Thirteen years after he signed his first record deal, Justin Bieber is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. Thanks to a string of hit songs and sold-out world tours, among other business ventures, he’s accumulated a net worth of approximately $285 million, which isn’t bad at all for someone who’s yet to reach the age of 30!

Over the years, Bieber has been in the press a lot, much of the time appearing for controversial reasons. But he’s also accomplished some truly impressive milestones and contributed some amazing things to the world. Notably, Bieber is known for his dedication to charity. He has worked with endless organizations to use his privileged position to help those who are disadvantaged or in need of help. Back in 2011, Bieber teamed up with Ellen DeGeneres to auction his hair for a good cause—keep reading to find out how much his famous locks went for.

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Humble Beginnings

To fully appreciate Justin Bieber’s story, we have to go back to the very start. He may be one of biggest stars on the planet today, but Bieber came from humble beginnings. He was born in 1994 in Ontario, Canada, to a single mom, Pattie Mallette.

As Pop Crush reports, Mallette struggled to make ends meet before Bieber was famous. She worked office jobs and could only afford low-income housing in Stratford, Ontario for her and her son. It’s even more impressive that Bieber is able to raise so much money for charity today when you consider that he worked his way up from a disadvantaged position.

Bieber’s lifestyle drastically changed when he was discovered by record executive Scooter Braun and signed a record deal in 2008, establishing himself as a teen idol at the age of 14.

How Much Did His Hair Sell For?

So how much did Justin Bieber’s hair sell for? According to MTV, Ellen DeGeneres managed to auction off a mere lock of the pop star’s hair for a whopping $40,668. There were a total of 98 bids for the hair and all the proceeds went to a charity organization in California called The Gentle Barn foundation.

While the hair on its own probably would have earned a fortune, DeGeneres also auctioned off another item with the famous tresses. The hair was kept in a plastic box, which Bieber also signed.

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The Charity Group

The Gentle Barn foundation received the proceeds from Bieber’s hair auction. Based in California, the organization is a favorite of Ellen DeGeneres and focuses on animal rights. Their mission statement reads, “With your support, we work hard each day to create a kinder world by rescuing animals, giving them sanctuary at The Gentle Barn, and healing children through telling the animals’ stories.”

The foundation runs many different programs that aim to educate people about animals and their important role in the planet. They offer school trips and other events, private tours for those who want to visit their farm and meet some of the animals, and even promote animal-assisted therapy. Plus, they are advocates for plant-based eating and share lots of tips and recipes on their website.

His Work With The Make-A-Wish Foundation

Donating his hair isn’t the only charitable act that Justin Bieber has done. Since the beginning of his career, he’s been working closely with the Make-a-Wish foundation, who aim to fulfill the wishes of children with critical illnesses. So far, he has granted more than 260 wishes.

Most famously, Bieber granted a wish in nearly every city that he traveled to on his Purpose tour, which started in 2016 and ran to 2017. In 2014, he even took 10-year-old cancer patient Grace Kesablak to the Young Hollywood Awards as his date.

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Lending A Hand During The Pandemic

During the COVD-19 pandemic, Justin Bieber has delved even more into charity. Following the pandemic break out, he teamed up with Chance the Rapper and Cash App and donated $250K to fans who were struggling as a result of the effects of COVID-19.

To be considered for a donation, fans Tweeted the musicians with their story and Cash App handle, along with the hashtag #JBChanceHoly.

$100K To Mental Health

Another cause that Justin Bieber cares deeply about? Mental health. The Honey Pop reports that back in 2020 Bieber was promoting his album 'Changes' in New York City when he saw one of his fans raising money for mental health awareness. After being made aware of the cause, Bieber donated no less than $100K to the charity.

In the past, Bieber has opened up about his own struggles with mental health issues. It’s this personal connection that could be one of the factors influencing his decision to be so generous.

Some fans have said that Bieber is overspending his fortune, but it looks like he couldn't be doing a better job of giving back.

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