Melanie Brown Net Worth

What is Melanie Brown's Net Worth?

Melanie Brown is an English R&B and pop recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress, author, television presenter, and model who has a net worth of $10 million. If you were expecting Mel B's net worth to be higher, Mel has experienced some financial problems over the years. Much more detail in the next section below and in this article.

Melanie Brown is probably most widely recognized as a member of the pop group, The Spice Girls. She has also released several solo albums and an autobiography, "Catch a Fire," in 2002.

Melanie Brown, often known as Mel B or "Scary Spice," is an English singer, actress, and television personality who catapulted to international stardom as a member of the iconic girl group, the Spice Girls. Her career, which spans various entertainment sectors, began with this pop phenomenon and continued to evolve and diversify, illustrating her multifaceted talent and persistent public appeal.

The Spice Girls, formed in the 1990s, quickly became one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. With their empowering lyrics, distinctive personalities, and catchy pop tunes, they dominated global music charts and cultivated a fervent fan base. Mel B was renowned for her bold, fearless persona within the group, providing a robust and sassy vocal presence that became a signature element of their sound. Her robust and sassy vocal presence and fierce personality left a lasting impression on fans and the pop culture of the era.

After the Spice Girls went on hiatus, Mel B embarked on a solo career, exploring her musicality through various projects. Her distinctive voice and energetic performances continued to garner attention, allowing her to explore various genres and musical collaborations. Even amid her solo endeavors, she would occasionally reunite with the Spice Girls for momentous occasions, much to the delight of fans worldwide.

In addition to music, Melanie Brown ventured into acting, appearing in films and theatre. Her charismatic and vibrant personality naturally transitioned to television, where she took on roles as a presenter and judge on numerous high-profile shows, including "America's Got Talent" and "The X Factor UK." Her insightful and candid critiques, coupled with her amicable interactions with contestants, rendered her a beloved television personality.

Mel B has also been open about her personal life and challenges, becoming an advocate for discussions around mental health and domestic abuse. Her autobiography, "Brutally Honest," sheds light on her journey, providing a candid look at the triumphs and trials of her career and personal life.

Divorce And Finances

Mel B's divorce from film producer Stephen Belafonte proved to be financially and emotionally devastating, thrusting her into a highly publicized legal and monetary crisis. In July 2017, a judge ordered her to pay Belafonte $40,000 per month in spousal support. The court filings from this period revealed the startling extent of Mel's financial troubles—despite having a net worth that peaked at $30 million during the height of her success, she was reportedly down to just $1,300 in her main checking account.

At the time, Mel was earning $240,000 per month from her role as a judge on "America's Got Talent." She also retained a 20% ownership stake in the entity that controls the Spice Girls' business ventures and intellectual property. However, her income was no match for the mountain of debt and expenses she had accumulated. To cover obligations, the court ordered Mel and Belafonte to vacate and list their $6.5 million Hollywood Hills home, which was encumbered by a $3.1 million mortgage and would likely trigger over $800,000 in capital gains taxes upon sale.

Legal documents filed in July 2018 detailed just how dire things had become. Mel disclosed that she paid Belafonte $422,500 in 2017, in addition to covering all housing expenses, childcare, and private school tuition for their daughter. She also spent more than $1.7 million on legal and accounting fees during the divorce proceedings. Her net income for 2017 was listed as negative $3.2 million, reflecting total expenses of $3.5 million against earnings of just $276,000. Mel carried over $100,000 in credit card debt and owed at least $800,000 to the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board in back taxes for 2016 and an estimated $1 million for 2017. Her wages were being garnished by both agencies.

To make matters worse, she still owed nearly $800,000 to a range of attorneys and forensic accountants, including $184,000 to her current legal team. She had also spent lavishly on private investigators, luxury travel, cars, flowers, and entertainment—costs that added up to six figures. Court records showed she paid nearly $121,000 in travel expenses, $63,000 on meals and entertainment, $49,000 in medical bills, and over $12,000 on car-related expenses. She even spent nearly $6,000 on flowers alone.

