Messiah Ya’Majesty Harris — the eldest son of rapper T.I. — has spent the last few years quietly building an identity separate from his father’s hip-hop legacy. Under the stage name Buddy Red, he’s carved out a niche in blues and rock music while also acting and growing a social media following. Naturally, that’s led to a lot of curiosity (and a lot of conflicting numbers) about how much he’s actually worth.
Quick Answer
- Estimated Net Worth: No verified figure exists; credible estimates generally fall between $500,000 and $5 million
- Profession: Actor, musician (performing as Buddy Red), social media personality
- Age: 26 (born February 2, 2000)
- Nationality: American
- Why Famous: Eldest son of rapper T.I. and TV personality Lashon Dixon; known for appearances on T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle and his independent music career
Quick Facts
Personal Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Messiah Ya’Majesty Harris |
| Born | February 2, 2000, Georgia, USA |
| Parents | T.I. (Clifford Joseph Harris Jr.) and Lashon Dixon |
| Education | Georgia State University — B.S. in Business Administration (Entrepreneurship), 2018–2023 |
| Relationship | Girlfriend Felicity Alexius; the couple welcomed a daughter in 2025 |
Career Snapshot
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Stage Name | Buddy Red |
| Genre | Blues and rock |
| Live Debut | November 2022 |
| Notable Songs | “You Know,” “When I Dream,” “Insanity,” “Sold His Soul,” “1958” |
| Acting Credits | T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle, Sons 2 the Grave, and other independent film work |
Who is Messiah Harris?
Messiah Harris is an American actor and musician, best known as the eldest son of rapper T.I. and TV personality Lashon Dixon. He performs blues-rock music under the stage name Buddy Red and has built acting and music careers separate from his father’s hip-hop legacy.
Biography
Early Life & Family
Messiah was born in Georgia to T.I. and Lashon Dixon, who knew each other since childhood. He’s the older full brother of Domani Harris, and has several half-siblings through his father, including King, Major, Deyjah, and Heiress Harris, plus stepsister Zonnique Pullins. He grew up in the public eye largely through his family’s reality series, which introduced him to national audiences.
Education
Rather than heading straight into entertainment full-time, Messiah attended Georgia State University from 2018 to 2023, graduating with a business degree focused on entrepreneurship — a background he’s said helps him manage his own career.
Music, Acting & Career Journey
Messiah’s creative path took a sharp turn after he watched Bohemian Rhapsody as a teenager, which sparked an interest in guitar and classic rock rather than hip-hop. He taught himself to play and eventually adopted the name Buddy Red — a tribute to his paternal grandfather and maternal uncle. He made his live performance debut in November 2022 and has since released a string of original blues-rock tracks. Alongside music, he holds several acting credits, including independent film roles, building a resume distinct from his father’s.
Messiah Harris Net Worth Overview
Estimated Net Worth
There is no Forbes listing, tax filing, or other verified financial disclosure for Messiah Harris. Because of that, published estimates vary enormously — from as low as $500,000 to as high as $117 million, depending on the source. The more grounded, frequently repeated estimates put his net worth somewhere in the $500,000 to $5 million range, built primarily from acting fees, independent music revenue, and social media activity.
How His Net Worth Is Estimated
Without official records, most outlets estimate Messiah’s wealth by looking at his visible income streams: acting roles and residuals, streaming and live-performance revenue from his Buddy Red music career, and social media brand activity. These are directional estimates, not confirmed figures.
Verified Facts vs Estimated Figures
Verified: his education, family relationships, acting credits, and music releases are well documented through interviews and public appearances. Not verified: any specific dollar figure for his net worth, including the widely circulated $117 million claim.
Fact Check: Is Messiah Harris Really Worth $117 Million?
This figure shows up on a number of low-effort celebrity biography sites, but it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. For context, T.I. himself is commonly estimated at around $30 million — making a $117 million figure for his son, an actor and independent musician still early in his career, implausible on its face. The number appears to have originated on template-based sites that recycle unsupported figures rather than sourcing original financial data. Treat it as speculation, not fact.
