Few artists have turned longevity into power quite like LL Cool J. From pioneering hip hop in the 1980s to becoming a primetime TV fixture and cultural curator, the Queens-born legend has built an entertainment empire now estimated at $120 million.
LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, burst onto the scene in 1985 with Radio, helping shape hip hop’s mainstream future. Over four decades, he’s released 14 studio albums, delivered genre-defining hits like “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Around the Way Girl,” and earned two Grammys, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, and a historic Kennedy Center Honor.
But music was only the beginning. LL successfully crossed into Hollywood, starring in nearly 30 films and anchoring NCIS: Los Angeles for 14 seasons as Special Agent Sam Hanna. At his peak, he reportedly earned around $350,000 per episode, translating to roughly $8 million per season and over $100 million across the show’s run.
