Lil Nas X is once again making headlines after a bizarre incident in Los Angeles led to his arrest. The rapper was spotted walking down Ventura Boulevard wearing nothing but underwear and cowboy boots, according to TMZ. Police responded quickly after receiving a report of a ‘nude man walking in the street’ in the early hours of August 21, 2025. The Old Town Road hitmaker also suffered a major health scare during the ordeal and was rushed to a hospital for what authorities suspect may have been a drug overdose.

The bizarre incident has once again put Lil Nas X in the spotlight. However, his daring fashion choices and controversies are not the only things that grab attention. Behind the headlines is a breakout star who has redefined success in the digital age with viral tracks, Billboard-shattering records, and unapologetic performances. His infectious hooks, daring artistry, and fearless persona have earned him prestigious awards while steadily boosting his impressive net worth.

At just 26 years old, the Grammy winner has carved an extraordinary journey in music, rising from a small town in Georgia to global stardom as one of the few openly queer rappers, winning millions of hearts. Here’s a closer look at who Lil Nas X really is and how he has already built an impressive fortune.

Who is Lil Nas X? Inside his early life and rise to fame

Lil Nas X, born Montero Lamar Hill on April 9, 1999, in Lithia Springs, Georgia, had a modest upbringing. Growing up, he didn’t exactly have the ideal family environment, with his parents splitting up when he was only six. After his parents’ divorce, Montero’s growing years were split between Atlanta and Austell, Georgia, where he lived with his father, a gospel singer.

Before finding his calling in music, Lil Nas X briefly attended the University of West Georgia, but he dropped out midway to pursue his passion. The Gen Z fame used social media platforms, mainly Twitter (now X) and TikTok, to share his work, where he soon found an audience who loved his unique blend of country and rap.

Towards the end of 2018, Lil Nas X released Old Town Road, a track that would become his big break in music. Within months, the track exploded on TikTok and ultimately landed him a major deal with Columbia Records, where he recorded its remix alongside country music star Billy Ray Cyrus.

How Old Town Road catapulted Lil Nas X’s fame

When Lil Nas X first released Old Town Road, he had no idea it would turn out to be such a cultural phenomenon. After his label deal, the song’s remix with Billy Ray Cyrus topped the charts and remained at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 19 consecutive weeks, the longest any music has maintained its position in chart history.

According to a report by Forbes, the track alone earned Lil Nas X somewhere around 14 million US dollars pre-tax, thanks to his live performances, sales and streaming. The success that came with Old Town Road was enough to catapult his fame from a struggling singer to an overnight sensation. The remix was a viral hit, and it instantly turned him into one of the most talked-about names in music that year.

 Lil Nas X’s career highlights

Old Town Road made Lil Nas X a breakout star whose raw and original talent received the praise it deserved, and he has never looked back. In 2020, the rapper-singer received not one but two Grammy awards, one for Best Music Video and another for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (Old Town Road Remix with Billy Ray Cyrus).

Despite being a considerably new face in the industry, Lil Nas X has already bagged some prestigious accolades for his groundbreaking music and performance. He has proven his natural flair as a true performer with his daring and even sometimes controversial choices and remains one of the most celebrated Gen Z musicians. His creative music has also landed him MTV Video Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.

As someone who never shies away from his personal and professional choices, Lil Nas X made a groundbreaking performance at the 2021 BET Awards, making headlines for unapologetically celebrating his identity on stage. While for many, it was too bold a moment, for others, it became another iconic moment of the star rapper’s career. After the massive success of Old Town Road, Lil Nas X released his debut album, Montero, in 2021. The album became a massive success, with mega hits like Industry Baby and That’s What I Want. 

He also made his Met Gala debut in 2021, where he pulled off three regal outfits, starting with an ornate Versace cape that revealed a golden suit of armour beneath it. Adding to the surprise factor, the rapper shed the armour layer to reveal a bedazzled, slinky Versace bodysuit covered in crystals. The showstopping outfits made Lil Nas X one of the best-dressed Met Gala attendees that year.

Lil Nas  X is one of the world’s most prominent queer rappers

By 2019, Lil Nas X’s music was playing anywhere and everywhere. That same year, he came out as gay and became one of the most prominent openly LGBTQ+ rappers in the world. In several of his interviews, the Old Town Road singer candidly spoke up about his experience growing up queer in a conservative environment and earned a massive fan base in the LGBTQ+ community.

Coming to his personal life, Lil Nas X had been romantically linked to a dancer, Yai Ariza, who was also seen in his That’s What I Want music video. He was also rumoured to date influencer Cody Jon. Fans got to get a closer look at the rapper’s personal journey in 2022 when HBO released a documentary titled Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero.

Lil Nas X’s net worth

Within less than a decade of coming to the limelight, Lil Nas X has cemented his position as one of the most celebrated artists in the global music industry. According to Celebrity Net Worth, his net worth as of 2025 is estimated at a staggering USD 9 million, thanks to streaming royalties, brand deals, merchandise sales, tours and live shows, and other collaborations.

Despite occasional controversies surrounding his bold fashion, music videos and questionable merchandise designs, Lil Nas X remains one of the most innovative artists of his generation. 

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