'Grew up Not With a Lot of Money': Kelly Clarkson Net Worth Explored as Raven-Symoné Defends Her

Kelly Clarkson's estimated $60 million (approximately £45 million) fortune is at the centre of a row over her claim that staff at Brooklyn shop Art of Play treated her as if she could not afford its products.

The singer's complaint, made in a viral social media post, has prompted a public apology from the store and a high-profile defence from Raven-Symoné, who suggested Clarkson's reaction may stem from growing up without much money.

Clarkson said in an X post on Saturday, 10 October that she had driven to the Brooklyn store after thinking it looked 'really rad'. She said she had items in mind to buy, but claimed she was 'looked at as if I couldn't afford it' and was offered 'something comparable' instead.

Kelly Clarkson Net Worth and the Store Claim

Clarkson's estimated fortune stands at $60 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. That figure is an estimate rather than an audited account of her finances, but it explains why the alleged encounter struck such a nerve online.

The singer did not hold back. 'Wow, dude. You're an idiot and just lost a huge sale,' she wrote, before urging people to visit Art of Play 'if you enjoy being treated like Julia Roberts character in Pretty Woman'.

The reference was pointed. In the 1990 romantic comedy, Roberts' character, Vivian, is dismissed by a saleswoman who judges her appearance and tells her the dress she wants is 'very expensive'. Clarkson was effectively accusing the store of the same kind of snobbery.

Art of Play later apologised on Instagram and said the item Clarkson wanted was not for sale. It identified the object as 'Molly', a 'one-of-a-kind singing and dancing bird automaton' used in the store's magic shows, and said it was permanently attached to the wall.

Clarkson disputed that account in a follow-up X post. She alleged that she had pointed to a price tag hanging from the bird when a staff member looked her up and down before saying, in what she described as a condescending tone, that it cost $15,000 (£11,248) and that he could find something comparable.

Raven-Symoné Defends Clarkson

Raven-Symoné addressed the row during the Wednesday, October 14 episode of The View. She said Clarkson did not grow up with a 'lot' of money and that comments about wealth can land differently depending on someone's history.

'Kelly grew up not with a lot of money so if somebody is touching her trigger button about wealth or money, you don't know how she received that,' Raven-Symoné said. She added that she had watched the security footage and felt Clarkson was being treated as though she could not afford the store's goods.

Her defence went beyond sympathy. Raven-Symoné argued it was 'unfair' to suggest Clarkson should not express herself simply because she has a large platform.

She also brought up her own experience at the 2016 premiere of Zoolander 2. According to a 2016 Complex report, she alleged on The View that she was moved aside on the red carpet because a producer wanted to interview Kendall Jenner instead.

Raven-Symoné said the producer could have asked politely and explained that Jenner had arrived, rather than hitting her twice. She recalled that footage of the incident led some viewers to claim her account did not match what they saw.

Her point was a familiar one: people watching a clip do not necessarily know the history, insecurity or pressure behind someone's response. It is a fair caveat, even if it does not settle what happened in Brooklyn.

Conflicting Accounts From Clarkson and the Store

The dispute centres on two different descriptions of the same visit. Art of Play says the automaton was never available to buy, while Clarkson says she saw a price tag and was told it cost $15,000 (£11,248) before being offered alternatives.

IBTimes UK cannot independently verify either account from the material available. The store's apology and Clarkson's posts are public statements, but the security footage itself has not been released in full for independent review.

Clarkson wrote that she felt she had been treated poorly in the shop. 'I love small businesses and know they are important and I always support them, but you don't get a free pass to treat people less than in your store just because you are a small business,' she wrote.

She added that it was 'not that hard to be kind', and also stated: 'Your store is really cool. Unfortunately, you aren't.'

Clarkson, whose career began on American Idol and who has since built a reported fortune through music, television and touring, framed the incident as relating to how some customers are perceived and treated in shops.