother) |
Siblings | Alford Mcdaniels |
Gender | Male |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Education | Rice High School in Manhattan
St. John’s University in Queens |
Hair color | Bald |
Eye color | Brown |
Height | 6 ft (1.85 m) |
Weight | 78 kg |
Religion | Catholic |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | Black |
Profession | Musician, Actor, Composer, Rapper, Film Score Composer, Record producer |
Trademark | Large, tinted glasses |
Years active | 1983- Present |
Net worth | $45 million |
Genre | Hip hop, old-school hip hop, East Coast hip hop, rap rock |
Social media | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
Last Update | December, 2024 |
Darryl McDaniels Net Worth & Income
As mentioned earlier, Darryl McDaniels is an American musician with a net worth of $45 million.
Although some of his money comes from his television appearances and autobiographies, the majority of his money comes from his career in the music industry.
He was, however, involved in several other projects that allowed him to amass such wealth.
He also engaged in the comic book industry, self-publishing his own work.
McDaniels is still on the road today, chasing brand collaborations that are close to his heart.
In brief, Darryl McDaniels’ fortune is expected to rise as he continues to work in the music industry.
Net Worth of Darryl McDaniels in Different Currencies
Mentioned below is his net worth calculated in different currencies.
Currency | Net Worth |
Euro | € 38,228,571 |
Pound Sterling | £ 32,730,845 |
Australian Dollar | A$ 61,099,785 |
Canadian Dollar | C$ 56,540,250 |
Indian Rupee | ₹ 3,349,237,500 |
BitCoin | ฿ 1328 |
Darryl McDaniels Personal Life & Vacations
Personal Life
While wandering in New York City in 1991, he met the love of his life, Zuri L. (Alston) McDaniels.
On September 28, 1992, they married after a year of dating.
Darryl M. McDaniels, Jr. (DSon) was born in LaGuardia Hospital in Queens, New York, on July 27, 1994.
Vacations
He enjoys driving up Interstate 95 between New Haven and Hartford.
He mentions that he loves it because there is a stretch of road that is nothing but mountains, trees, and greenery.
Although, unlike his past, he is free of any mental traumas and living his life to his content.
It seems he doesn’t really like to share much about his whereabouts and vacations.
Darryl McDaniels: House, Cars
House
McDaniels has lived in Wayne, New Jersey, since he was a child.
Cars
Darryl “DMC” McDaniels bought a brand-new Cadillac in 1986 when he was a member of the legendary 1980s rap trio Run DMC.
McDaniels, on the other hand, is a big fan of his Ford these days.
It was in a 1978 Chevy that he learned to drive.
McDaniel’s father allowed him to drive his 1976 Buick Electra 225 when he got his driver’s license.
In 1988, McDaniels purchased a K5 Blazer Chevrolet.
Following the Chevy, McDaniels purchased a BMW 7 Series.
As he was not too fond of BMWs, he didn’t drive the BMW very often, preferring instead to use his K5 Blazer until 1991.
Darryl McDaniels Movies, Investments, Endorsements & Book Publications
Movies
Apart from rapping and book publications, the rapper has also tried his luck in the entertainment industry.
Given below are some of the movies he has featured in
- Tougher Than Leather (1988)
- Krush Groove (1985)
- Graffiti Rock (1984)
- Roll Bounce (2005)
- Something From Nothing (2012)
Run-D.M.C. and Jam Master Jay: The Last Interview is a short documentary movie of Run DMC members before the death of Jam Master Jay.
Moreover, his struggle for finding his birth mother was also featured in the 2006 VH1 documentary “DMC: My Adoption Journey.”
However, McDaniels reunited with his biological mother, Berncenia, at the end of the show.
He, in fact, appreciates her decision because Run-D.M.C. would not have existed if he hadn’t been adopted.
Investments
Because of his own record of battling with mental disorders, he becomes very active when it comes to this topic.
In fact, McDaniels has taken his advocacy to the next level by initiating his first seed investment.
He invested in Uwill, a mental health platform for college students, which raised $3.25 million.
