Kesha first came to prominence back in 2009 when she reached the Billboard Hot 100 for the very first time due to her feature on Flo Rida's hit song, 'Right Round'.
That same year, Kesha released 'Tik Tok', a song that defined both a generation and the singer's career. Following her debut, Kesha soared to great heights with hit after hit, however, in 2014, the pop star hit a standstill when she entered into a legal battle against her producer, Dr. Luke.
While the trials and tribulations have officially come to an end, the damage done is still very much intact. Considering the magnitude of the case, Kesha was left with a $5 million net worth, after having to pay Dr. Luke quite a bit of money. So, how much did Dr. Luke really cost Kesha? Here's what went down!
How Dr. Luke Cost Kesha Millions
Kesha might have a current net worth of $5 million, but that wasn't always the case, she had more!
The star first began making music at the age of 16, writing songs and recording some of her own. After doing background vocals for a number of artists including Paris Hilton, and Katy Perry, Kesha landed 'Right Round' alongside Flo Rida, scoring herself a record deal with RCA.
Kesha then went on to release 'Tik Tok' her debut single, followed by an array of hits from her album, Warrior. The star was becoming one of the fastest-growing artists in the industry, allowing her to amass a whopping net worth of $10 million!
Despite her success, all that came to a stop in 2013 when Kesha launched a petition in order to get herself released from her label and producer, Dr. Luke. It was at this time that Dr. Luke had scrapped 70 songs Kesha wrote for Warrior, making it clear he had total creative control over her work.
In 2014, Kesha checked into a rehab facility for an eating disorder, which she claimed was due to years of abuse from the music producer. That same year, Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke over an array of offenses including sexual harassment, assault, and gender discrimination.
This went on to become one of the biggest legal battles within the music industry. After 2 years of court cases, many investigations, and millions of dollars later, a New York Supreme Court justice ruled against Kesha in the lawsuit.
The allegations were thrown out after it was revealed that Kesha had previously sworn under oath that she had never been drugged or sexually assaulted by the producer, ultimately losing her case.
Only a week following this verdict, it was revealed that Kesha had run out of money in an attempt to fund her lawsuit! Considering the team behind Kesha and the time that went into the legalities, it was assumed that she had gone through her millions in hopes of reaching justice.
In addition to the cost of her legal bills and team, Dr. Luke also cut Kesha off financially by withholding royalties from her songs, leaving her with no income.
To make matters worse, not only did she lose her case, but Dr. Luke countersued Kesha for defamation and breach of contract, and won! In February 2020, the judge deemed Kesha's former claims as false, leaving her ordered to pay Dr. Luke a whopping $400,000.
Kesha, who has since gone on to release new music, has also received help from fellow singer, Taylor Swift. In 2016, after revealing she had run out of money, Swift opted to donate $250,000 towards Kesha's legal bills.
Considering Taylor Swift is familiar with power dynamics in the industry, following her battle for her masters from Scooter Braun, she was one of the very few A-list artists to stand in support and solidarity with Kesha at the time.
In addition to Swift's financial support, a few others big names stepped forward in support of Kesha, including Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Demi Lovato, to name a few.
Although Kesha is creating new music, she is still doing so under RCA and Kemosabe, despite her case against them and Luke dating back over 7 years. The singer released High Road, Kesha's fourth album, and gained major traction with her singles, 'Raising Hell', 'My Own Dance', and 'Resentment'.
In addition to her making new music, Kesha's old music has also made a comeback! In February of last year, the singer's 2010 single 'Cannibal' went totally viral on TikTok and became a dance trend on the platform. This now only gave the song new life but allowed it to chart back into the Top 40.
Now, with things returning to normal, Kesha is set to embark on a tour to promote High Road, all while hinting at some new music!
The singer has been posting photos of her in the recording studio, and fans are suspecting that new material might be on the way. While she's had quite a tumultuous career, Kesha is back in her element and doing what she does best!