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Bruno Mars became the first artist in history to hit 150 million monthly listeners on Spotify, as confirmed by the audio streaming giant on January 27, 2025. Now, that’s not the only interesting thing. What has stirred the hornet’s nest aka the internet, is how did Mr. 24K Magic himself react?
Taking to his Instagram handle, Bruno Mars reposted Spotify’s post on his story, writing:
“KEEP STREAMING! I’ll be out of debt in no time”.
If you are chronically online and are diagnosed with brain rot, you would know what this means, if not, don’t worry (or maybe do).
This comment arrived on the heels of Mars’ most recent music collab. Just days earlier, on January 24, he hit the world with a collaboration featuring rapper Sexyy Red on a track titled Fat Juicy & Wet.
If the title alone didn’t have people reeling in disbelief, the lyrics sure did. The song left fans scrambling to decide if they should add it to their playlists or pretend it never happened.
Of course, the internet turned Bruno’s financial situation into a running joke. For those not in the loop, Mars has long been rumoured to have a bit of a... gambling habit. And the jokes about streaming his music to help him pay off alleged debts rolled in full force.
An X user stated: “bruno really said stream me to financial freedom 💀💰”
Another fan got sentimental (but also not really):
“aww he never forgets his roots 😭😭”
A user mentioned: “lol 😂 let’s help the man out!”
A user humorously stated: “Bro still owes me 5mil.”
A comment read: “I love how he's chronically online 😭”
Another comment read: “im crying he is so unserious.”
A user posted: “The way I know he started the rumor just to be entertained by the response lmao.”
A user quipped: “The I’ll be out of debt in no time is sending me 😭😭😭😭😭”
Is Bruno Mars in debt?
Bruno Mars, the chart-topping hitmaker, has a net worth of $175 million (as per Yahoo Finance).
Whispers from the casino floors last year suggested that Mars wasn’t just a performer at MGM Grand—he was also their number-one customer. According to NewsNation, the Uptown Funk singer allegedly racked up $50 million in debt to the casino.
A source even claimed, “(MGM) basically own him.”
The source alleged that Mars pulls in $90 million annually from his Vegas deal, but before he can even pop a champagne bottle, a huge chunk goes toward settling his tab. For reference, his per-night paycheck is reportedly $1.5 million post-taxes.
However, in 2024, Mars launched his own club, The Pinky Ring, at the Bellagio Resort and Casino, a move that suggests he’s doing just fine.
Meanwhile, MGM Resorts International shut down the rumours, stating in a statement to E! that the debt allegations are “completely false.”
Bruno Mars’ musical empire: albums, tours, and sales
Bruno Mars has over 26 million albums and 200 million singles sold, as per BestSellingAlbums.org.
Starting with Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010), this album alone moved over 11.27 million copies, and Just the Way You Are and Grenade still live rent-free in everyone’s playlists.
Then came Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), selling 8.98 million copies and giving us Locked Out of Heaven, a song that became a dance anthem.
By the time 24K Magic (2016) dropped, Mars was already playing in a different league. This one sold 4.25 million copies, and with hits like 24K Magic and That’s What I Like, he practically owned karaoke night from that point forward.
And let’s not forget An Evening with Silk Sonic (2021) with Anderson. Paak—1.13 million copies sold.
Now, about those singles. Over 200 million are sold and six of them rank among the best-selling songs of all time. Just the Way You Are, Grenade, Uptown Funk, and That’s What I Like is the epitome of pop culture.
Uptown Funk alone has sold over 7.85 million downloads in the U.S.
Bruno Mars has approximately $500 million in tour revenue. His Las Vegas residency at the MGM Grand alone has raked in an estimated $114 million since 2016 because when Bruno Mars tells people to put their pinky rings up to the moon, they listen.
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