iKON (Bobby) Biography, Background, Net Worth 2025, Career, and Family

Profile:

Stage Name: Bobby (바비)

Birth Name: Kim Ji-won (김지원)

Birthday: December 21, 1995

Nationality: South Korean

Bobby is praised for his energetic performances, and his charisma is ascribed to his strong physique, bright smile, and expressive eyes. He is frequently referred to as iKON's "light bulb" because of his vivacious and friendly demeanor, which lifts the group's spirits.

Background:

Bobby was born in South Korea's Seodaemun District in Seoul on December 21, 1995. In 2005, when he was ten years old, he and his family relocated to Fairfax, Virginia, in the United States, in pursuit of better prospects. Bobby was raised in a devout Christian home and was greatly impacted by the principles of his family, which subsequently inspired his music and view on life. His love for rap was ignited by his early exposure to hip-hop music in the United States, and his stage name, "Bobby," was inspired by reggae legend Bob Marley.

Bobby attracted the eye of Kim Jinwoo of Jinusean at a YG Entertainment audition in New York when he was in Virginia. His unquestionable skill led to his return to South Korea in January 2011, when he was 15 years old and signed on as a trainee with YG Entertainment. He had to adjust to a new environment while honing his profession, and being separated from his family made the adjustment difficult. Bobby is a notable character in K-pop due to his fluency in English, as well as his knowledge of Korean and Japanese. He frequently uses "Konglish," a combination of Korean and English, in his conversations.

There aren't many details available regarding Bobby's academic education because his career path quickly turned to music. After returning to South Korea, he pursued an alternative to standard high school education, as evidenced by his statement of finishing his General Educational Development (GED) exam. His stay in the United States up until high school indicates that he went to school in Virginia, albeit the exact schools are unknown. Bobby spent more than four years as a YG trainee, perfecting his rapping, songwriting, and performance skills, putting his passion for his profession ahead of his scholastic goals.

Bobby is a talented musician who has studied to play the guitar, drums, and piano in addition to his formal studies. His success as a rapper and producer may be attributed to his self-taught skills and unrelenting training within YG Entertainment, which honed his diverse capabilities.

Career:

Bobby's career is evidence of his talent, perseverance, and hard work. After being hired by YG Entertainment in 2011, he underwent years of intense preparation to start his journey. A thorough summary of his professional achievements may be found below:

Pre-Debut and Rise to Fame:

2013: WIN: Who Is Next?

Bobby first became well-known in 2013 when he appeared on Team B in WIN: Who Is Next?, a survival show produced by YG Entertainment. Team B, which consisted of Bobby, B.I., Jinhwan, Yunhyeong, Junhoe, and Donghyuk, competed against Team A and demonstrated their abilities but lost. Bobby's distinct rap style and young charm were evident despite the defeat. Along with other members of Team B, he also starred in Taeyang's "Ringa Linga" music video and helped write the lyrics for Winner's first single, "Empty."

2014: Mix & Match and Show Me The Money 3
When Bobby participated in Mnet's rap competition *Show Me The Money 3 in 2014, it was his big break. Under Team Illionaire, coached by Dok2 and The Quiett, he won at the age of just 18. His hits "Go," "L4L (Lookin' for Luv)," "YGGR#HipHop," and "Guard Up and Bounce" demonstrated his skill as a lyricist and brought him international acclaim. He used a portion of the $100,000 he won, along with a special concert, to purchase a home for his parents in Seoul. Bobby took part in *Mix & Match* that year, which brought iKON's seven-member lineup—B.I., Jinhwan, Yunhyeong, Junhoe, Donghyuk, and Chanwoo—to a final.

2015: iKON Debut and Group Achievement: iKON Debut
The song "My Type," which peaked at the top of the South Korean charts and won numerous music show awards, marked iKON's formal debut on September 15, 2015. Released on December 24, 2015, their debut album "Welcome Back" was a commercial success, selling 260,000 copies throughout Asia and winning iKON the "Grand Slam" Rookie of the Year title at major Asian music awards, such as the Japan Record Award and Mnet Asian Music Awards. Bobby played a crucial part as the primary rapper and vocalist, contributing to songs like "Rhythm Ta" and "Airplane," which cemented iKON's hip-hop-influenced style.

