RM

RM, born Kim Nam-joon, is a South Korean rapper, songwriter, and the leader of BTS, the global K-pop phenomenon that has broken nearly every record in the music industry. Born in Ilsan, a suburb of Seoul, RM showed exceptional intelligence from a young age, with an IQ reportedly measured at 148. He taught himself English largely by watching the American sitcom “Friends” and scored in the top 1% on South Korea’s university entrance exams. His passion for hip-hop led him to the underground rap scene, where he caught the attention of Big Hit Entertainment founder Bang Si-hyuk.

RM debuted as the leader of BTS in June 2013 alongside members Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. While BTS initially struggled commercially, the group steadily built a devoted fanbase known as ARMY. By 2017, BTS had broken into the global market, and by 2020 they had become the biggest music act in the world. Their single “Dynamite” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a first for an all-South Korean act. RM has been credited as a primary creative force behind BTS, having written or co-written over 150 songs for the group.

As a solo artist, RM has released several acclaimed projects including the mixtapes “RM” (2015) and “mono.” (2018), and his debut studio album “Indigo” (2022), which featured collaborations with Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, and Pharrell Williams. His music explores themes of identity, mental health, and the pressures of fame with introspective lyricism. He completed his mandatory South Korean military service and returned to activities with BTS.

Beyond music, RM is known for his role as a cultural ambassador. He delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 as part of UNICEF’s “Generation Unlimited” campaign, and BTS returned to address the UN again in subsequent years. He is also an avid art collector and museum visitor, frequently sharing his appreciation for contemporary art. His net worth of approximately $30 million comes from BTS group activities, solo music, songwriting royalties, and endorsement deals.