Grimes, Who Once Banked $5.8 Million in 20 Minutes By Selling Crypto Art, Says She's Made More From NFTs Than From Her Entire Music Career She recently offered to split 50% of royalties with anyone who made a song featuring her AI vocals.

By Palmer Haasch

Key Takeaways

  • Grimes says she has made more money selling NFTs than she has through her entire music career.
  • The Canadian musician made more than $5.8 million in less than 20 minutes from selling NFTs in 2021.
Getty Images via Business Insider
Grimes

This article originally appeared on Business Insider.

Grimes says her earnings from selling NFTs outpace what she's earned over the course of her music career.

The artist, whose given name is Claire Boucher, reflected on her venture into crypto and non-fungible tokens in a wide-ranging interview with Wired's Steven Levy.

She launched "WarNymph," a collection of 10 NFTs made in collaboration with her brother, Mac Boucher, in 2021. The NFTs brought in more than $5.8 million in less than 20 minutes.

"That was on my brother," Grimes said of the money she earned selling NFTs. "He had a real vision, and we wound up doing one of the first big ones. It did actually change my life."

When asked whether she had made more money selling NFTs than her music career, Grimes said, "Yeah."

Grimes holding up a book while wearing a science-fiction-inspired costume with a metal mask.

Grimes at the 2021 Met Gala in New York. Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Grimes, who shares two children with Elon Musk, has been releasing music since 2010 and dropped out of school in 2011. She released her breakout album, "Visions," in 2012 and the critically acclaimed album "Art Angels" in 2015.

The musician recently released AI-voice software that allows creators to create vocals using her voice and offered to split 50% of royalties with users who made a song with the software.

"Two, in particular, were very, very good," Grimes told Wired of user-generated tracks featuring her voice. "They're so in line with what my new album might be like that it was sort of disturbing. It's like, 'Who am I, and what am I here for?' On the other hand, it's like, 'Oh, sick, I might get to live forever.'"

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

The 20 Most Affluent Places in the U.S.

There are some places in the U.S. where the average household income is over half a million dollars.

Devices

Get This 4-in-1 USB-C Charger for Apple Devices for $19.99

Get this useful, lightweight charger for a great price (regularly $29).

Money & Finance

Want to Become a Millionaire? Follow Warren Buffett's 4 Rules.

Too many entrepreneurs are counting too heavily on a company exit for their eventual 'win.' Do this instead.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2023

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2023.

Health & Wellness

Want to Be More Productive? Stop Trying to Finish Every Task, and Do This Instead

If you only focus on your to-do list, you'll run out of the energy to complete it, says psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler.

Leadership

A Guide to Effective Crisis Leadership — Key Steps to Lead Your Team Through Turbulent Times

The essential strategies and skills required to be a successful crisis leader and guide your organization through difficult times.