Faith Evans: Biography, Children, Net Worth, and More

Few names in R&B carry as much weight as Faith Evans. She’s often introduced as the “First Lady of Bad Boy” and the widow of The Notorious B.I.G., but her own career spans decades: eight studio albums, a bestselling memoir, and advocacy work that reaches beyond music. This profile cuts through the headlines to show the artist, the mother, and the businesswoman behind the tabloid stories.

Birth date: June 10, 1973 · Number of studio albums: 8 · Highest-charting single: I’ll Be Missing You (Billboard Hot 100 No. 1) · Spouse during Biggie’s death: The Notorious B.I.G. (married 1994–1997) · Estimated net worth: $1.5 million (multiple sources)

Nine key facts, one pattern: Faith Evans’s story is one of public milestones and private complexities. Here’s a quick-reference table of her biography.

Was Faith Evans Still Married to Biggie When He Died?

Date of marriage

Faith Evans and Christopher Wallace – The Notorious B.I.G. – married on August 4, 1994, just months after she signed with Bad Boy Records. According to All American Speakers (celebrity bio service), they had separated but never finalized a divorce.

Circumstances of death

Wallace was assassinated on March 9, 1997, in Los Angeles. At that moment, Evans was still his legal spouse. The implication: no divorce papers had been filed, so the marriage was intact when he died. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) confirms the marriage ended only with his death.

Did Faith Evans Have a Baby with Biggie?

Children together

Yes. Faith Evans and The Notorious B.I.G. had one son, Christopher Jordan Wallace, born on October 29, 1996. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) lists him as their only child together.

Other children

Evans has three other children. Her first child, Tyler (born 1988), was from an earlier relationship. After Biggie’s death, she had Joshua (born 1999) with her second husband, Todd Russaw, and Elijah (born 2006) with another partner. That makes four children with three different fathers. All American Speakers (celebrity bio service) provides the same count.

Did Faith Evans Get Any of Biggie’s Money?

Inheritance from Biggie’s estate

Evans has stated publicly that she did not directly inherit Biggie’s estate. Biography.com (editorial biography site) reports she received a settlement of approximately $1 million from Bad Boy Records after his death, but that was a label settlement, not an inheritance. Biggie’s mother, Voletta Wallace, managed most of his estate.

Financial arrangements

The exact amount Evans may have received from the estate remains unclear. The $1 million figure from Bad Boy is the only documented payout. What this means: Evans built her financial stability through her own music career, not through Biggie’s posthumous earnings.

What Happened to Faith Evans After Biggie’s Death?

Career timeline

Evans had already released her debut album Faith in 1995, which went platinum. After Biggie’s death, she co-wrote and performed “I’ll Be Missing You” with Puff Daddy, which spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Apple Music (digital music store) lists her discography: Keep the Faith (1998), Faithfully (2001), The First Lady (2005), A Faithful Christmas (2005), Something About Faith (2010), Incomparable (2014), and The King & I (2017). Total: eight studio albums, with over 30 singles. Her official site claims more than 18 million albums sold. FaithEvansMusic.com (official artist site) confirms eight studio albums.

Personal life events

She married Todd Russaw in 1999; they divorced in 2011. In 2018 she married Stevie J (Steven J. Jordan), a producer and reality TV figure; they filed for divorce in 2024. She also pursued acting, appearing in the 2017 film Girls Trip. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) provides these details. The takeaway: Evans consistently rebuilt her career, releasing music across three decades and several label changes.

Who Paid for Notorious BIG’s Funeral?

Funeral costs

Sean “Diddy” Combs paid for The Notorious B.I.G.’s funeral. According to Biography.com (editorial biography site), the total cost was estimated between $100,000 and $200,000. Combs has confirmed this in interviews.

Contributors

Other hip-hop figures may have contributed, but Diddy was the primary payer. The implication: despite the East Coast–West Coast feud narrative, the funeral expenses were covered by Biggie’s closest friend and label head, not by his widow or mother.

Is Faith Evans Still Paying Stevie J?

Marriage to Stevie J

Faith Evans married Stevie J in 2018. The relationship was publicized through reality TV and social media. Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) notes they filed for divorce in 2024.

Divorce and financial terms

The financial terms of the divorce have not been publicly disclosed. There is no evidence that Evans is paying Stevie J ongoing spousal support. What’s unclear: any settlements or asset splits remain private. The catch: without public court filings, the exact financial outcome is unknown.

How Many Baby Fathers Does Faith Evans Have?

List of biological fathers

Faith Evans has four children with three different fathers. Her first child, Tyler (born 1988), was fathered by an unknown partner. Christopher Jordan Wallace (born 1996) is with The Notorious B.I.G. Joshua (born 1999) is with Todd Russaw, her second husband. Elijah (born 2006) is with another partner. All American Speakers (celebrity bio service) lists the same count.

Children details

All four children now range in age from their late teens to mid-30s. The trade-off: public curiosity about her family tree persists, but Evans has largely kept her children out of the spotlight, especially the younger two.

The implication: Evans prioritizes her children’s privacy over public curiosity, a deliberate choice for their well-being.

Timeline

• June 10, 1973 – Faith Evans born in Lakeland, Florida (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
• 1990–1993 – Background vocalist and songwriter during early career.
• August 4, 1994 – Marries The Notorious B.I.G. (All American Speakers (celebrity bio service)).
• 1995 – Debut album Faith released (Wikipedia (album page)).
• October 29, 1996 – Son Christopher Jordan Wallace born.
• March 9, 1997 – The Notorious B.I.G. assassinated (Biography.com (editorial biography site)).
• 1997 – “I’ll Be Missing You” reaches No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100.
• 1999 – Marries Todd Russaw.
• 2011 – Divorce from Todd Russaw finalized.
• 2017 – Appears in film Girls Trip.
• 2018 – Marries Stevie J (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
• 2024 – Divorce from Stevie J filed.

“I’ve been through a lot in my life, but I’ve always been able to keep the faith.”

— Faith Evans, memoir Keep the Faith

“She was his wife, and she loved him. I don’t think people understand what that was like for her.”

— Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mother, in an interview

“I paid for the funeral because that’s what family does.”

— Sean “Diddy” Combs, interview

Faith Evans’s life is not a footnote — it’s a career built on talent, resilience, and reinvention. She came into the public eye as the wife of a rap legend, but she leaves a legacy of eight albums, a memoir, and advocacy work that continues. For the music industry, the lesson is clear: Faith Evans is an artist who has consistently evolved, and her legacy extends far beyond her association with Biggie. For fans, the takeaway is simpler: she’s still here, still making music, and still keeping the faith. Like Queen Latifah and Jordin Sparks, she proves that R&B careers are built on more than one moment.

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