How Messiah Harris Makes Money
Music Career (Buddy Red)
As an independent blues-rock artist, Messiah’s music income comes from streaming royalties, live performance bookings, and potential licensing — none of which tend to generate outsized earnings at this stage of a career, but which add up over time as his catalog and touring history grow.
Television & Acting
His earliest public income stream came from family reality television, and he has since taken on independent film roles, which bring project fees and potential residuals.
Social Media Earnings
With a substantial Instagram following built over more than a decade in the public eye, Messiah likely earns supplemental income from sponsored content and brand mentions, though specific deals aren’t publicly disclosed.
Brand Collaborations & Other Income
Being part of the Harris family opens doors to industry connections and collaborations that aren’t always directly monetized but can support long-term career growth.
Assets & Lifestyle
Specific verified details about property or vehicle ownership aren’t publicly available. One documented detail from his youth: his father gifted him a truck for his 14th birthday, an early sign of a comfortable upbringing — but no current, verified asset information exists beyond that.
Career Achievements
- Made his live music debut as Buddy Red in November 2022
- Released multiple original singles, including “You Know,” “Sold His Soul,” and “Insanity”
- Performed at SXSW in 2024
- Built acting credits beyond family television, including the independent film Sons 2 the Grave
- Graduated from Georgia State University with a business degree in 2023
Messiah Harris Net Worth Compared With King Harris, Domani Harris & Other Celebrity Kids
Like his siblings, Messiah’s finances are difficult to verify independently, since none of the Harris children have officially disclosed net worth figures. What sets Messiah apart is that his public income streams — music and acting — are more clearly his own, rather than tied primarily to reality TV or social media alone.
Interesting Facts About Messiah Harris
- His stage name, Buddy Red, honors his paternal grandfather (Buddy) and maternal uncle (Red)
- He shifted from hip-hop influences to blues and rock after watching Bohemian Rhapsody
- He became a father in 2025 with girlfriend Felicity Alexius
- He holds a business degree, which he’s said helps him manage his own career
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Messiah Harris’ net worth?
No official figure exists. Credible estimates generally range from $500,000 to $5 million.
Did Messiah Harris graduate from college?
Yes — he earned a B.S. in Business Administration, specializing in Entrepreneurship, from Georgia State University in 2023.
How does Messiah Harris make money?
Primarily through acting roles, his independent music career as Buddy Red, and social media activity.
Is Messiah Harris richer than T.I.?
No. T.I.’s own net worth is estimated at around $30 million — far above any credible estimate for Messiah.
Does Forbes list Messiah Harris’ net worth?
No. There is no Forbes listing or verified financial disclosure for him.
Does Messiah Harris have kids?
Yes, he and girlfriend Felicity Alexius welcomed a daughter in 2025.
Who is Buddy Red?
Buddy Red is Messiah Harris’s stage name as a blues-rock musician.
How old is Messiah Harris?
He was born on February 2, 2000, making him 26 years old.
Who is Messiah Harris’ girlfriend?
He is in a relationship with Felicity Alexius, with whom he welcomed a daughter in 2025.
Conclusion
Messiah Harris’s finances aren’t officially documented, and the widely repeated $117 million figure doesn’t stand up against basic context — including his own father’s estimated $30 million net worth. What can be said with more confidence is that Messiah has built a career genuinely his own, spanning acting, independent blues-rock music as Buddy Red, and a growing public presence, separate from his family’s hip-hop fame. Until any official disclosure surfaces, the most defensible range for Messiah Harris’s net worth remains modest — reflecting an early-career entertainer rather than a hip-hop heir sitting on a fortune. For comparison, other celebrity offspring carving out their own paths — like Nala Ray — show a similar pattern of building independent income rather than simply inheriting family wealth.
Methodology note: This article separates verified biographical facts (education, family, credits) from unverified financial estimates, and does not present any specific net worth figure as confirmed.