The Weeknd

The Weeknd is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his atmospheric R&B and pop music. Born Abel Makkonen Tesfaye in Toronto, he rose from anonymous online uploads to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, with over 70 million records sold worldwide. His signature sound blends dark, moody R&B with electronic and pop influences, and his lyrics often explore themes of hedonism, heartbreak, and fame. The Weeknd has earned eight diamond-certified singles, three Grammy Awards, and multiple chart records, including the longest-running song in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with "Blinding Lights."

As of 2026, The Weeknd continues to push artistic boundaries. He is a dominant force in pop culture, with a devoted fan base known as the XO community. Fans admire his ability to reinvent himself with each album cycle, from the mysterious, masked persona of his early days to the sleek, retro-inspired aesthetic of his recent work. He is also a successful actor, having starred in the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems and co-created the HBO series The Idol. His After Hours til Dawn Tour is the highest-grossing tour by a male soloist in history. He headlined Coachella in 2018 and performed the Super Bowl LV halftime show in 2021. In 2022, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was appointed a UN World Food Programme Goodwill Ambassador. He was named to the Time 100 Most Influential People list in 2020. His 2025 album Hurry Up Tomorrow debuted at No. 1, making him the first artist to top the Billboard 200 in three different decades. He also stars in the companion film Hurry Up Tomorrow alongside Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, and has announced the possible retirement of his stage persona. [edit]

Abel Tesfaye grew up in Scarborough, a working-class Toronto suburb, raised by his Ethiopian mother Samrawit Hailu and maternal grandmother after his parents separated shortly after his birth. His father was largely absent, and Tesfaye later said he saw him only twice as a child—vaguely at age six and again at 11 or 12. He spoke Amharic at home and learned English from television and school. A lonely child, he immersed himself in music, citing Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" as the song that helped him find his voice. He attended French-immersion school and is fluent in French. At Samuel Hearne Middle School, he began loving 1990s R&B—Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, The Neptunes, Timbaland, Ginuwine. He started smoking marijuana at age 11 and began listening to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin. He later attended Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute, where his drug use escalated to harder substances. At 17, he was kicked out of school and dropped out. He left home, moving into a one-bedroom apartment in Parkdale with friends. His mother watched in despair as he took his mattress—she didn't argue, but her look seemed to ask, "Am I a bad mother?" Tesfaye has said all the best in him came from his mother. Around 2009–2010, he met producer Jeremy Rose (Zodiac), who had beats he needed vocals for. Tesfaye began freestyling over Rose's instrumentals. In 2010, he uploaded three songs—"What You Need," "Loft Music," and "The Morning"—anonymously to YouTube under the username xoxoxoxo. The tracks gained traction online, and Drake's blog OVO posted about them in late 2010, catching Drake's attention. This led to Tesfaye contributing to Drake's landmark album Take Care in 2011, co-writing and featuring on "Crew Love" and "The Ride." [edit]

The Weeknd's breakthrough came in March 2011 with the release of his debut mixtape House of Balloons for free download, which received critical acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, and Spin, with The Source calling him the "Songbird of his generation." He remained anonymous, refusing interviews, which built an aura of mystery. Two more mixtapes, Thursday (August 2011) and Echoes of Silence (December 2011), completed a trilogy. In 2012, he signed a joint venture between his XO label and Republic Records, re-releasing the mixtapes as the compilation Trilogy. His debut studio album Kiss Land (2013) peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The 2015 album Beauty Behind the Madness debuted at No. 1, selling over 1.5 million copies and winning a Grammy for Best Urban Contemporary Album. It spawned his first No. 1 hit, "Can't Feel My Face." The 2016 album Starboy, featuring Daft Punk, also debuted at No. 1 and won a Grammy. In 2018, he released the EP My Dear Melancholy, which debuted at No. 1. In 2020, After Hours became a cultural phenomenon, with "Blinding Lights" breaking the record for the longest-charting song in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 (90 weeks). The album debuted at No. 1 and set streaming records, including most global pre-adds on Apple Music. His 2022 album Dawn FM, a conceptual album narrated by Jim Carrey, reached No. 2. His 2025 album Hurry Up Tomorrow debuted at No. 1. The Weeknd also ventured into acting, playing himself in the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems (2019) and co-creating and starring in the HBO series The Idol (2023). His After Hours til Dawn Tour (2022–2026) is the highest-grossing tour by a male soloist in history. [edit]

The Weeknd's public persona is defined by a dark, enigmatic aesthetic that blends melancholy and hedonism. He is known for his signature hairstyles—from iconic dreadlocks to sleek short cuts—and a fashion sense that merges high-end streetwear with avant-garde tailoring. His music videos and live performances often feature surreal, cinematic visuals, creating a distinct visual brand. Fans, known as the XO community, are fiercely loyal and celebrate his artistic evolution. On social media, The Weeknd maintains a cryptic, minimalist voice, often posting abstract imagery or short teasers rather than personal updates. Media and critics often describe him as a reclusive genius, while his ability to reinvent his sound keeps him at the forefront of pop culture. His fandom is known for deep analysis of his lyrics and conceptual album cycles, fostering a culture of interpretation and anticipation. He has graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Time, GQ, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and Complex. Rolling Stone featured him as "The Dark Knight of Pop" in 2015, and Time included him in the "100 Most Influential People" in 2020. [edit]