Moreover, In 2011, McDaniels co-founded IME Records with producer Wade Martin.
Overall, McDaniels may be new to venture capital investment, but he’s already a successful entrepreneur.
Endorsements
Several video games have included him, including “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith” and “The Warriors.”
In 2005, he voiced Scopes in the video game “The Warriors.”
Similarly, in 2008, he made his first appearance in the music video game “Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.”
Besides, in the 1980s, Run DMC struck a $1.6 million (£1.05 million) deal with the Adidas company after promoting it in several songs.
It was the first time a rap group signed with a major sportswear company, and it marked the start of Adidas’ long-running relationship with hip-hop.
Book Publications
His 2001 book, “King of Rock: Respect, Responsibility, and My Life with Run-DMC,” included a chapter about his search for his birth mother.
Darryl opens up about his work as a rap artist and the people he’s met over the years for the first time.
Moreover, Darryl shares the wisdom he has accumulated in his thirty-five years, detailing his battles with fame, money, drugs, and alcohol through hilarious anecdotes and thoughtful reflection.
Before even knowing he was adopted, McDaniels had finished the first draft of his autobiography and was working on his second solo album, The Next Level.
Moreover, McDaniels launched his own publishing label, Darryl Makes Comics, in 2014 to break into the comics market.
DMC had its debut at the New York Comic-Con on October 9–12 and was then sold in comic book stores on October 29.
Tony Guerrero of Comic Vine gave the book four out of five stars, praising the charm and genuineness of the artwork.
Later he released his book Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide: A Memoir in 2017.
The renowned rap star and cofounder of Run D.M.C. keep it 100 percent in this startling and touching memoir, speaking out about his battle with depression and conquering suicidal ideas.
Not being genuine to yourself, feelings of loneliness, isolation, and alienation, and a lack of understanding and support from friends and family when you need it the most are just a few of the issues.
He also provides important information on where to receive aid. Explicitly stating that even the most successful people can be depressed.
Charity
D.M.C. is involved with many charities and founded a camp for foster kids.
The Felix Organization was created in 2006 by McDaniels and Sheila Jaffe, a fellow adoptive and Emmy award-winning casting director.
The Felix Organization has aided over 10,000 children in the foster care system since its establishment.
On the East Coast, The Felix Organization also supports two teen camps.
Whereas Camp Felix West is a summer camp for foster children in Los Angeles.
Similarly, he is a member of the Children’s Rights Board of Directors, which works to change failing child welfare systems around the country.
Career
In the late 1970s, he went to St. John’s University and learned to DJ in his parents’ basement, earning the title “Grandmaster Get High.”
Later, he began rapping and changed his name to “Easy D,” then “DMcD,” and finally “D.M.C.” in 1981.
He was depressed in the late 1990s, which fueled his prescription drug and alcohol addiction.
He was soon diagnosed with a vocal problem.
D.MC. praises Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” with saving his life as he slid deeper into depression.
DMC made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live’s December 17, 2016, Christmas episode during a parody of Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis.”
Also, you might like to read about another renowned rapper of this generation Big Sean and his net worth.
Some Interesting Facts about him
- He felt dissatisfied with the demanding schedule of touring and performing and being away from his wife and newborn baby.
- As a matter of fact, the one he got inspiration from McLachlan confessed to McDaniels that she, too, had been adopted during a recording session.
- In 1999, he discovered he had been adopted and began looking for his birth parents. Subsequently, in 2006, he was reunited with his birth mother, Berncenia.
FAQs
Is any of the members dead from Run DMC?
Jam Master Jay, whose real name was Jason Mizell, died in a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens, in 2002 after being fatally shot. He is best recognized for being the DJ of Run-DMC, a groundbreaking and influential hip-hop group. The latest charges appear to bring an end to a case that had been dormant for over two decades.
What does Run DMC stand for?
D.M.C. stands for Devastating Mic Controller and is also a variation on Darryl McDaniels’ first name.
Why is Run DMC important?
Run-DMC, often known as Run-D.M.C., is an American rap group that helped bring hip-hop into the mainstream of music and culture, introducing what became known as “new-school” rap.