Who’s the richest member of Girls on Top, K-pop’s new supergroup? Net worths, ranked – from Aespa’s chart-topping hits and Red Velvet’s brand endorsements, to Boa’s millions

Jan 2 , 2022

SM Entertainment’s newest group, Girls on Top, includes seven K-pop heavy hitters. Photo: @GirlsOnTop_SM/Twitter

Girls on Top is the newest K-pop girl group under Korean mega-label SM Entertainment, which debuted on January 1. But its seven members are no stranger to the label’s audience, since they comprise a collection of the biggest female K-pop idols ever – including soloist Boa, Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon, Red Velvet’s Wendy and Seulgi, and Aespa’s Winter and Karina.

Thanks to their previous successes, they’re already all millionaires – but who is the richest of them all? Let’s take a look.

1. Boa: US$25 million

Twenty studio albums and a string of K-dramas and films has made Boa rich beyond most people’s wildest dreams. Photo: @boakwon/Instagram

With over two decades in the entertainment industry, Boa is known as the “Queen of K-pop” not only in her own country, but also in Japan, China and Singapore. Since her debut in 2000 at the age of just 14, the 35-year-old superstar has released 20 studio albums, including 10 in Korean, nine in Japanese and one in English.

Boa in 2013 Hollywood film Make Your Move 3D. Photo: IMDB.com

She is also a regular fixture on our screens, appearing in Korean reality TV shows K-pop Star and The Voice of Korea 2020, as well as acting in films and K-dramas such as Big Match and My Wife’s Having An Affair This Week, and took a lead role in the Hollywood dance film Make Your Move 3D.

All of this has helped her accumulate an enviable net worth of US$25 million, making her one of the top five richest K-idols in the world.

2. Taeyeon: US$8-15 million

Taeyeon from Girls’ Generation is also successful as a soloist and soundtrack song writer. Photo: @taeyeon_ss/Instagram

Taeyeon is one of the most prominent artists in South Korea, not only as the leader and vocalist of legendary second-generation group Girls’ Generation, but also as a soloist. Her reported pay per song is at least US$900,000, according to KpopStarz.

Taeyeon currently has 1.28 million subscribers on her YouTube channel. Photo: 탱구TV/YouTube

Besides, the 32-year-old K-idol also earns millions a year from her YouTube channel, which currently has 1.28 million subscribers, as well as lucrative endorsements with Korean brands such as Nature Republic, Banila Co., Paris Baguette and Hyundai.

She also has numerous soundtrack credits for films and TV shows. Seoul Space estimates that she is currently worth between US$15-18 million, while earlier this year her net worth was reported at around US$8 million. Whatever the real number, her hard work appears to be paying off in spades.

3. Hyoyeon: US$5 million

Hyoyeon has accumulated wealth from her DJ gigs in addition to her career with Girls’ Generation. Photo: @hyoyeon_x_x/Instagram

Before her debut as the main dancer and rapper of Girls’ Generation, Hyoyeon was already in the biz, working with international choreographers and artists including Janet Jackson. She was also a backup dancer for Boa, according to Kpopping.

The 32-year-old has also had a solo career and is a successful DJ in clubs and at EDM festivals. Her fortune is thought to be around US$5 million, according to Seoul Space.

4. Wendy: US$4 million

Red Velvet’s Wendy has sung with international stars including Ricky Martin and John Legend. Photo: @todayis_wendy/Instagram

Debuting in 2014 as the main vocalist of Red Velvet, Wendy has also collaborated with many other local and international artists over the years, including Kangta, Eric Nam, Ricky Martin and John Legend. She made her solo debut in April 2021 with her song Like Water.

The success of Red Velvet accounts for most the 27-year-old idol’s US$4 million net worth, according to KpopStarz – not least because of the group’s multiple TV guest appearances and endorsement deals.

5. Seulgi: US$4 million

Seulgi from Red Velvet is the group’s resident fashion and beauty queen, with numerous brand endorsements under her belt already. Photo: @hi_sseulgi/Instagram

Another Red Velvet vocalist, Seulgi has also taken part in plenty of collaboration projects with other artists, including many with her bandmate, Wendy, and several variety shows such as Law of the Jungle in Mexico, Secret Unnie and Cool Kids.

The 27-year-old singer is also something of a fashion icon – and the face of numerous international fashion and beauty brands as a result. From Nike Korea and Converse Korea (as its first female brand ambassador) to Salvatore Ferragamo, L’Occitane and Amuse. Even brands like Coca-Cola and Volkswagen have worked with the star.

6. Winter: US$1.2 million

Winter may be lower down the GOT rich list, but considering she only debuted a year ago, the 20-year-old is doing pretty well. Photo: @winter_aespa_a/Instagram

Winter was the first member of Aespa, and the group’s lead vocalist and dancer. Despite only debuting in late 2020, the rookie girl group quickly gained global fame thanks to chart-topping songs Savage, Next Level, Black Mamba, Iconic, I’ll Make You Cry, Forever, Yeppi Yeppi and more.

Aespa’s brand deal with Givenchy means the girls are often seen wearing the brand’s clothes on the red carpet. Photo: @givenchy/Instagram

The group’s success reeled in brand deals with Givenchy, Clio, Eider and Mediheal, among others, and the combination of a successful singing career coupled with the advertising endorsements turned the 20-year-old idol into a millionaire. She now has a net worth of around US$1.2 million, according to K Mag.

7. Karina: US$1 million

Fans voted Aespa’s Karina “Vocal Queen of K-pop” – will she bring her impressive rap skills to Girls on Top? Photo: @karina_aespa/Instagram

Karina is the main dancer, lead rapper, sub-vocalist, visual and face of Aespa, and was recently voted by fans and netizens the “Vocal Queen of K-pop”.

She also previously appeared in Taemin’s Want music video, danced for the song’s promotional stages and performed alongside Exo’s Kai in a virtual showcase held by Hyundai Motors and SM Entertainment, according to K Profiles. The 21-year-old’s net worth is now thought to be somewhere around US$1 million as a result, according to Celeb Vogue.

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K-pop idols

SM Entertainment’s new girl group features top K-pop idols from Aespa’s Winter and Karina to Red Velvet’s Seulgi and Wendy to Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon and Hyoyeon
From YouTube channels and endorsements with Nike, Hyundai and Coca-Cola to collaborations with Exo’s Kai and Ricky Martin, the girls already made millions before GOT