Kali Muscle is a recognizable face because he is an actor and bodybuilder who has made entertaining appearances in commercials for major brands. He is also a content creator with a massive following on YouTube. As of 2023, Kali Muscle has a net worth of $5 million.
Early Life
Kali’s real name is Chuck Kirkendall. He was born in Oakland, California, on February 18, 1975. Kali and his three siblings were brought up by his mother and step-dad as they never saw their biological father.
He grew up poor in a neighborhood filled with crime, which influenced him heavily. His eldest brother died in a gun accident. This led to Chuck helping provide for his family by robbing others.
In high school, he was a wrestler and track athlete. The young man had his chance at college when Fresno State University gave him a football scholarship. However, he couldn’t pursue it as he got arrested by the authorities.
Prison Life
Before he was imprisoned, Kirkendall had a job at a local 24 Hour Fitness gym. He took advantage of the opportunity to spend his time training with weights for free.
When he was imprisoned, Kali Muscle continued to lift weights in the prison gym. The guards removed the equipment he used as they were alarmed after seeing his body’s massive growth. He weighs around 235 to 245 pounds.
Chuck went on to lift fellow inmates as a substitute. After 11 years, he was finally set free. He relocated to Los Angeles, California, in hopes of launching an acting and bodybuilding career.
Rise to Success
He had his first stint in a Jamey Johnson music video and in 2011, he got a role in a Wonder Woman TV movie. Later on, he became famous for showing up in commercials for brands like Honda, Snickers, Comcast, and GEICO.
Kirkendall also tried professional bodybuilding. He trained for one year to win Mr. California 2012. While rebuilding his reputation, the fitness enthusiast was also uploading to YouTube on the side. His first video was published in 2008.
Since then, he’s been continuing to build his online presence. He started his website, KaliMuscle.com, where he sells merchandise, books, and supplements. He currently has 2.55 million subscribers on the Kali Muscle YouTube channel.
Net Worth and Earnings
Kali has numerous income sources, and YouTube is one of his main ones. YouTube channels on average make $3 to $7 per 1,000 views. Based on this, Kali is estimated to make around $230,000 per year with Google AdSense. He also earns extra money from his website.
Plus, there are his earnings as a bodybuilder. Pro bodybuilders earn between $19,726 and $187,200 per year in the US. Lastly, he makes money from cameos in films, TV series, music videos, and commercials. All of this makes up his $5 million fortune.
Personal Life
Kali has been married twice. He married R&B singer Dvyne Beverley in 2008, but they eventually divorced. He is currently with Helena Kirkendall, who gave him twins Kali Jr. and Brooke Taylor. However, the family also had troubles. Kali had a heart attack in 2021 and is now recovering from the setback.