Background and career
Miles Parks McCollum (born August 23, 1997), known professionally as Lil Yachty, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer and professional wrestling manager. He first gained recognition in August 2015 for his viral hit "One Night", the lead single from his debut extended play (EP), Summer Songs. He released his debut mixtape Lil Boat in March 2016, and signed a joint venture record deal with Motown, Capitol Records, and Quality Control Music in June of that year. In professional wrestling, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as the on-screen manager for Trick Williams. His debut studio album, Teenage Emotions (2017), peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 despite mixed critical response. His second album, Lil Boat 2 (2018), peaked at number two on the chart, while his third, Nuthin' 2 Prove (2018), peaked at number 12; both were met with continued unfavorable critical reception.
His fourth album, Lil Boat 3 (2020), peaked at number 14, while his fifth album, Let's Start Here (2023), marked a departure from hip hop in favor of psychedelic rock and saw a critical incline. His collaborative album with English singer James Blake, Bad Cameo (2024), further experimented with the genre and was met with continued praise despite failing to chart. McCollum is also known for his guest appearances on the 2016 singles "Broccoli" by DRAM and "ISpy" by Kyle. His former cherry-red hairstyle, lighthearted tone, and optimistic image were also centers of attention. Yachty was nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on "Broccoli". In 2026, McCollum started making appearances for WWE as a on-screen manager for Trick Williams.
McCollum was born in Mableton, Georgia. He attended Alabama State University in fall 2015 but soon dropped out to pursue his musical career. He adopted the name "Yachty" and moved from his hometown of Atlanta to New York City to launch his career. In New York, he lived with a friend and networked with online street fashion personalities, while he built up his own Instagram following. He worked at McDonald's to supplement his income early in his career.
2015–2017: "One Night", Lil Boat, and Teenage Emotions Yachty first came to prominence in December 2015 when the SoundCloud version of his song "One Night" was used in a viral comedy video. In February 2016, Yachty debuted as a model in Kanye West's Yeezy Season 3 fashion line at Madison Square Garden. Yachty's debut mixtape Lil Boat was released in March 2016.
How Lil Yachty makes money
He released his debut mixtape Lil Boat in March 2016, and signed a joint venture record deal with Motown, Capitol Records, and Quality Control Music in June of that year. In professional wrestling, he is signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand as the on-screen manager for Trick Williams.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth, in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
