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Tyrese Gibson

$3 Million
Actor, R&B Singer, Author

Quick Facts

Full Name Tyrese Darnell Gibson
Net Worth $3 Million
Profession Actor, R&B Singer, Author
Date of Birth December 30, 1978
Nationality American
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Spouse/Partner Samantha Lee (m. 2017–2022); Norma Mitchell (m. 2007–2009)
Children Shayla (b. 2007, with Norma Mitchell); Soraya (b. 2018, with Samantha Lee)

Biography

Tyrese Gibson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3 million, a figure that reflects both a career spanning film franchises worth billions at the box office and a pattern of financial mismanagement, legal disputes, and costly personal decisions that significantly eroded his earnings. Gibson broke into entertainment as a teenager through a Coca-Cola commercial, built a platinum R&B recording career, and became a fixture of two of Hollywood’s most lucrative franchises — Fast & Furious and Transformers — yet found himself publicly disclosing financial hardship as recently as 2017. His story is one of the more dramatic cases of Hollywood wealth lost and partially rebuilt.

Updated March 2026: According to IMDb career records and reporting by CNN, Gibson remains active in both music and film as of 2026. In March 2026, he announced plans to raise approximately $1 million for the Paul Walker Foundation at FuelFest, continuing his public tribute to his late Fast & Furious co-star. His net worth of approximately $3 million reflects cumulative legal costs, child support obligations, and the long-term consequences of financial decisions made during his peak earning years.

Early Life and Education

Tyrese Darnell Gibson was born on December 30, 1978, in Watts, Los Angeles, California. He was the youngest of four children raised by his mother, Priscilla Murray Gibson, after his father abandoned the family. The family lived in poverty in one of Los Angeles’s most economically distressed neighborhoods. Gibson has spoken in interviews about navigating the gang culture of Watts while taking a different path through his interest in singing and performance.

He attended David Starr Jordan High School in Watts and graduated in 1996. A music teacher at his school recognized his vocal talent and encouraged him to audition for a Coca-Cola commercial, which would become his entry point into the entertainment industry. He did not attend college, moving directly from high school into a professional entertainment career at age 16.

Acting and Music Career

In 1994, at age 15, Gibson appeared in a widely broadcast Coca-Cola commercial that brought him to the attention of music industry executives. He signed with RCA Records and released his self-titled debut album Tyrese in 1998. The album was certified platinum and produced the Grammy-nominated single “Sweet Lady,” which reached number two on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart. He went on to release five additional studio albums, including 2000 Watts (2001), I Wanna Go There (2002), Alter Ego (2006), Open Invitation (2011), and Black Rose (2015), the last of which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 — a rare achievement for an R&B artist. Over his music career, Gibson received six Grammy Award nominations.

His acting career launched in 2001 with the John Singleton drama Baby Boy, in which he played the lead role of Jody. The film grossed $27.7 million in North America on a modest budget and established him as a credible dramatic actor. He was cast the same year in 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) as Roman Pearce, a role he reprised in every subsequent main-series Fast & Furious installment. Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), Furious 7 (2015), The Fate of the Furious (2017), F9 (2021), and Fast X (2023) collectively grossed over $5 billion at the global box office. Gibson’s salary per installment grew from approximately $750,000 to $1 million in the earlier films to approximately $2 million for Furious 7.

Concurrently, Gibson joined the Transformers franchise as Sergeant Robert Epps, appearing in the 2007 original and its sequels through 2011. His per-picture fee for the Transformers films was reported at $750,000 to $1 million per installment. Beyond these franchises, he has appeared in over 75 credited film and television roles, including Annapolis (2006) and Legion (2010).

Gibson also built a parallel career as an author. His books How to Get Out of Your Own Way (2011) and Manology (co-authored with Reverend Run, 2013) both debuted on the New York Times bestseller list. His 2025 reissue of the album Painfully Beautiful continued his music presence during a period dominated by legal headlines.

How Tyrese Gibson Built — and Strained — His Fortune

  • Film salaries: Gibson earned between $750,000 and $2 million per Fast & Furious installment, with Furious 7 reported at approximately $2 million. Across eight films in the franchise, his total acting fees from the series are estimated between $8 million and $12 million. Transformers fees added an estimated $2–3 million across three films.
  • Music income: His debut album Tyrese (platinum, 1998) and subsequent releases generated recording advances and royalties. Black Rose (2015), his first Billboard 200 number-one debut, demonstrated sustained commercial viability in R&B more than 15 years into his career.
  • Book sales: Both New York Times bestselling books generated advances and royalty income. How to Get Out of Your Own Way had a notably strong paperback run.
  • Real estate: Gibson purchased a $4 million mansion in Atlanta in 2017. However, the same year he disclosed in social media posts that he was financially struggling, citing monthly obligations of $107,000 that included $10,000 per month in court-ordered child support to his ex-wife Norma Mitchell. A 2024 child support contempt proceeding in Fulton County reflected ongoing payment difficulties.
  • Legal costs and obligations: Multiple divorce proceedings, child support arrangements, and legal disputes — including a 2024 contempt filing over unpaid child support — have substantially reduced his net liquid assets. His 2025 arrest on animal cruelty charges, following an incident in which his four Cane Corso dogs killed a neighbor’s dog in Atlanta, added further legal expenses. He posted a $20,000 bond, turned himself in voluntarily, and rehomed the dogs.

Personal Life

Gibson has been married twice. He was married to Norma Mitchell from 2007 to 2009; they have a daughter, Shayla (born 2007). He married Samantha Lee in 2017; their daughter Soraya was born in 2018. Samantha Lee filed for divorce in 2020, and the dissolution was finalized in 2022. Since 2021, Gibson has been in a relationship with social media influencer Zelie Timothy.

Gibson is a practicing Christian and has spoken publicly about his faith in numerous interviews and in his published books. He has maintained a public profile as an advocate for financial literacy and personal development, even as his own financial difficulties became tabloid fodder in 2017 when he posted emotional video content about his legal battles. In March 2026, he announced a fundraising initiative at FuelFest to benefit the Paul Walker Foundation, raising approximately $1 million in tribute to his former co-star, who died in a car accident in November 2013.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tyrese Gibson’s net worth in 2026?

Tyrese Gibson’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3 million as of 2026. Despite appearing in films that grossed billions of dollars — including the Fast & Furious and Transformers franchises — Gibson’s per-picture salary was modest relative to franchise leads, and his wealth was substantially diminished by divorce settlements, child support obligations, legal costs, and lifestyle expenses including a $4 million Atlanta mansion purchased in 2017.

What movies has Tyrese Gibson appeared in?

Tyrese Gibson is best known for playing Roman Pearce in the Fast & Furious franchise, appearing in eight installments beginning with 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003). He also played Sergeant Robert Epps in the first three Transformers films (2007–2011). His dramatic debut in John Singleton’s Baby Boy (2001) is frequently cited as his strongest solo leading performance. In total, he has over 75 film and television credits.

What financial problems has Tyrese Gibson faced?

In 2017, Gibson publicly disclosed financial strain, citing monthly obligations approaching $107,000 including court-ordered child support of $10,000 per month to his first ex-wife. A 2024 Fulton County contempt proceeding was filed over unpaid child support. In 2025, he was arrested on animal cruelty charges in Atlanta after his dogs attacked a neighbor’s dog; he posted a $20,000 bond. These legal and personal financial pressures, as reported by CNN and other outlets, have contributed to his current net worth estimate of approximately $3 million despite a career in two of Hollywood’s highest-grossing franchises.