Voletta Wallace was born on 3 February 1953, in Trelawny, Jamaica, and is a retired pre-school teacher, author and businesswoman, but perhaps best known for being the mother of the late rapper Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. Notorious B.I.G.
So just how rich is Voletta Wallace? Sources state that Wallace has acquired a wealth over $40 million, as of late 2016, established through her involvement in her son’s estate business.
Voletta Wallace Net Worth $40 Million
Born to a butcher and a homemaker, Wallace grew up in Jamaica along with her three siblings. In 1968 she immigrated to the USA, to pursue her American Dream. Settling in the poor neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City, as a practicing Jehovah’s Witness, she worked as a baby-sitter and later as a private nurse’s aid. She then enrolled in Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, N.Y., obtaining her Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education from Brooklyn College of Brooklyn, N.Y. . As a teacher, Wallace worked in in Brooklyn Head Start, Congregation Beth Eloaheim and the YMCA of Greater New York.
She eventually became involved with a Jamaican welder and politician named Selwyn George Latore, but after she became pregnant, the couple separated and she later gave birth to Christopher George Latore Wallace, who became one of the greatest hip-hop artists, known as The Notorious B.I.G., who brought attention to the East Coast gangsta rap during the time when West Coast scene dominated. His dedication to hip-hop made him a rap icon. However, as the central figure and representative of the East Coast, the rapper found himself in constant conflict with the West Coast, especially when the acclaimed Tupac Shakur was mysteriously killed in the mid-’90s. Rumors speculated that B.I.G. was involved in Tupac’s murder, as the two artists were huge rap rivals. Several months later, B.I.G. was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles; his murder remains unsolved. Today, B.I.G.’s talent is still being acknowledged as various artists have been paying tribute to him through their music. His name has remained a major one in the history of rap music.
Ever since her son’s death, Wallace has been doing everything in her power to keep his memory alive, including by managing B.I.G.’s estate and legacy. By doing so, she has been in the public spotlight, and a recognized figure in the world of rap.
In 2005 she released her memoir entitled “Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son, Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G.” , co-written by Tremell McKenzie, and including a foreword by B.I.G.’s widow and the mother of his child, an R&B star in her own right, Faith Evans. The book portrays her son’s climb to stardom, his death, and also covers the deceptions of people in the music and entertainment industry.
Four years after the release of her memoir, Wallace became involved in the production of the film “Notorious”, a biographical drama about the life and murder of B.I.G., directed by George Tillman, written by Reggie Rock Bythewood and produced by P. Diddy, B.I.G.’s former managers Wayne Barrow and Mark Pitts, and by Wallace herself. The film earned $20,497,596 in its first weekend, significantly adding to Wallace’s wealth.
Wallace also runs the Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, and is the supervisor of her son’s estate, which has been the main source of her net worth.
In her private life, Wallace hasn’t been married, and sources believe that she is single at present. She is a devoted philanthropist, the founder of The Christopher Wallace Memorial Foundation, focused on enabling educational opportunities for underprivileged youth in the inner city.
