Justin Timberlake has been famous for more than three decades, from a Disney Channel kid to the frontman of NSYNC to one of the defining solo pop stars of the 2000s. Ten Grammys, four Emmys and an Oscar nomination later, the Memphis native is in a reflective phase in 2026, revisiting old rumors and reportedly preparing a four-part docuseries for Apple.
| Full name | Justin Randall Timberlake |
|---|---|
| Born | January 31, 1981 |
| Age | 45 (as of November 2026) |
| Birthplace | Memphis, Tennessee, USA |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor |
| Known for | NSYNC, Justified, FutureSex/LoveSounds, “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” |
| Solo albums | 6 (2002–2024) |
| Major awards | 10 Grammy Awards, 4 Primetime Emmy Awards, 1 Oscar nomination |
| Spouse | Jessica Biel (married October 19, 2012) |
| Children | Two sons |
| Net worth | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life
Justin Randall Timberlake was born on January 31, 1981, in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in the Memphis area. His mother, Lynn Harless, became a key figure in his early career, and his father, Randall Timberlake, directed a Baptist church choir, which meant music was part of family life from the start.
He was performing on national television before he was a teenager. At 11, he appeared on the talent show Star Search, singing country songs under the name “Justin Randall.” Soon after, he joined the cast of The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, where he spent 1993 to 1995 alongside a remarkable group of future stars, including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Ryan Gosling. Looking back, that show was a training ground: singing, dancing, sketch comedy and live cameras, all before he turned 15.
Career
NSYNC and the boy band boom (1995–2002)
In 1995, Timberlake became one of the five members of NSYNC, the Orlando-formed group that would go on to define the late-1990s pop explosion. Their self-titled debut arrived in 1998, but it was No Strings Attached in 2000 that turned them into a phenomenon, with “It’s Gonna Be Me” topping the Billboard Hot 100. A third album, Celebrity, followed in 2001, with Timberlake increasingly involved in songwriting and production. In 2002, the group went on hiatus. Few expected it to last two decades.
Going solo: Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds (2002–2007)
Timberlake’s solo debut, Justified, came out in 2002 and immediately separated him from his boy band image. Built around R&B grooves and collaborations with the Neptunes and Timbaland, it produced “Cry Me a River,” a breakup song whose music video featured a blonde look-alike and was widely read as being about his split from Spears that year.
His second album, FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006), was even bigger. Largely produced with Timbaland and Danja, it delivered three straight Hot 100 number ones: “SexyBack,” “My Love” and “What Goes Around… Comes Around.” The video for the last one, starring Scarlett Johansson, ran more than nine minutes.
This era also included the most controversial moment of his career. At the February 2004 Super Bowl halftime show, his performance with Janet Jackson ended in the infamous “wardrobe malfunction.” Jackson bore the brunt of the backlash, and Timberlake later apologized to her publicly, in 2021, along with an apology to Spears.
Hollywood and a long detour (2007–2012)
After FutureSex/LoveSounds, Timberlake stepped back from music and leaned into acting. He had made his film debut in Model Behavior in 2000 and voiced Artie in Shrek the Third (2007), but the real turning point was David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010), in which he played Napster co-founder Sean Parker. The following year, he starred in three very different films: Bad Teacher, Friends with Benefits and In Time. His comic timing also made him a favorite host and guest on Saturday Night Live, and he has won four Primetime Emmys over his career.
The 20/20 Experience to Trolls (2013–2019)
He returned to music in 2013 with two albums in the same year, The 20/20 Experience and The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2. Three years later, he wrote and performed “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” for the animated film Trolls, in which he also voiced Branch. The song became his fourth solo Hot 100 number one and earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. In 2018, he released Man of the Woods, a more rootsy record nodding to his Tennessee background, and headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in Minneapolis on February 4, 2018.
