About

Net Worth

Article

Diplo

DJ, Record Producer

Profession

Age

November 10, 1978

Birthday

Tupelo, Mississippi

Birthplace

M.I.A., Katy Perry

Ex-Partner

Children

Military school; Hendersonville High School

School

Temple University

University

Thomas Wesley Pentz

Real Name

Diplo, Diplodocus

Also known as

6.3M

3.8M

2.6M

2.5M

2.3M

Short About

Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, is a renowned American DJ, record producer, and songwriter. He is known for his versatile music style, blending genres like electronic, hip hop, pop, dancehall, and reggae. With a career spanning over two decades, Diplo has collaborated with major artists, founded the record label Mad Decent, and co-created projects such as Major Lazer and Jack Ü, making him a prominent figure in the music industry.

Did you know?

Line art drawing of a boy, representing Diplo, holding a dinosaur toy

Born Thomas Wesley Pentz in Tupelo, Mississippi, Diplo's alias stems from his childhood love of dinosaurs.

Line art drawing of a young man, representing Diplo, in military uniform holding school books

At 14, he was sent to military school, later graduating from Hendersonville High School and studying at Temple University.

Line art drawing of a young man, representing Diplo, on a motorcycle with a backpack full of records

At 20, Diplo embarked on a motorcycle journey through India to collect records and immerse himself in local music.

Line art drawing of a young man, representing Diplo, DJing at a college radio station

He kickstarted his DJ career at WPRK, Rollins College's radio station, while attending UCF.

Line art drawing of two men, one representing Diplo, DJing with a crowd dancing

Co-founding the 'Hooked on Hollertronix' parties in 2003, Diplo and Low Budget popularized the mashup genre.

Line art drawing of a cassette tape labeled 'Never Scared' with a 'Top 10' badge

The New York Times named Diplo's 2003 mixtape 'Never Scared' one of the year's top ten albums.

Establishing Mad Decent in 2006, Diplo's record label has released various genres, including electronic and global music.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, DJing with the words 'Major Lazer' and 'Lean On' in the background

Major Lazer, Diplo's electronic dancehall project with Switch, was introduced in 2009, releasing hit songs like 'Lean On.'

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, working on music production with various artist silhouettes in the background

Collaborating with artists such as Beyoncé, Justin Bieber, and Sia, Diplo has produced numerous chart-topping tracks.

Line art drawing of a man and woman, representing Diplo and M.I.A., working on music production with the words 'Paper Planes' in the background

Diplo dated British musician M.I.A. from 2003 to 2008 and produced her hit single 'Paper Planes.'

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, holding a camera with a favela in the background

Diplo documented the favela music scene in Brazil, resulting in the 2009 release of 'Favela on Blast.'

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, holding three baby bottles labeled with the names Lockett, Lazer, and Pace

He fathered three sons: Lockett and Lazer with Kathryn Lockhart, and Pace with Jevon King.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, holding a soccer ball with a political campaign badge in the background

Diplo purchased a minority share of Phoenix Rising FC in 2016 and endorsed Bernie Sanders for president.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, holding a phone with a wedding scene on the screen

He live-streamed Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner's Las Vegas wedding on Instagram in 2019.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, working in a warehouse filled with music equipment, cameras, and art supplies

Residing in a warehouse called 'The Mausoleum,' Diplo turned it into a creative hub for video, music, and art.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, with a group of musicians in the background with the words 'Bonde do Rolê' and 'funk carioca'

Diplo imported the Brazilian dance-funk group Bonde do Rolê to the US, helping popularize funk carioca.

Line art drawing of a young man, representing Diplo, holding a computer and sampler with store logos in the background

He learned to use computers and samplers by buying and sometimes shoplifting hardware from stores like Sam Goody and Guitar Center.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, holding a stack of vinyl records with a documentary playing on a TV in the background

Diplo has a fascination with documentaries, culture, and vinyl records, amassing a large collection.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, DJing in a hot air balloon with the words 'Burning Man' in the background

In 2023, Diplo played music from a hot air balloon at the 35th Burning Man festival.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo, with a thought bubble containing the words 'impostor syndrome' and 'faking it'

Despite his success, Diplo still grapples with impostor syndrome, feeling like he's 'faking it.'

Net Worth

Estimated Net Worth:20 - 1000 Million

Line art drawing of a man representing Diplo, exuding confidence, surrounded by musical instruments, concert stages, record labels, and dollar signs against a white backdrop.

Diplo's successful career in music production, DJing, and entrepreneurship estimates his net worth in the 20 million – 1 billion range.

Related People

Lil Tay

Collaborator

Diplo Biography

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz), with long hair in casual attire, standing in front of a radio station booth, wearing headphones. The image captures his passion for music. The artwork is rendered in black and white against a white background.

Beginnings

Starting his DJ career at WPRK, a radio station at Rollins College, Diplo gained attention in Philadelphia while studying at Temple University. In 2003, he co-founded the renowned 'Hooked on Hollertronix' parties, which led to the release of his acclaimed mixtape 'Never Scared,' named one of The New York Times' top ten albums of the year.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz), with a distinctive hairstyle and surrounded by musical notes and records. The image symbolizes his role in founding the iconic record label Mad Decent. The artwork is rendered in black and white against a white background.

Founding Mad Decent

In 2006, Diplo founded the record label Mad Decent, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the industry. One of his most successful projects was the creation of the electronic dancehall music project Major Lazer in 2011, alongside producer Switch. Their unique sound, blending different genres and sounds, garnered worldwide attention.

Collaborations

Diplo's influence expanded beyond his own music as he collaborated with mainstream artists such as Madonna, Beyoncé, Bad Bunny, and MØ.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz), surrounded by diverse individuals. The image symbolizes his work with the non-profit organization Heaps Decent and his commitment to empowering aspiring musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds. The artwork is rendered in black and white against a white background.

Philanthropy

Diplo co-founded the non-profit organization Heaps Decent, using music as a tool for social change. Through this organization, he has empowered aspiring musicians from disadvantaged backgrounds, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talent.

Line art drawing of a man, representing Diplo (Thomas Wesley Pentz), engaged in a soccer match. The image symbolizes his passion for soccer and his support for the U.S. men's national team. The artwork is rendered in black and white against a white background.

Interests

Diplo has a strong passion for soccer and cricket, supporting the U.S. men's national team and owning a minority share of Phoenix Rising FC. He also explores different music scenes around the world, documenting Brazil's favela music in the acclaimed 'Favela on Blast' documentary.