Who Is The Weeknd? Net Worth, Profile Of Super Bowl Halftime Show Musician

The Super Bowl halftime show is one of the biggest musical events of the year. On Sunday night, Canadian musician The Weeknd will take the stage and perform to over 100 million people.

The Weeknd, whose real name is Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, is coming off a successful 2020 with his hit album, “After Hours.” The 30-year-old's fourth album included No. 1 singles “Blinding Lights,” which drew a big audience on TikTok, as well as “Heartless.”

Super Bowl halftime performers don’t receive a payout from the NFL or its main sponsor Pepsi, though the NFL covers expenses and production costs.

The Weeknd spent $7 million of his own money to ensure the performance would be “cinematic,” according to CBS News.

The Weeknd may be betting on putting out a memorable performance, as the Super Bowl provides performers with a major publicity boost. The halftime show attention can lead to a new audience that may drive revenue for the performer.

The Weeknd, who was born and raised in the Toronto area, has a net worth of about $100 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Though such estimates are subject to much debate, he has generated plenty of attention since his career began in 2010.

His 319 award nominations, 107 awards won, 10 Grammy nominations and three Grammy wins provide just a glimpse of his success.

His career kicked off with the release of his mixtapes “House of Balloons” and “Trilogy.” He then went on to releases of “Kiss Land” (2013), “Beauty Behind the Madness” (2015), “Starboy” (2016) and “After Hours” (2020).

In a September interview with Rolling Stone, The Weeknd talked about his success and how he feels at home in New York City.

“I got to be a normal person — go to coffee shops, write, meet new people at the bar or in the streets, make new friendships,” he said. “I felt more normal in New York than I’ll ever do anywhere else.”