The Kid Laroi

Charlton Kenneth Jeffrey Howard, known professionally as the Kid Laroi, is an Australian singer, rapper, and songwriter. Born on 17 August 2003 in Waterloo, New South Wales, he rose to global fame with his 2021 single Stay featuring Justin Bieber, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and charts worldwide. His debut mixtape F*ck Love (2020) made him the youngest Australian solo act to top the ARIA Albums Chart at age 17. He followed with his debut studio album The First Time (2023) and his second album Before I Forget (2026), both landing in the top five on the ARIA and Billboard 200 charts. Known for blending hip-hop, pop, and emo rap, Laroi's music often explores heartbreak and mental health. As of 2026, he has amassed over 38 million monthly Spotify listeners and a devoted fan base that calls themselves Laroi's Kids. He is currently working on a collaborative project with Justin Bieber and preparing for a world tour to support Before I Forget. He also launched his own record label imprint under Columbia Records in 2024, signing emerging Australian artists.[edit]

Charlton Howard was born in Waterloo, a suburb of Sydney, Australia, to an Indigenous Australian mother of Kamilaroi and Yuin descent and a father of European descent. His parents split when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and grandmother in the Redfern area. The family faced financial hardship, including periods of homelessness where they slept in a car. He attended La Salle Catholic College Bankstown but dropped out at 13 to focus on music. He started rapping at 11, posting freestyles on SoundCloud and YouTube. His big break came in 2018 when he met Juice WRLD during the rapper's Australian tour. Juice WRLD invited him to open shows and later helped him secure a record deal with Grade A Productions. His early musical influences included Fivio Foreign, Pop Smoke, Juice WRLD, and Kanye West.[edit]

In 2019, Laroi moved to Los Angeles and signed with Grade A Productions and Columbia Records. His debut mixtape F*ck Love dropped in July 2020 and topped the ARIA Albums Chart, making him the youngest Australian solo artist to do so. The reissue F*ck Love (Savage) included Without You, which hit the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 after a remix with Miley Cyrus. In July 2021, he released Stay with Justin Bieber, which became his first number one on the Hot 100 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist. He wrote Stay in just 30 minutes. He embarked on his first headlining tour in 2022, performing at Coachella and Lollapalooza. His debut studio album The First Time arrived in November 2023, supported by the singles Love Again and Too Much with Jung Kook and Central Cee. In 2024, he launched his own record label imprint under Columbia Records. His second album Before I Forget came out in 2026, peaking in the top five on both the ARIA and Billboard 200 charts, with a deluxe edition released two weeks later. He has won numerous awards including multiple ARIA Music Awards, MTV Europe Music Awards, and Billboard Music Awards. He was inducted into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame and holds Guinness World Records for most streamed track on Spotify in a single week by a male artist and youngest Australian solo artist to reach No. 1 on the ARIA Albums Chart. He has been featured on magazine covers including Rolling Stone Australia, Billboard, and GQ Australia.[edit]

The Kid Laroi is known for a colorful, streetwear-heavy aesthetic, often sporting bright hair colors like blonde, pink, blue, and purple. His visual style blends hip-hop streetwear with pop-punk influences, and his album artwork features bold, cartoonish graphics. Media portrays him as the next global pop-rap star, emphasizing his youth, emotional vulnerability, and Indigenous Australian heritage. Critics praise his melodic sensibilities but sometimes note his lyrical themes as repetitive. Fans, unofficially called Laroi's Kids, engage in heavy streaming parties for new releases and create emotional TikTok storytelling using his songs. His social media voice is casual, humorous, and self-deprecating, and he frequently interacts with fans on Instagram Stories. As of mid-2026, he has 18.5 million Instagram followers, 12.3 million TikTok followers, 14.2 million YouTube subscribers, and 3.8 million X followers.[edit]