Her primary source of financial relief came in the form of $250,000 in child support from Eddie Murphy, the father of her daughter Angel, with another $125,000 arriving in the first half of 2018. Despite that support, Mel declared that she was the sole provider for her children and accused Belafonte of contributing nothing financially while attempting to leverage their daughter to extract more money through court orders. She wrote in a declaration:

"Stephen has not provided any information as if he is trying to become self-supporting… I am sole provider for our daughter in every way."

At the time of the filings, Mel's only major asset was her half-ownership of the Hollywood mansion and an estimated $76,000 in cash. Her personal and professional empire had unraveled to the point where she openly warned the court that any further financial obligations to her ex-husband would plunge her even deeper into debt.

(Photo by Amanda Edwards/WireImage)

Early Life

Melanie Janine Brown was born in Leeds, England, and grew up in a working-class household. Her father was from Saint Kitts and Nevis, and her mother is English. As a child, she showed an early talent for performance and attended Intake High School, which focused on the arts. After school, she briefly worked as a dancer before pursuing a music career.

Spice Girls

In 1994, Brown successfully auditioned for a new girl group that would become the Spice Girls. Alongside Victoria Adams (Beckham), Melanie Chisholm, Geri Halliwell, and Emma Bunton, she helped launch the group into global superstardom. Their debut single "Wannabe" became a worldwide hit in 1996, followed by the albums "Spice" and "Spiceworld," which together sold more than 50 million copies.

Mel B earned the nickname "Scary Spice" due to her wild hair, powerful stage presence, and outspoken nature. She played a key role in shaping the group's image and contributed vocals to major hits including "Say You'll Be There," "2 Become 1," and "Spice Up Your Life." The Spice Girls became a cultural phenomenon, promoting female empowerment and dominating pop music through the late '90s.

(VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)

Solo Music and Acting Career

After the Spice Girls' initial split in 2000, Brown launched a solo career. Her debut album "Hot" was released in 2000 and featured the UK No. 1 single "I Want You Back" featuring Missy Elliott. She followed it with the album "L.A. State of Mind" in 2005, though it saw limited commercial success.

Brown also pursued acting roles, appearing in the 1997 film "Spice World" and making stage appearances in productions such as "Rent" and the Broadway version of "Chicago," where she played Roxie Hart to positive reviews. She lent her voice to several animated projects and took part in reality television, showcasing her versatility as a performer.

Television and Media Career

In the 2010s, Brown reinvented herself as a successful television personality. She served as a judge or host on multiple major talent competitions around the world. In the UK, she judged "The X Factor," and in the U.S., she became a long-running judge on "America's Got Talent," where her chemistry with fellow judges helped make the show a hit.

Brown also appeared on "Dancing with the Stars," placing second in the 2007 season, and hosted several reality shows, including "Lip Sync Battle UK" and "The Masked Singer Australia." Her vibrant personality and no-nonsense style made her a fan favorite on nearly every show she joined.

Personal Life and Memoir

Mel B's personal life has often played out in public. She was married to dancer Jimmy Gulzar from 1998 to 2000 and had a daughter, Phoenix. In 2007, she had a daughter, Angel, with actor Eddie Murphy, although the relationship was short-lived and included a paternity dispute. She later married film producer Stephen Belafonte in 2007. The marriage ended in 2017, and Brown made headlines with claims of abuse during the relationship, which were detailed in court proceedings and her 2018 memoir "Brutally Honest."

In July 2025, Melanie married hairstylist Rory McPhee at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

In the memoir, Brown opened up about her struggles with mental health, addiction, domestic violence, and the pressures of fame. The book was praised for its rawness and courage, helping her connect with fans on a deeper level.

She is also a longtime supporter of women's rights and domestic violence awareness. In 2022, she was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her work with domestic abuse survivors and advocacy on behalf of Women's Aid, a UK charity.

Spice Girls Reunions and Legacy

Brown has taken part in every major Spice Girls reunion tour, including the 2007–2008 world tour, the 2012 performance at the London Olympics closing ceremony, and the 2019 stadium tour across the UK and Ireland. She has remained one of the most enthusiastic champions of the group's legacy and continues to hint at future projects with the other members.

From her early days as a pop icon to her evolution into an outspoken advocate and television star, Mel B has built a career defined by resilience, reinvention, and unapologetic honesty.

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