Kelly Rowland was a member of the sensational music hit group Destiny’s Child. The group, which also included Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson, achieved global fame following the release of their sophomore album, The Writing’s on the Wall.
Their hit album did not only make them overnight superstars but it also brought in a lot of money. At the time, Rowland was only 18 years old with little financial knowledge. She did not listen to sound financial advice despite her challenge.
According to the 42-year-old singer, she went on a spending spree. She recalled going to the grocery store and buying almost everything that her mother told her was expensive, in addition to organizing extravagant parties to satisfy her cravings. According to her, she was not allowed to eat certain foods because they were expensive.
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“I remember so many people telling me that I needed to save my money and invest — but I didn’t listen,” Rowland told InStyle. “When I got one of my first paychecks, I went to the grocery store and bought almost everything that my mom used to tell me was too expensive. I bought all of that shit, had a party at my house, and everybody ate up everything. I’ll never forget it because it was fun and it was something I was able to fund myself.”
A millionaire at the age of 20, Rowland would later find her new fortune could fund more than just trips to the grocery. She bought herself a big house which she later admitted was too big for a 21-year-old. “I was, like, 21 years old with five bedrooms and 5,000 square feet to myself. I was way too young to buy a home like that.”
The singer did not end there. She spent big on fashion. According to her, on a trip to Paris and Italy, she blew $300,000 in 30 minutes at Bergdorf Goodman.
“I remember just going completely nuts on trips to Paris and Italy, blowing like 30 grand in 30 minutes at Bergdorf Goodman. It was ridiculous. Eventually, I started to realize that my AmEx bill was really, really high and I needed to chill out,” she said.
Post Destiny’s Child, Rowland has maintained a successful solo music career in addition to appearing on TV shows like The Voice Australia.
She said: “In the past, women were made to feel like they could only make things work if they had a man. Now, we’re CEOs and start our own companies. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs right now are women. You can put your hand over your chest with pride because we’ve come such a long way. To be able to take care of yourself and be proud of that is a reward for all the hard work you put in.”
