Kelly Rowland was a member of Destiny’s Child, a spectacular music smash group. Upon the release of their sophomore album, The Writing’s on the Wall, the group, which also included Beyoncé Knowles, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson, earned global popularity.
Their hit album not only made them sudden celebrities, but it also made them a lot of money. Rowland was only 18 years old at the time and had no financial understanding. Despite her struggle, she did not heed sound financial advice.
She went on a buying binge, according to the 42-year-old performer. She remembered going to the grocery store and buying practically everything her mother informed her was expensive, as well as throwing lavish parties to satiate her needs. She claimed she wasn’t permitted to consume some items because they were too pricey.
“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.”
Rowland, who became a millionaire at the age of 20, discovered that her sudden riches could pay more than just excursions to the grocery store. She purchased a large house for herself, which she subsequently conceded was too large for a 21-year-old. “I was like 21, with five bedrooms and 5,000 square feet to myself. I was far too young to own such a mansion.”
The singer didn’t stop there. She spent a lot of money on clothes. During a trip to Paris and Italy, she allegedly spent $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.
Rowland has continued a successful solo music career since leaving Destiny’s Child, in addition to appearing on TV series such as 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.”
