L.A. Reid Biography & Net Worth

L.A. Reid Biography & Net Worth

L. A. Reid is an American businessman, record executive, record producer, film producer, and author. In 2017, he was forced to resign from his position as chairman of Epic Records after a series of allegations of sexual harassment. Best known as the founder of and former co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment, Reid has served as the president and chief executive officer of Arista Records, and the chairman and chief executive officer of The Island Def Jam Music Group and Epic Records. Reid was the co-founder of LaFace Records with fellow music producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. He was the founder and chief executive officer of Hitco Music Publishing and has won three Grammy Awards to mark his success. Over the course of his illustrious career, L.A. Reid he has written and produced songs for many artists including DJ Khaled, Death Grips, Rick Ross, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Outkast, 21 Savage, Toni Braxton, TLC, Young Jeezy, Paula Abdul, Pink, Halsey, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Zara Larsson, Jidenna, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez, Future, Rihanna, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Fifth Harmony, Usher, Ne-Yo, Ciara, and The Jacksons. He also took his career outside music studios and was seen on television as a judge on the seasons one and two of the United States talent TV show “The X Factor”. He came up with a New York Times bestselling memoir in 2016 titled “Sing to Me: My Story of Making Music, Finding Magic, and Searching for Who’s Next”. Such ventures have been the chief contributors to L.A. Reid net worth since he made it to the big stage. Here’s his biography and the highlights of his successful career which now stands out as an inspiration to anybody from the younger generation that is dreaming of making it big in the entertainment industry.

L.A. Reid’s Early Life

Antonio Marquis Reid was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States on June 7, 1956. Passionate about music even right from his days as a child, he grew up listening to renowned artists like Led Zeppelin, James Brown, and Sly Stone. He grew up in Cincinnati, and his hometown, rich in music traditions, also contributed immensely to his music development. During his teenage years he played drums in a band and performed in front of small crowds.

L.A. Reid’s Career

In the mid 1970s, L.A. Reid was part of a group called ‘Pure Essence’. He played drums for this group and performed in front of modest crowds on the streets, bars and clubs. He experienced more success as a member of the group ‘The Deele’, which made several hit songs before they broke up. Up next, he teamed up with a band mate in The Deele, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, and they founded LaFace Records through a joint project with Arista Records, using funds from Arista initiator Clive Davis. LaFace Records went on to achieve tremendous success and emerged as one of the world’s biggest record labels in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Through LaFace records, Toni Braxton sold 65 million records, Outkast sold 25 million records, and TLC sold 75 million records worldwide. Usher joined this same record as a 16-year-old, and succeeded in selling 65 million records with L.A. Reid and Kenneth Edmonds in charge.

In 1996, Reid formed a joint venture with Windswept Music and called it the Hitco Publishing Group. He served as the new group’s president and chief executive officer.

He became the chief executive officer and chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004, and successfully helped launch the careers of artists like Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Kanye West, among many others. He also helped engineer the comebacks of singers Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey, resigning from his positions at the company in May 2011. In July the same year, he took up the positions of chief executive officer and chairman of Epic Records. During this same time he was seen on television as a judge on the seasons one and two of the United States talent TV show “The X Factor”. However, he decided not to be available for the show’s third season, citing his need to pay full attention on his leadership at Epic.

Reid stepped down from his positions at Epic Records in May 2017, following allegations of sexual assault made by a female staff against Reid, and other accusations that followed. Subsequently, in 2018, he founded Hitco Entertainment, LLC, along with the former chief executive officer of TouchTunes Interactive Networks Charles Goldstuck. Artists signed to Hitco Entertainment include Delacey, Yella Beezy, and several others.

Awards & Achievements

Over the course of his illustrious career, L.A. Reid he has written and produced songs for many artists including DJ Khaled, Death Grips, Rick Ross, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Outkast, 21 Savage, Toni Braxton, TLC, Young Jeezy, Paula Abdul, Pink, Halsey, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Zara Larsson, Jidenna, Justin Bieber, Meghan Trainor, Jennifer Lopez, Future, Rihanna, Kanye West, Travis Scott, Fifth Harmony, Usher, Ne-Yo, Ciara, and The Jacksons. He has been nominated for many awards and has won the Grammy Awards three times to mark his success. Alongside fellow music executive Babyface, he was honored as a BMI Icon in 2006. He is also a recipient of the Harvard University Alumni Award of Excellence in media.

Personal Life & Family

Mr. Reid has four children from three different relationships. He was married to Perri Reid from 1979 to 1996. After they divorced, he moved on with Erica Holton and married her in 2000.

Apart from being known for his accomplishments in music, Reid is also well known for his philanthropic efforts. He has been a part of many projects by charity associations like the Robin Hood Foundation and City of Hope organization.

L.A. Reid Net Worth 2020

After years of critical acclaim and success as a music executive and producer, L.A. Reid net worth is currently estimated at $300 million. Best known as the founder of and former co-chairman of Hitco Entertainment, Reid has served as the president and chief executive officer of Arista Records, and the chairman and chief executive officer of The Island Def Jam Music Group and Epic Records. He also spent years working with LaFace Records, a record label he co-founded along with Kenneth “Babyface” Williams. Through the various positions he held in all the companies he worked with, L.A. Reid worked with many artists and help them climb through the ranks of success, and helped build up their careers.