Nicki Minaj is a Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, and songwriter widely regarded as the "Queen of Rap." She has been married to Kenneth Petty since October 2019, and the couple has one son, born in September 2020. Born December 8, 1982, Minaj is 43 years old, and her net worth is estimated at around $150 million.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty |
| Date of Birth | December 8, 1982 |
| Age | 43 |
| Birthplace | Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (raised in Queens, New York) |
| Profession | Rapper, Singer, Songwriter |
| Husband | Kenneth "Zoo" Petty (married October 2019) |
| Children | 1 son (born September 2020; nicknamed "Papa Bear") |
| Debut Album | Pink Friday |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$150 million (estimate) |
Early Life
Onika Tanya Maraj was born on December 8, 1982, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. At age five, she moved with her family to Queens, New York City, where she was raised. She attended the prestigious Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, the same school where she first crossed paths with Kenneth Petty as a teenager.
Minaj has spoken openly about a difficult childhood, including her father's struggles with addiction. She began writing rhymes and performing in her teens, developing the colorful alter egos and animated flow that would later define her style.
Music Career
Mixtapes and Breakthrough
Minaj began rapping professionally in the early 2000s and gained underground recognition with a run of mixtapes — Playtime Is Over, Sucka Free, and Beam Me Up Scotty. Her sharp lyricism and distinctive delivery caught the attention of Lil Wayne, and she signed with his Young Money Entertainment in 2009.
Pink Friday and Stardom
Her debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), topped the US Billboard 200 and was certified triple platinum, powered by the global hit "Super Bass." The album set a record for the largest sales week for a female rap album in the 21st century at the time.
Continued Dominance
Minaj explored dance-pop on her second chart-topping album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), which produced the hit "Starships." She returned to her hip-hop roots with The Pinkprint (2014) and Queen (2018), yielding hits like "Anaconda" and "Chun-Li." Her fifth studio album, Pink Friday 2, arrived in late 2023 and was supported by the Pink Friday 2 World Tour — reported as the highest-grossing tour ever by a female rapper.
Across her career, Minaj has scored multiple Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles, including the duets "Say So" and "Trollz." She is credited as a driving force behind the mainstream resurgence of female rap in the 2010s, and outlets routinely describe her as one of the best-selling and most influential female rappers of all time.
Beyond music, Minaj has built a business portfolio including a fragrance line, endorsement deals with brands such as Pepsi, Adidas, and MAC Cosmetics, and her own record label imprint.
Husband and Family
Who Is Kenneth Petty?
Minaj's husband is Kenneth "Zoo" Petty, born April 7, 1978, in Queens, New York. The two knew each other as teenagers at LaGuardia High School and reconnected in 2018. Minaj has described him as someone who knew her before fame, framing the relationship as a reunion of childhood sweethearts.
The couple obtained their marriage license in mid-2019 and married on October 21, 2019. Minaj announced the news on Instagram with the caption "Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty 10•21•19," and changed her public surname to Maraj-Petty.
Petty's past includes serious criminal convictions — a 1995 attempted rape conviction and a 2006 manslaughter conviction — which have drawn sustained public scrutiny and media coverage. In 2022 he was sentenced to probation and home confinement for failing to register as a sex offender. Minaj has consistently stood by him publicly.
Children
The couple has one son, born September 30, 2020, whom they publicly refer to by the nickname "Papa Bear." His legal name has never been publicly confirmed, as Minaj has chosen to shield him from media exposure. Reports about Petty having additional children from prior relationships have never been confirmed by either party.
Net Worth
Minaj's net worth is estimated at approximately $150 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (August 2026) — a figure also cited by Forbes in 2026. Some outlets publish a wider range of $130 million to $190 million. Her wealth comes from record sales, touring (including the record-setting Pink Friday 2 World Tour), high-value guest verses, endorsements, her fragrance line, and business ventures. In 2022 she purchased a Hidden Hills, California mansion for $19.5 million.
As with all celebrity wealth figures, this is an estimate — no independently audited number exists.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nicki Minaj's husband?
Kenneth "Zoo" Petty, a Queens native she knew as a teenager. They reconnected in 2018 and married on October 21, 2019.
How long have Nicki Minaj and Kenneth Petty been married?
They married on October 21, 2019 — over seven years as of late 2026.
Does Nicki Minaj have children?
Yes — one son, born September 30, 2020, publicly known by the nickname "Papa Bear." His legal name has not been confirmed publicly.
How old is Nicki Minaj?
Born December 8, 1982, she is 43 years old.
What is Nicki Minaj's net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at around $150 million (Celebrity Net Worth, August 2026; also cited by Forbes in 2026), making her one of the wealthiest female rappers in history.