Daddy Yankee Biography, Net Worth, Age, Real Name
Daddy Yankee Net Worth
The retired Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor, Daddy Yankee whose real name is Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez has a net worth of $40 million.
Profile Summary
| Net Worth | $40 million |
| Name | Daddy Yankee |
| Real Name | Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez |
| Gender | Male |
| Born | February 3, 1977 |
| Age | 46 years old |
| Place of birth | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Wife | Mireddys González (m. 1995) |
Biography
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez, known as Daddy Yankee, is a retired Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He's often called the King of Reggaeton by fans and music experts.
Ayala was born in Río Piedras and grew up in the Villa Kennedy Housing Projects neighbourhood. He wanted to be a baseball player and even tried out for the Seattle Mariners. But an accidental gunshot wound during a recording session changed his path, and he turned to music.
In 2004, Daddy Yankee released Gasolina, a global hit that introduced reggaeton to the world. He's sold about 30 million records and made Barrio Fino, his album, the top-selling Latin music album of the 2000s.
In 2017, his song Despacito with Luis Fonsi topped the Billboard Hot 100, a first for a Spanish-language song since Macarena in 1996. The music video reached a billion views on YouTube, making him the most-listened artist on Spotify in June 2017. He announced his retirement in 2022 after his seventh album, Legendaddy.
Daddy Yankee's achievements include five Latin Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, 14 Billboard Latin Music Awards, and more. He also has a star on the Puerto Rican Walk of Fame, special recognition from People en Español, and was called the Most Influential Hispanic Artist by CNN in 2009, and featured in Time 100 in 2006.
Daddy Yankee Age
The retired Puerto Rican rapper was born on February 3, 1977, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Daddy Yankee is 46 years old as of 2023.
Daddy Yankee Parents
Ramón Luis Ayala Rodríguez parents are Rosa Rodríguez and Ramón Ayala.
Daddy Yankee Wife
The retired Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor is married. He married Mireddys González in 1995. The couple's children are Yamilet Ayala González, Jeremy Ayala González, and Jesaeelys Ayala González.
Career
Daddy Yankee, a pioneer in reggaeton music, had a different plan in his early days. He dreamed of becoming a pro baseball player but a leg injury during a recording break changed his path, leading him to a music career.
His debut happened in 1994 on DJ Playero's Mixtape, Playero 34, with the song So' Persigueme, No Te Detengas. He officially went solo with No Mercy on April 2, 1995, under White Lion Records and BM Records in Puerto Rico.
Initially, Daddy Yankee tried to copy Vico C's rap style, later incorporating elements from artists like DJ Playero, DJ Nelson, and Tempo to create his unique Dembow rhythm-inspired sound. This shift marked his transition from traditional rap to reggaeton.
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In the 1990s, Daddy Yankee was featured in DJ Playero's underground mixtapes, which were banned in Puerto Rico due to explicit lyrics. These tapes became some of the earliest reggaeton tracks.
In 1997, he teamed up with rapper Nas for The Profecy on the album Boricua Guerrero. He released two compilation albums, El Cartel in 1997 and El Cartel II in 2001, finding success in Puerto Rico.
In 2000, Daddy Yankee formed Los Cangris with Nicky Jam, releasing successful singles until their split in 2004 due to personal issues. They reconciled in 2012.
In 2002, his album El Cangri.com gained international success with hits like Latigazo, Son las Doce, and Guayando. It also addressed social issues.
In 2003, he released Los Homerun-es, featuring his first charted single, Seguroski. He collaborated with Luny Tunes on Mas Flow with the hit Cógela Que Va Sin Jockey.
Daddy Yankee received the Industry Leader Award at the 2016 Latin Billboard Awards and reunited with Don Omar for The Kingdom Tour.
In 2017, Despacito with Luis Fonsi made history by topping the Billboard Hot 100.
He explored Latin trap in 2018 and collaborated with Janet Jackson on Made for Now.
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In 2019, Con Calma became a worldwide hit.
Daddy Yankee announced his final album, Legendaddy, and retirement plan in March 2022. In 2023, he collaborated with Rauw Alejandro, Justin Quiles, and others in new releases.
