Laine Hardy is an American singer and guitarist who only made it to the top 50 on his first try during Season 16 of American Idol. Nonetheless, the second time was the charm, as he won in Season 17 of the show.
When Laine won American Idol, he joined a select group of self-taught artists who became overnight sensations and amassed wealth in the world of pop music. But how much is Laine Hardy’s net worth? You’ll find out shortly.
What Is Laine Hardy’s Net Worth
As of 2023, Laine Hardy is estimated to have a net worth of about $1.5 million. His primary source of wealth is singing, but he hasn’t disclosed his annual salary.
Hardy makes money off of album sales and touring. He also earns over $13,000 annually from his YouTube channel, which has many subscribers.
How Did Laine Hardy Become Rich?
Although Laine Hardy is a rising figure in the entertainment industry, little is known about his wealth before his fame. He took home $250,000 in reward money from Idol’s final round.
Aside from the prize for winning a season of Idol, Hardy made the majority of his wealth from the sales of his songs, albums, and EP, as well as from YouTube advertisements, merchandise sales, and concert tours across the United States.
He has a lot of followers on many social media sites, like his YouTube channel, which has over 177K subscribers. He earns over $13,000 a year from his YouTube channel.
Biography
Laine Hardy was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 12, 2000, but spent his childhood in Livingston. He is from a family of five.
His father, Barry Hardy, works as a general contractor, while his mother, Cindy Lou Hardy, is a real estate representative. He has two older siblings, Brittany Banta, and Kyle Hardy. He attended French Settlement High School, where he completed high school in 2018.
Full Name | Laine Hardy |
Stage Name | Laine Hardy |
Birth Place | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
Birthday | September 12, 2000 |
Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Age | 22 Years old |
Weight | 68 kg or 150 lbs |
Height | 5 ft 8 in or 173 cm |
Marital Status | Single |
Wife | N/A |
Girlfriend | N/A |
Parent’s Name |
|
Kids/Children | N/A |
Siblings |
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Profession | Singing and Songwriting |
Social Media Accounts |
Career And Awards
At a young age, like Brad Paisley, Jake Flint, Hardy picked up the guitar at age 8. By the time he was 14, he was playing in a band with his brother and cousins.
The band played at several neighborhood restaurants and bars. His brother’s encouragement to start singing was a turning point in his life and the beginning of his profession.
American Idol
In 2018, the year he finished high school, Hardy decided to audition for Season 16 of American Idol. Sadly, he didn’t fare well this season, barely making the top 50.
He hadn’t planned to try out for the 17th season. Nonetheless, the judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie urged him to give it a shot when he brought his friend Ashton Gill to the audition to play the guitar for her.
Fortunately, he advanced to the championship round and ultimately won. The winner’s prizes for American Idol’s 17th season included $300,000 as an advance to be paid back with 50% of the marketing budget the label spent on him, $125,000 at the start of the recording process, $125,000 after completing and turning in the album, and $1,000 each week of recording.
Music Career
In 2018, Hardy dropped an EP titled In the Bayou, which featured three tracks. His first single, “Blue Christmas,” followed later.
On May 19, 2019, his single “Flame,” celebrating his American Idol victory, was released. In that same month, he made an appearance on The View to perform the song.

Hardy revealed the dates for his first headlining tour on September 20, 2019. The tour was to run from November 14 through December 7, 2019, across the United States.
In April 2020, he dropped two new singles, “Ground I Grew Up On” and “Let There Be Country.” In May of that year, he covered and performed the song “Life Is a Freeway” on American Idol.
After he beat COVID-19 in 2020, Hardy dropped the single “Tiny Town” in July. Following the success of the summer song, a holiday rendition of “Please Come Home for Christmas” was released in September.
Hardy released the single “Other LA” to streaming platforms while the song “Tiny Town” was broadcast on radio.
His single, “Memorize You,” came out in May 2021, after he made several TV appearances, including at the 2020 National Tree Lighting Ceremony. After performing it on ABC’s The Bachelor, the song received high praise and became a hit.
The release of the follow-up song “Authentic” in July was followed by the announcement of his debut album, “Here’s to Anyone,” a few weeks later. On September 17, the album was finally released to the public.
Personal Life
“A relationship is definitely not a good idea right now because I’m always traveling.”
Hardy said in an interview after winning American Idol.
“I’m never at home. To state it bluntly, I believe it would add a great deal of pressure to my shoulders,”
he continued.
Laine Hardy dated Sydney Taylor, a former Miss Louisiana Teen USA, in 2020. However, the two broke up in 2021. Sydney shared a photo on Instagram on May 28, 2021, suggesting this.
He has a history with Sidney Becnel, and there were also speculations that he dated Grace Lee. But as of March 2023, Laine Hardy is single and unattached to anyone.
The handsome pop star is not without controversy. In 2022, on April 29, Hardy was arrested by the Louisiana State University Police Department and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of allegedly placing a recording device in the Louisiana State University dorm room of a lady who identified him as her ex-boyfriend.
The lady and her roommate allegedly discovered the device in a futon. In addition, the warrant claimed Hardy, who was not enrolled at the university, admitted to this “ex-girlfriend” that he had bugged the room.
Assets
Not much is known about Hardy’s properties and assets, but we can tell you that he has a house in Louisiana, where he was born and raised.
FAQs
Is Laine Hardy Married?
The answer to this is a clear no. The American singer has never been married and is, in fact, not dating anyone at the moment.
Is Laine Hardy Mixed?
Many have been curious about Hardy’s nationality, and some wonder if he is mixed. According to Hardy, his grandmother, who is fully Korean, is from Seoul. This makes him a quarter Korean, as he claims.
Final Thoughts
Laine Hardy is one of American Idol’s products. The Bayou crooner is more than just a lucky contest winner; he’s built a successful career out of his talent. Despite not being as famous as Jake Flint, the pop star is doing well for himself, with a projected net worth of $1.5 million in 2023.