Victor Willis Village People singer behind Y.M.C.A. thanks Trump for boosting his net worth

Victor Willis, who co-wrote the hit song Y.M.C.A., revealed that he now owns 50% of the Village People's music catalog

Victor Willis posted on Facebook on December 3, 2024, expressing gratitude to President-elect Donald Trump for using his song Y.M.C.A., while also clarifying that it was not intended as a gay anthem. The singer co-wrote the iconic 1978 track, which Trump has incorporated into his political campaigns.

Willis' message came four years after Trump first began using Y.M.C.A. during his political runs, with the song continuing to feature in his campaigns. According to Willis, the song has experienced significant financial success due to its ongoing use in Trump’s political events.

Victor Willis, with a reported net worth of $30 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, is a founding member of the musical group Village People, which was named after the Greenwich Village neighborhood in Manhattan. Though the group was formed in 1977, Willis left after three years to focus on a solo career but returned as its leader in 2017.

Willis co-wrote Y.M.C.A. and holds 50% of the Village People's music catalog, which is valued at around $20-$30 million. 

After leaving Village People to pursue solo music, Willis rejoined the group in 2017, negotiating a deal to become its exclusive licensee.

Despite initially being with Village People for only three years, Willis contributed to the release of six albums, which included hits like Y.M.C.A., In the Navy, Go West, and Macho Man. He is also known for wearing iconic costumes, often portraying a cop or a navy officer during performances.

Since 2020, Willis has received over a thousand complaints about Trump’s use of Y.M.C.A. in his campaigns, which led him to ask the President-elect to stop using the song.