Ricky Reed Net Worth

What is Ricky Reed's Net Worth?

Ricky Reed is an American music producer, songwriter, recording artist, and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $14 million.

Ricky Reed is best known as one of the key behind-the-scenes architects of Lizzo's mainstream breakthrough, producing and co-writing major songs including "Truth Hurts," "Good as Hell," "Juice," and "About Damn Time." He has also worked with artists such as Jason Derulo, Halsey, Meghan Trainor, Kesha, Twenty One Pilots, Leon Bridges, Bomba Estéreo, Jon Batiste, and The Marías. Before becoming a Grammy-winning hitmaker, Reed performed as the frontman of the genre-bending pop project Wallpaper. and played in the Bay Area band Facing New York. He later founded Nice Life Recording Company, a Los Angeles-based label and publishing company that became closely associated with Lizzo's rise. Known for a bright, bass-heavy, playful production style, Reed has built a career that spans pop, hip-hop, funk, indie, R&B, electronic music, and alternative rock.

Early Life

Ricky Reed was born Eric Burton Frederic on July 23, 1982, in Berkeley, California. He grew up in the Bay Area and became involved in music as both a performer and producer. His early work reflected the eclectic musical culture around him, drawing from punk, hip-hop, funk, electronic music, and pop.

Before using the name Ricky Reed professionally, he played in the progressive rock band Facing New York. That experience helped him develop as a songwriter and live performer before he moved more fully into production, pop writing, and studio work.

Wallpaper.

Reed first gained attention as the leader of Wallpaper., a solo project that eventually expanded into a band. Wallpaper. mixed electronic beats, funk basslines, hip-hop attitude, and intentionally exaggerated party-pop humor. The project built a cult following with songs such as "#STUPiDFACEDD" and "FUCKING BEST SONG EVERRR."

In 2013, Wallpaper. released the album "Ricky Reed Is Real" through Epic Records. The project did not make Reed a mainstream pop star, but it was extremely important to his later career. It established his ear for hooks, his sense of humor, and his ability to make chaotic, high-energy records that sounded both commercial and strange.

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Production Breakthrough

Reed's major breakthrough as a producer came with Jason Derulo's "Talk Dirty," released in 2013. The song became a global hit and introduced Reed as a behind-the-scenes force in mainstream pop.

He followed that success with credits for artists including Pitbull, Fifth Harmony, Jessie J, Meghan Trainor, Twenty One Pilots, Kesha, and Halsey. His production work often combined big bass, unusual samples, bright percussion, and catchy vocal arrangements. He developed a reputation for helping artists sound playful and accessible without sanding off their personality.

Lizzo and Nice Life

Reed's most important creative partnership has been with Lizzo. Through Nice Life Recording Company, he helped develop and champion her music before she became a mainstream superstar. Their collaborations included "Good as Hell," "Truth Hurts," "Juice," and "About Damn Time," songs that helped turn Lizzo into one of the defining pop artists of her era.

"Truth Hurts" became a massive sleeper hit, reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 after gaining momentum years after its original release. "Cuz I Love You" earned major Grammy recognition, and "About Damn Time" won Record of the Year. Reed's work with Lizzo gave him both commercial success and industry credibility, proving that he could help build an artist's full sound rather than simply deliver isolated singles.

Nice Life also became a broader creative company, with recording and publishing interests and a roster that has included artists such as The Marías, Tinashe, St. Panther, and others.

Grammy Awards and Later Work

Reed has won multiple Grammy Awards and earned nominations for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. His Grammy-recognized work includes Lizzo's "Cuz I Love You," Lizzo's "About Damn Time," and Jon Batiste's "We Are."

In 2020, Reed released "The Room," a collaborative solo album created during the COVID-19 pandemic through livestreamed writing sessions. The album featured artists including Leon Bridges, Lido Pimienta, Jim James, Dirty Projectors, and St. Panther. While Reed remains best known as a producer, "The Room" showed his continued interest in being an artist and curator as well as a hitmaker.

Personal Life

Ricky is married to vegan/wellness author/YouTuber Laura Miller.

Real Estate

In December 2020, Ricky and Laura paid $4 million for a home in the Los Angeles suburb of La Canada Flintridge.

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