Aubrey Drake Graham, universally known as Drake, is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor who has fundamentally transformed the landscape of hip-hop and popular music over the course of his career. Born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Drake first came to public attention as an actor on the Canadian television drama Degrassi: The Next Generation before pivoting to music and ascending to a level of commercial dominance that few artists in any genre have ever matched. He is widely credited with blending hip-hop production with R&B's emotional vulnerability in a way that redefined what rap music could sound like, and his influence on an entire generation of artists is immeasurable. With over 170 billion streams and more Hot 100 entries than any other artist in history, Drake stands as the most commercially successful recording artist of the streaming era.

Early Life

Aubrey Drake Graham was born on October 24, 1986, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His father, Dennis Graham, is an African-American musician from Memphis, Tennessee who played drums for Jerry Lee Lewis, and his mother, Sandi Graham, is a Canadian of Jewish heritage who worked as a florist and teacher. His parents divorced when Drake was five years old, and he was raised primarily by his mother in the Weston Road neighborhood of Toronto, a working-class area. During the summer months, he would travel to Memphis to stay with his father, giving him a dual cultural perspective that would later profoundly influence his music.

Drake has spoken candidly about the economic challenges his mother faced after the divorce, including periods when they struggled financially. He attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in an affluent area of Toronto, a school attended by wealthy peers despite his own more modest circumstances. He has described the experience of navigating different social worlds as central to forming his identity as an artist, and the emotional complexity that characterizes his music is widely attributed to these formative experiences.

Education

Drake attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario, a well-regarded high school. However, his acting career with Degrassi: The Next Generation began to dominate his schedule, and he ultimately dropped out of high school to pursue his career full-time. In a notable personal milestone, Drake returned to complete his high school diploma in 2012, more than a decade after leaving school and long after he had become one of the most successful artists in the world. He has spoken about the importance of completing his education and setting an example for his fans.

Career

Drake first gained recognition as an actor, playing the character Jimmy Brooks — a basketball player who becomes paraplegic — in the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, a role he held from 2001 to 2008. While still acting on Degrassi, he began releasing hip-hop mixtapes independently, gradually building a following in the music world. His 2009 mixtape So Far Gone attracted widespread attention and led to a bidding war between major record labels, ultimately resulting in him signing with Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment and Cash Money Records as well as his own OVO Sound imprint. The So Far Gone EP was released commercially and debuted at number six on the Billboard 200.

Drake's debut studio album Thank Me Later (2010) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. He followed this with a string of massively successful albums including Take Care (2011), which won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, Nothing Was the Same (2013), If You're Reading This It's Too Late (2015), the joint project What a Time to Be Alive with Future (2015), Views (2016), More Life (2017), Scorpion (2018), Certified Lover Boy (2021), and Honestly, Nevermind (2022). He also founded OVO Sound, his own record label, and OVO Fest, his annual music festival in Toronto. He holds the record for the most Billboard Hot 100 chart entries in history, having charted over 260 songs.

Personal Life

Drake has a son named Adonis Graham, who was born on October 11, 2017, the same date as Drake's own birthday — October 24 — just a week apart. Adonis's mother is Sophie Brussaux, a French-born artist and former adult film actress. Drake initially kept his son's existence private before publicly acknowledging him on his 2018 album Scorpion. He has since spoken warmly and openly about fatherhood and his deep love for Adonis, who appears in social media posts and music videos. Drake is not currently in a publicly known committed relationship.

Net Worth

As of 2026, Drake's estimated net worth is approximately $400 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth and other financial tracking sources. His wealth is derived from his prolific music catalog, record-breaking touring revenue, his OVO Sound record label and OVO merchandise empire, brand partnerships including a landmark deal with the online gambling platform Stake reportedly worth $100 million per year, and various real estate investments including his famous Hidden Hills, California mansion and his Toronto estate. He is consistently ranked among the highest-earning musicians in the world and his cultural influence ensures his commercial value remains extraordinarily high.

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Aubrey Drake Graham
  • Date of Birth: October 24, 1986
  • Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Height: 6 ft 0 in
  • Net Worth: $400 Million (estimated 2026)
  • Relationship Status: Single
  • Children: Adonis Graham (son, born 2017)
  • Profession: Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Entrepreneur
  • Best Known For: God's Plan, One Dance, Take Care, Hotline Bling, OVO Sound