2016–2019: Group Tours and Collaborations:

In 2017, iKON played for more than 230,000 fans in Japan as part of their extensive Asian tours. Bobby demonstrated his versatility by appearing in Lee Hi's "Video" (2016) and Epik High's "Born Hater" (2014). He also performed "Like This" with Reddy on *Show Me The Money 5*. 2018 saw the release of iKON's second album, *Return*, with the hit track "Love Scenario," which won Song of the Year at several awards and topped the charts for six weeks. Bobby made a substantial contribution to songwriting, especially for songs like "Goodbye Road" and "Killing Me."

MOBB and Solo Career 2016: MOBB Establishment:

The sub-unit MOBB was formed in 2016 by Bobby and Winner's Mino. The EP "The MOBB" featured the lead tracks "Full House" and "Hit Me." Bobby's solo song "Holup!" demonstrated his audacious rapping style and received praise from critics.

2017: Fall and Love
On September 14, 2017, Bobby's debut solo album, "Love and Fall", was released. The lead singles "I Love You" and "Runaway" were among the songs he co-wrote and co-produced. The album topped 22 nations' iTunes charts and peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's World Albums Chart. In November 2017, a Japanese edition was made available.

2021: Lucky Man:

Bobby's second solo album, "Lucky Man," which has 17 tracks, including the title tune "U Mad," was released on January 25, 2021. By February 2021, the album had sold close to 50,000 copies and had debuted at the top of the iTunes Top Album lists in 12 countries. Promotions were halted because of iKON's group activities and involvement in "Kingdom".

2023: SiR:

On March 20, 2023, Bobby released his debut single album, SiR, under the label 143 Entertainment. The album's main tune, "Drowning," featured SOLE. Due to iKON's comeback preparations, the album was very briefly promoted, although it was his first solo release under a new agency.

Other Ventures:

Bobby has made appearances on a number of television programs, such as "Happy Together 3," "Running Man," and "King of Masked Singer" (as "Baby Octopus"). Alongside Lisa from BLACKPINK, he also serves as the face of the fashion label NONA9ON. His compositions for Epik High, Masta Wu, and Psy are among his other credits outside of iKON. He provided vocals for the *Record of Youth* OST in 2020 with the song "Spotlight."

Bobby Net Worth 2025:

Bobby's net worth in 2025 is expected to be between $1 and $2 million USD. His music career and endorsements have contributed to his estimated net worth of up to $2 million in 2022 and $500,000 in 2022. His main sources of income are as follows:
Tours and Music Sales: iKON's albums, including "Welcome Back" and "Return," have sold millions of copies, and their Asian tours have brought in a sizable sum of money.
Solo Projects: Commercially successful albums include Love and Fall and Lucky Man.
Endorsements: Bobby's fortune is a result of his work as a model for NONA9ON and other companies.
His services to iKON and other artists supplement his income through songwriting and production.

His early career financial success is demonstrated by the fact that he used his Show Me The Money 3 earnings to buy his parents a home in Seoul. However, because of conflicting estimates and a lack of recent data, precise numbers for 2025 are still uncertain.

Family:

Bobby's family is close-knit and devout. His career has been supported by his mother, whose name is unknown, and father, Kim Hyung-sik. Bobby still treasures the Winnie the Pooh toy that his married older brother Ji-un Kim gave him at birth. In order to support his family after they immigrated to the United States in 2005, Bobby decided to seek a career in music. His choice to use his "Show Me The Money" winnings to purchase a home in Seoul for his family demonstrates his commitment to them.

Bobby declared on Instagram in August 2021 that he was engaged and will give birth to a child in September of the same year. He thanked his supporters and iKON members, expressing regret for the unexpected announcement while reaffirming his dedication to his family and career. In keeping with South Korean pop singers' propensity to conceal personal information in order to preserve their public persona, his wife's identity is kept secret. Bobby is a parent as of 2025, but no other information about his spouse or child is accessible to the public.

Interests and Personal Life:

Bobby is well-known for his grounded demeanor and close bond with his followers, whom he views as family. He likes to sleep, play basketball, and hang out with his iKON friends, especially Donghyuk, with whom he has a lighthearted "Tom and Jerry" relationship. Singing, which he feels has a deeper emotional impact than rapping, is another aspect of his love of music. Among iKON members, Bobby's strength is legendary, as seen by his famed three-second apple-cracking feat. Though he frequently feels ashamed of his comrades' antics, he is also a huge lover of variety programs.