Throughout this decade he kept a foot in film too, with roles in the Coen brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) and Woody Allen’s Wonder Wheel (2017). What ties these phases together is a rare double skill set: he is a pop performer who also writes and co-produces, and an entertainer comfortable enough in comedy and drama to keep returning to the screen. That versatility, more than any single hit, explains why he has stayed relevant through so many shifts in the music industry.
Recent years (2020–2025)
Timberlake kept acting, notably in the Apple TV+ drama Palmer (2021) and the crime thriller Reptile (2023), and in 2022 he sold his entire song catalog to Hipgnosis Song Management in a deal reported by CNN and Bloomberg at around $100 million. In 2023, NSYNC briefly reunited for “Better Place,” recorded for Trolls Band Together.
His sixth solo album, Everything I Thought It Was, arrived in 2024, followed by the Forget Tomorrow World Tour, which opened in Vancouver on April 29, 2024, and wrapped in July 2025. According to Wikipedia, it sold more than one million tickets within weeks of going on sale. The tour period was not without trouble. In June 2024, he was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, and in September 2024 he pleaded guilty to a non-criminal violation of driving while impaired; the DWI charge was dropped, and he was ordered to pay a fine, do community service and record a public safety announcement. At the end of the tour in July 2025, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease and had chosen to keep performing.
What’s New in 2026
In November 2026, Timberlake finally addressed a two-decade-old theory about “What Goes Around… Comes Around.” Speaking on Complex’s Re-Rank, he said the 2006 hit was not about Britney Spears but about a friend’s breakup, and that he asked the friend’s permission before writing it. Read our full story on what Timberlake said.
A few days earlier, Variety reported that he is preparing a four-part “tell-all” docuseries for Apple, directed by Fisher Stevens, the filmmaker behind Netflix’s Beckham. According to that report, Janet Jackson sat for an interview, which suggests the 2004 Super Bowl will be revisited. Apple has not officially announced a title or release date, and online reaction to the project has been mixed.
Personal Life
Timberlake dated Britney Spears from 1999 to 2002, one of the most photographed relationships of the era. Spears revisited their time together in her 2023 memoir The Woman in Me, including her claim that he had been unfaithful.
He has been married to actress Jessica Biel since October 19, 2012, when the couple wed at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Fasano, in southern Italy. They have two sons and keep their children largely out of the public eye.
Net Worth
Justin Timberlake’s net worth is not publicly disclosed, and figures circulating online are estimates rather than verified numbers. What is documented gives a sense of scale: the 2022 sale of his song catalog to Hipgnosis was reported at around $100 million, and the Forget Tomorrow World Tour was described as the fastest-selling tour of his career. Add three decades of record sales, film work, endorsements and touring, and he is clearly one of the most successful pop artists of his generation, even if no official figure exists.
FAQ
How old is Justin Timberlake?
Justin Timberlake was born on January 31, 1981, so he is 45 years old as of November 2026.
Who is Justin Timberlake married to?
He has been married to actress Jessica Biel since October 19, 2012. They have two sons.
How many Grammys does Justin Timberlake have?
He has won 10 Grammy Awards, along with four Primetime Emmys. He was also nominated for an Oscar for “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”
Is “What Goes Around… Comes Around” about Britney Spears?
No, according to Timberlake. In 2026 he said the song was based on a friend’s breakup, told with that friend’s permission.
Is Justin Timberlake making a documentary?
Variety reported in November 2026 that he is working on a four-part docuseries for Apple, directed by Fisher Stevens. No official release date has been announced.
What is Justin Timberlake’s net worth?
It has not been publicly disclosed. His 2022 catalog sale to Hipgnosis was reported at around $100 million.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Justin Timberlake
- Wikipedia: The Forget Tomorrow World Tour
- CNN (via KVIA): Justin Timberlake sells his entire music catalog
- Bloomberg: Timberlake sells song catalog rights
- PBS NewsHour / AP: Timberlake reveals Lyme disease diagnosis
- The A.V. Club: Apple docuseries report
- Yahoo Entertainment: Timberlake tell-all docuseries
- Yahoo Entertainment: Timberlake addresses Britney Spears rumor