Earn Your Leisure Mary J. Blige on Tax Issues, Strength of a Woman, Divorce, Paying Alimony, Acting, Music & Business
Mar 2, 2026
Mary J. Blige, Grammy-winning singer, actress, and entrepreneur behind the Strength of a Woman Festival. She talks about building a festival and partnerships, launching a spirits brand, shifting into producing and acting, handling massive tax debt and alimony, protecting wealth with prenups, and maintaining independence over her music and business legacy.
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Wine Line Sparked By Dinner With Maxwell
- Mary entered the wine business after touring with Maxwell and meeting an Italian winemaker; she launched during COVID and sold out on wine.com.
- Positive customer feedback gave her confidence to expand into Prosecco, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Actively Control Payroll Taxes And Tithes
- Do take control of your finances and insist on paying payroll, taxes, and tithes separately so those funds can't be misused.
- Mary now reviews payroll and treats taxes and tithes as money that 'doesn't belong to me' to avoid past exploitation.
Get A Prenup If You Have Significant Assets
- Get a prenup if you have valuable assets because current laws can force paying alimony even when the other party cheated.
- Mary regrets not having one after her divorce required paying alimony despite infidelity and theft.