Apple Watts' net worth ranges between $1 million and $2 million. This figure likely took a hit after her life-altering accident in 2022.
The Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood star's life changed forever on March 24, 2022. She met with a devastating accident while driving between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Her Mercedes hit a Ford F-250 pickup truck and flipped several times.
The crash left Watts with severe injuries – a fractured skull, shattered spine, and broken arm. Medical teams airlifted her to University Medical Center in Las Vegas. She stayed in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) under critical condition. Her financial situation became more difficult because she reportedly didn't have enough health insurance to cover her extensive medical bills.
Let's look at how Watts built her wealth through her Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood career, dance performances, and other business ventures. We'll also see how the accident affected her finances and what her money situation looks like as she recovers.
Apple Watts Net Worth Before the Accident
Apple Watts amassed a respectable fortune through her entertainment career before her life-changing accident. Born as Jontelle Lafaye Watts, she built multiple revenue streams that pushed her net worth to an estimated $1-$2 million.
Her income from Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood
Apple's big break came with Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood (LAHH) season 5. Her raw personality and compelling life story quickly won fans over. The reality show became a substantial platform and money maker, though early reports put her earnings around $100,000.
LAHH viewers watched her push to swap stripping for rapping as she tried breaking into music. The show also highlighted her complex financial relationship with manager Shun Love.
Earnings as a dancer and video vixen
Apple started dancing at 21 under the name "Ms. Apple Bottom," long before TV fame found her. She earned her "Bottle Girl" nickname from the amazing bottle tricks she did during shows. Her dance skills led to work as a video vixen with big names like Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Ty Dolla $ign, YG, and Future. The money was good too – she once pulled in $4,000 for a single song performance.
Brand deals and social media influence
Apple branched into business by launching her beauty line. She created hair and makeup products for women of color. Her social media following grew, bringing in money through brand deals and sponsored posts.
Money management proved tricky though. She talked openly about dealing with irregular income and needing others' financial help. Still, she built up a million-dollar net worth before the accident changed everything.
The Car Accident That Changed Everything
Apple Watts' promising career came to a sudden halt after a devastating car accident on March 24, 2022. Her net worth took a severe hit as medical bills started piling up.
What happened to Apple Watts on March 24, 2022?
That morning changed everything when Watts' black Mercedes collided with a Ford F250 pickup truck near Baker, California while she drove northbound on Interstate 15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Her vehicle flipped several times and burst into flames.
A quick-thinking passenger from the pickup truck pulled Watts out of the burning wreckage. Watts later admitted she had dozed off while driving. She also revealed she was "a little buzzed" hours before getting behind the wheel and was driving at about 90 miles per hour during the crash. The authorities didn't think drugs and alcohol played any part in the accident initially.
Injuries and hospitalization details
Medical teams airlifted Watts to University Medical Center in Las Vegas with what doctors called "major injuries". Her sister told reporters that Watts lay "unresponsive" with multiple trauma – a fractured skull, broken spine, and shattered arm.
Doctors had to keep her in a medically induced coma for four months because of her critical condition. After she woke up, Watts couldn't remember the accident or her life before it. She said "when I woke up, I forgot everything and everybody". She had to learn simple tasks like eating and breathing on her own all over again.
Initial impact on her career and income
The accident brought Watts' career as a dancer and television personality to a complete stop. She couldn't work at all because of her injuries, which cut off all her sources of income. Her financial situation got worse as medical bills kept growing. Being wheelchair-bound threatened her future earning potential, especially since dancing was her main source of income.
She expressed her frustration later saying, "I'm no use to anyone no more — [L&HH], Mona Scott, etc.".
Financial Struggles During Recovery
Apple Watts' net worth took a massive hit after her catastrophic accident. Her medical expenses skyrocketed and quickly drained her resources. She can't work anymore, and her bills keep piling up, making her financial situation worse by the day.
Medical bills and therapy costs
Physical therapy costs $195 weekly, while her total rehabilitation expenses amount to $5,000 per week. These overwhelming costs have depleted her finances completely. She needs 4-6 surgeries that include procedures for her hand, arm bone removal, and metal extraction.
Medicaid doesn't cover some specialized treatments she needs, which means she has to pay substantial amounts from her pocket.
GoFundMe campaign and donation efforts
Apple's sister Dominique Flournoy started a GoFundMe campaign right after the accident. The campaign raised over $30,000 for medical and rehabilitation expenses. They wanted to reach $35,000 as their original goal. Apple started another fundraiser in 2024 to help with recovery costs, physical therapy, and her children's support. Notwithstanding that, this new campaign hasn't done well and raised only about $1,000.
