Billy Blanks Jr Net Worth: How Rich is the Fitness Guru Actually?

Billy Blanks, Jr. is an American fitness guru best known for appearing on ABC’s business reality series, Shark Tank. He is also recognized as the son of a martial artist, Billy Blanks. As of 2023, Billy Blanks Jr net worth is estimated to be around $5 million.

Who is Billy Blanks Jr?

Billy Blanks Jr. is a well-known fitness personality from Pennsylvania. He started the fitness class program, Dance It Out, with Shark Tank’s investment. Blanks brought the idea of the fitness class program in episode 315 of The Shark Tank.

Billy Blanks Jr. was born in Erie, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1974. He was brought up by his parents, Billy and Gayle Blanks. His father is an actor, martial artist, and creator of the body fitness system, Tae Bo. Billy revealed in one of the interviews that he had a distinct relationship with his father.

Blanks’ parents separated due to irreconcilable differences in 2008. He has a sister with whom he used to help his father at his Tae Bo studio. Regarding his education, he studied at Reseda High School. Then, he attended Hollywood High School and received his high school graduation degree.

Billy Blanks Jr Net Worth & Career

 

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Billy Blanks, Jr was nine years old when he was selected to be a part of the American series, The Little Rascals. While growing up, he moved to Los Angeles and was hired as a bodyguard for the renowned actress, Catherine Bach. In 1999, he became a part of Fame musical’s European and the U. S. tour.

Blanks created a cardio dance workout called Cardioke in 2007, after which, he came to the notice of ABC News. After that, Cadioke was promoted on the daytime comedy talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show. However, he soon got into trouble after his former manager filed a lawsuit against him for contractual fraud.

Blanks was alleged by his former manager for mixing cardio and karaoke and coming up with the term, cardioke. Nonetheless, he earlier wanted to call a dance workout form, Karaokecise. The dance workout eventually became popular and also led him to offer to produce DVDs. In 2010, he, alongside his wife developed a series of DVDs such as Cardio Fit, Fat Burning Hip Hop Mix, Groove and Burn, and Dance Party Boot Camp.

Blanks began working part-time at the restaurant after the DVDs failed to make enough money. Moreover, he also became homeless due to which he and his family lived in meager. Blanks also lived in a low-budget motel in Sherman Oaks. While staying there, he and his family would sneak out and teach classes at 24 Hour Fitness.

Billy alongside his wife appeared on the business reality series, Shark Tank in 2012. In the reality series, he was offered a deal to join a fitness program, Zumba by Sharks Mark Cuban and Daymond John. However, he declined the offer concerning that he would list work to the competing franchise.

Blanks later accepted the deal after the Shark Daymond John followed him and explained how the fitness brand would work. The deal involved $100 thousand and a 50% stake in the company. In the meantime when he was filming the e[isode, he lost the opportunity to teach at 24 Hour Fitness.

Following then, he started Blanks Studios “down the street” after getting approval from his father to use his name in the brand. Later, he eventually launched the Dance It Out program. In 2013, he appeared on some recurring segments as a fitness personality on a daytime talk show, The Dr. Oz Show.

In 2017, he moved to Greenwich and started a fitness studio at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. There, he worked as the artistic director of the Wall Street Theater. After a year, he was featured as a judge at the charity event, Dancing Stars of Greenwich.

Blanks became a part of the Lifetime show, Dance It Out in 2020. During the COVID-19 quarantine, he wanted to get everyone moving when they were stuck in their own houses. Billy launched an app with Touchpoint Group Holdings, Inc. in 2021. the app was hosted by Blanks and other instructors from their homes where the subscribers were allowed to attend live-stream classes.

Billy Blanks Jr.’s Wife & Personal Life

Billy Blanks, Jr. was married to actress, Sharon Brown. Together with his ex-wife, he taught dance and fitness classes. Sharon was also a part of Blank’s Dance It Out Classes and Dance With Me Videos. The pair share an adopted son named Elijah.

Billy and Sharon stayed as a married couple for seven years. They separated with a divorce in 2016. Their students even dubbed the duo the Sonny and Cher of the workout room. In 2007, the former couple appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show which garnered the attention of DVD producers. After that, they got their big break.

Billy Blanks Jr Net Worth

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Billy Blanks Jr.’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His main source of income came from his teaching fitness classes. In addition to that, he also earns the majority of the amount being involved as the artist director of the Wall Street Theater in Norwalk. Blanks is also helping a nonprofit organization, Curtain Call with dance classes through the Fairfield County theater community.