The Kid Laroi commands a digital ecosystem where 5.3 million TikTok followers and 4 million Instagram users track every move, turning his social feeds into real-time concert previews. He has no formal fandom name, yet his supporters organize with military precision for global events like the 2026 A PERFECT WORLD TOUR, mobilizing to fill venues from Washington D.C. to Connecticut without a central banner. This energy fuels his ascent through the global hierarchy. In August 2026, he stands as the 28th most famous person in Australia, a position he holds steady against fierce local competition. His reach extends beyond borders, marking him as the 37th most famous person from Australia on the world stage. Across the Pacific, he ranks as the 51st most famous person in Oceania. These placements reflect a career trajectory defined by viral moments and high-stakes collaborations rather than traditional industry gatekeeping. The narrative of Justin Bieber personally convincing him to release "Stay" remains the cornerstone of his legend, transforming a promising teen into a global titan. Recent tour stops feature crowd reactions that border on religious fervor, with fans weeping during emotional ballads and chanting lyrics at breakneck speeds. While specific fan-funded campaigns remain undocumented, the sheer scale of ticket sales for his upcoming dates proves an audience willing to travel continents for a single set.[edit]

His stage name Laroi honors his Kamilaroi heritage, derived directly from the Indigenous language. At just 14 years old, he first met Juice WRLD, establishing a bond that would define his early career; when Juice WRLD passed in December 2019, Laroi was only 15. He carries a permanent tribute on his arm: a tattoo of Juice WRLD's face paired with the number 999. Before finding success, he faced severe instability, sleeping in a car with his mother and grandmother while navigating homelessness as a teenager. Despite a documented fear of flying, he conquered it to undertake extensive international tours. An avid gamer, he occasionally streams gameplay on Twitch. In 2021, at age 18, he performed at the MTV Video Awards, becoming one of the youngest acts ever featured on the show. He maintains a close mentorship with manager Lil Bibby. Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall with naturally brown hair and eyes, his physical presence matches his larger-than-life persona. Fans still retell the story of his surprise pre-show stop at a bistro in Oakdale, Connecticut, before a 2026 concert, a moment that became local lore. Additionally, his unique greenroom rider requirements, detailed by Complex in April 2026, sparked widespread discussion among industry insiders and fans alike.[edit]

Laroi's mother, whose name is not publicly disclosed, is of Indigenous Australian heritage (Kamilaroi and Yuin). His father, Nick Howard, is of European descent and has been largely absent from his life. He was raised primarily by his mother and grandmother in Redfern, Sydney. He has no known siblings. As of 2026, he lives in a home he purchased in Los Angeles and also owns an apartment in Sydney. He does not have any pets publicly known.[edit]

Laroi was linked to Australian model and influencer Katarina Deme from 2020 to 2021, though neither confirmed the relationship publicly. He then dated Australian model Brooke Till from 2021 to 2022; they posted each other on social media and attended events together before ending amicably. From 2022 to 2023, he was rumored to be dating someone privately, but no name was confirmed. As of 2026, Laroi is single and has not publicly confirmed any romantic relationship since early 2024. He has no children.[edit]

Heading into 2026, iFANN currently estimates The Kid Laroi's net worth at $28 Million. His wealth is built on diverse revenue streams anchored by massive streaming numbers. Music streaming revenue accounts for approximately $10 million, driven by over 15 billion lifetime streams across platforms, with Stay alone surpassing 3 billion streams. Album and single sales have generated an estimated $6 million. His End of the World Tour in 2022 grossed about $15 million, while subsequent festival appearances added another $5-8 million. Endorsement deals form a significant pillar, including a multi-year partnership with Converse valued between $2-3 million, a Spotify promotional campaign earning $1-2 million, a Beats by Dre deal ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, and a Monster Energy sponsorship contributing $500,000. Merchandise sales have brought in $3-5 million. Publishing and songwriting royalties add an estimated $2-4 million to his portfolio. Real estate holdings include a Los Angeles home purchased in 2022, valued at $3-4 million, and a Sydney apartment worth $1.5 million. Early-stage investments in tech startups and cryptocurrency are estimated to be worth $1-2 million.[edit]

Laroi has won multiple ARIA Music Awards, including Song of the Year and Best Pop Release for Stay in 2021, and Best Solo Artist in 2022. He has won MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Australian Act and Best New Act. At the MTV Video Music Awards, he won Best New Artist in 2021 and Best Collaboration for Stay in 2022. He has also won Billboard Music Awards for Top Hot 100 Song, Top Collaboration, and Top Streaming Song for Stay. Other wins include APRA Music Awards, National Indigenous Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and People's Choice Awards.[edit]