The Weeknd commands a vast global audience that permeates media coverage, search activity, and consumption patterns across every continent. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye is the 43rd most famous person in the world, a position he has held steady since the previous cycle. Within his home nation, he ranks as the 14th most famous person in Canada and stands as the 4th most famous person from Canada. His influence extends regionally to make him the 69th most famous person in North America, while in the specific domain of electronic music, he is recognized as the 4th most famous person in Electronic / EDM. These placements reflect a career that has transcended typical pop stardom to become a defining cultural force. The collective body of supporters who follow his work is officially known as XO, a community that remains fiercely loyal to his artistic evolution and distinct visual brand.[edit]

Abel Makkonen Tesfaye was born on February 16, 1990, and legally removed his middle name Makkonen in 2024. He dropped the 'e' from his stage name to avoid legal conflicts with the Canadian band The Weekend and is fluent in French due to attending French-immersion school. Before his rise, he worked at American Apparel and attended his first concert, seeing The Police with his mother at age 17. His favorite food is Ethiopian cuisine, specifically injera. A verified legend surrounding his career involves the dramatic arc of his announced retirement in January 2025, which caused widespread speculation before he reversed the decision in August 2026 to continue performing indefinitely. Another iconic moment is the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, where his team transformed Wembley Stadium into a dystopian landscape, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans to multi-night residencies in cities like London and Paris. These events have cemented his reputation for blending high-concept storytelling with live performance. During the Paris leg of this tour, the artist performed four consecutive nights to an estimated cumulative attendance of over 320,000 people, creating a documented milestone in modern stadium touring. In a gesture toward his digitally native fanbase, he also promoted an indie fishing game in 2026, sparking a viral discussion among followers who played and shared their experiences online.[edit]

The Weeknd was raised by his mother Samrawit Hailu, a nurse and caterer who worked multiple jobs while attending night school, and his maternal grandmother, who survived Ethiopia's Red Terror under Mengistu Haile Mariam. His father Makkonen Tesfaye was largely absent—Tesfaye described him as "not abusive, not an alcoholic, not an asshole—he just wasn't there." His father had a new family and children. Tesfaye saw him only twice as a child. He has no known siblings. He grew up in a low-income immigrant household in Scarborough, speaking Amharic at home. As a child, he attended an Ethiopian Orthodox church, where he was first introduced to music. He dreamed of having a brother. As of 2026, he is not married and has no children. [edit]

The Weeknd has collaborated with artists like Drake, who helped launch his career, and Daft Punk on the hit "Starboy." He co-founded XO Records with Sal Slaiby and has worked with producers such as Illangelo and Doc McKinney. His romantic history includes relationships with Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez. [edit]

The Weeknd's first high-profile relationship was with supermodel Bella Hadid, dating on and off from 2015 to 2016, then reconciling from 2018 to 2019. They met through mutual friends in the fashion and music industries. In 2017, he began an on-and-off relationship with singer Selena Gomez, which lasted until 2020 under intense media scrutiny; they walked the Met Gala red carpet together in 2017. From 2021 to 2023, he was linked to Australian-Palestinian model and musician Simi Khadra, confirmed through public sightings. In 2023–2024, rumors circulated about a relationship with actress Angelina Jolie, but neither party confirmed. Brief unconfirmed rumors in 2024 involved model Yasmine Petty, and in 2025, Indian-Canadian model Saanvi Dhiman. As of 2026, The Weeknd is single with no current partner. He has no children from any relationship. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, The Weeknd's net worth stands at $400 Million as of 2026 estimates. This wealth has been accumulated primarily through music sales, streaming revenue, and extensive touring activities. He has sold over 70 million records worldwide and secured eight diamond-certified singles. His After Hours til Dawn Tour grossed hundreds of millions of dollars, establishing it as the highest-grossing tour by a male soloist. As the co-founder of XO Records, which has signed artists including Nav and Belly, he generates additional income streams. Endorsement deals with Puma, H&M, and various luxury fashion houses further contribute to his financial portfolio. Real estate assets include a Bel Air mansion valued at $21 million and a condominium in Toronto. Additional earnings derive from his Apple Music 1 show Memento Mori, which ran from 2018 to 2022, alongside roles in film and television such as co-creating HBO's The Idol. Forbes named him the highest-paid musician of 2025.[edit]

The Weeknd has won three Grammy Awards, including Best Urban Contemporary Album for Beauty Behind the Madness and Starboy, and Best R&B Performance for "Earned It." He has also won multiple Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Juno Awards, reflecting his dominance in R&B and pop. [edit]