Music icon and tech entrepreneur, Will.i.am, has revealed why he chooses to live in hotels instead of having his own house.
Speaking at the AfroTech Conference in Houston, The Black Eyed Peas lead attributed his unique style of living to his success and personal milestones.
His net worth is estimated at $50 million, but he considers the achievements “a journey” and not “a destination.”
“I’ve never had a house…I bought myself a studio. I have my office, but I stay in a hotel. I don’t have a house because I ain’t bought the house that says, ‘I made it,’” he stated at the conference.
The top performer maintained that he would continue to live in hotels until he was able to purchase the home of his dreams. He added that his decision was also influenced by his upbringing.
Related stories
He recalled his mother relying on food stamps and the tragic loss of friends to violence. All of these, he said, encourage him to break away from those realities and create opportunities for others.
Inspired by these realities, he focuses on using his platform to address inequalities and foster change, as he values impact over material possessions.
The award-winning artiste is said to maintain strong ties to his roots and regularly returns to his old neighborhood.
Born William James Adams Jr. in 1975, Will.i.am (pronounced “will I am”) has seven Grammy Awards, a Latin Grammy Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award.
The singer and record producer has been the frontman of the musical group Black Eyed Peas, which he formed with fellow rappers in 1995.
He is credited on singles and albums for other artists including Michael Jackson, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Psy, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Nicki Minaj, Estelle, and others.
Records indicate he has had 41 UK singles chart-top 40 entries since 1998, and has sold 9.4 million singles in the country. He founded the technology company i.am+ in 2013 and has served as a panelist and mentor on the reality competition series including The Voice UK, and others.
