Cardi B Says She Made a Jaw-Dropping Amount of Cash in Just One Night Stripping
Cardi B has cemented her place in hip-hop history, but she has never been one to shy away from the gritty details of her origin story.
The Bronx-born superstar recently took a trip down memory lane during a live stream, offering fans a glimpse into the lucrative reality of her past life. While she is now known for topping charts, there was a time when her income came directly from the stage floor.
The rapper revealed a staggering financial win from her days as an exotic dancer that happened in Texas. “I remember when I stripping, Dallas was different,” Cardi B shared with her audience during the broadcast. “They booked me out there and I made about $12,000 in one night. Dead serious. That was good money. Real good money.”
This wasn’t just about the cash; for Cardi, stripping was a means of survival. She began dancing at the age of 19 after being fired from a job at an Amish supermarket in Tribeca. She has frequently cited the profession as her escape route from poverty and a physically abusive relationship she was trapped in at the time.
“Stripping saved my life,” she has stated on numerous occasions regarding that turbulent time. The money she earned allowed her to gain financial independence and move out of the toxic environment she was living in. She initially used her earnings to fund her education at a community college before eventually deciding to focus on dancing full-time.
Working at venues like New York Dolls and Club Lust, she learned the ins and outs of the nightlife industry. She recalled paying house fees ranging from $80 to $100 just to work a shift, making the $12,000 night in Dallas an extraordinary windfall. However, it was her unfiltered personality off the pole that eventually caught the world’s attention.
In 2013, she began posting hilarious videos about the realities of strip club life on Vine and Instagram. These viral moments built a massive following that eventually landed her a spot on the cast of VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York in 2015. While her reality TV co-stars often dismissed her musical aspirations, she used the platform to launch her rap career.
Interestingly, she never fully severed ties with the club scene, even as she transitioned into music. She used strip clubs as a testing ground for her early tracks, understanding that if the dancers moved to it, the public would love it. Seeing the crowd’s reaction to “Bodak Yellow” in the clubs was the confirmation she needed that she had a massive hit on her hands.
Despite the lucrative nights, Cardi B credits her mother for pushing her to eventually leave the industry. Her mother’s disappointment upon discovering her daughter’s profession served as a major motivator for Cardi to find a legitimate path to stardom. Today, those cash-filled nights are a distant memory compared to the multi-platinum success she has achieved.
Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, known professionally as Cardi B, has become one of the most influential female rappers of all time. Her debut studio album, Invasion of Privacy, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and broke several streaming records. It made history as the first female rap album to have every single track certified platinum or higher by the RIAA.
She also earned the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, making her the first solo woman to win the category. Her cultural impact extended beyond just solo hits, as her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion on “WAP” became a global phenomenon. She has also made waves in the fashion world, known for her show-stopping appearances at events like the Met Gala.
Beyond music, she has dipped her toes into Hollywood feature films. She had a supporting role in the 2019 crime drama Hustlers, which fittingly centered on a group of strippers turning the tables on their Wall Street clients. She also secured a role in the Fast & Furious franchise, appearing in F9.
The Grammy winner has been incredibly busy recently, both in the studio and preparing for the road. She released her highly anticipated sophomore album, Am I the Drama?, which hit streaming platforms in September 2025. The album has already generated significant buzz and radio play, cementing her status as a hitmaker who can survive long gaps between projects.
To support the new record, Cardi is preparing to embark on a major trek across the country. The “Little Miss Drama Tour” is scheduled to kick off in February 2026. This 35-date arena tour promises to bring high-energy performances and elaborate production values to her fans across North America.
Her ability to pivot from internet personality to reality star to global music icon is a blueprint that many have tried to copy but few have replicated. Her journey from the clubs of Dallas to the biggest stages in the world remains a testament to her hustle.
Please let us know in the comments if you think Cardi B’s openness about her past helps destigmatize sex work or if celebrities share too much information these days.