Feud with sister over misused funds
The situation got worse when Apple publicly accused Dominique of misusing the GoFundMe donations. She told The Shade Room that she "had to pay for my healthcare myself" despite all the money raised.
Her friend claimed Dominique's lifestyle changed after the fundraiser – she started gambling at casinos often and buying expensive items like $400-$500 shoes. These allegations created family tension during Apple's recovery, though Dominique denies them.
Lack of insurance and out-of-pocket expenses
Apple's net worth suffered the most because she didn't have proper medical insurance. She found that there was full car coverage, but it didn't help with medical expenses: "they paid the car but they not help me with no medical bills and nothing". She had to pay for everything herself – medical equipment, medications, transportation to appointments, and home modifications. "I can't get no help with none of that stuff," she said frustratedly.
How Her Fortune Looks Today
Apple Watts' financial situation looks vastly different now compared to her pre-accident days. Her net worth has dropped significantly from the earlier estimate of $1-2 million.
Current income sources and business ventures
Apple now depends mostly on donations to pay her medical bills. She credits "strangers" and "people with regular jobs" as her financial support system. "I am where I'm at because the people been donating," she says. These contributions have become crucial since she lost her entertainment income.
Updates on her physical recovery and mobility
Apple's physical therapy costs $195 each week, but her progress has been remarkable. "I'm able to stand on my own now. I'm able to walk — I can do everything by myself," she says proudly. Recent videos show her walking without her walker. She has bounced back well and gained weight too. "I'm still thick, I was 125 in [the] hospital now [I'm]".
New reality TV projects and public appearances
Apple's future looks promising with two TV projects in the pipeline: "Hustle and Gamble" and "The Heart of Apple". She might join Zeus' "Baddies" show. Her entertainment career remains a priority, and she wants to use her story to teach others about driving safety.
Public support and social media monetization
Support keeps pouring in through her GoFundMe campaign, which has collected nearly $30,000. Her social media presence grows stronger with "10K reels on Instagram". She keeps her supporters updated about her recovery journey, and they respond with encouraging comments like "I'm so proud of your progress".
Conclusion
Apple Watts' net worth has dropped by a lot from her pre-accident estimate of $1-2 million. Medical expenses and her reduced income streams caused this decline. Her financial status changed from a rising star with multiple revenue sources to someone who now depends on donations and public support for her basic needs.
Her experience shows how quickly fortunes can change. This is true for entertainers who rely on their physical abilities. Apple had built wealth through Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood appearances, dancing gigs, and brand deals. The devastating crash in March 2022 put her health at risk and stopped all her money-making activities.
The lack of good health insurance hit her finances hard. Her savings disappeared quickly with weekly rehabilitation costs of $5,000. Problems with fundraising efforts and alleged misuse of donations made her money situation worse.
Apple's strength shows in her recovery. She can now walk by herself, which is huge progress from when she had to relearn simple functions after the accident. On top of that, she plans to return to television through new projects. This shows her drive to rebuild her life both physically and financially.
The road to financial recovery remains tough for Apple. Donations have given her significant support, but she needs steady income sources to stay stable long-term. Her story reminds us how fragile financial security can be and shows the importance of staying strong after life-changing setbacks.
FAQs
Q1. What caused Apple Watts' car accident?
Apple Watts was involved in a severe car accident on March 24, 2022, when her Mercedes collided with a Ford F-250 pickup truck on Interstate 15. She later admitted to falling asleep at the wheel after being "a little buzzed" and driving at approximately 90 miles per hour.
Q2. How did the accident impact Apple Watts' health?
The accident left Apple Watts with severe injuries, including a fractured skull, shattered spine, and broken arm. She was placed in a medically induced coma for four months and had to relearn basic functions like eating and breathing independently upon waking up.
Q3. What financial challenges did Apple Watts face after the accident?
Following the accident, Apple Watts faced significant financial struggles due to mounting medical bills, lack of adequate health insurance, and inability to work. Her rehabilitation costs approximately $5,000 per week, and she has had to rely heavily on donations to cover her expenses.
Q4. Has Apple Watts made progress in her recovery?
Yes, Apple Watts has made remarkable progress in her recovery. As of 2023, she reported being able to stand and walk on her own. Recent videos have shown her walking without a walker, and she has regained weight, going from 125 pounds in the hospital to 168 pounds.
Q5. What are Apple Watts' future plans for her career?
Despite the setbacks, Apple Watts plans to return to television through two upcoming projects: "Hustle and Gamble" and "The Heart of Apple." She's also reportedly trying to join the Zeus Network's "Baddies" show and hopes to use her experience to educate others about driving safety.
