Daddy Yankee believes every artist — even those just starting out — should have a prenup.
In a recent conversation with Leila Cobo, the 49-year-old reggaeton legend revisited advice he first shared during Billboard’s Latin Music Week back in 2021, when he urged artists to learn the business side of the industry.
Now, following his conversion to Christianity, his divorce after nearly three decades of marriage, and ongoing legal issues involving his businesses and music catalog, Yankee says he’s seeing things from a very different perspective.
“Be on top of everything, even if you have lawyers and accountants,” said Daddy Yankee — now going by DY — in his new Billboard cover story with Leila Cobo. “Now I’m alone, so I have to be 100% [involved]. Things I used to delegate, I don’t delegate anymore. It’s my responsibility, and I feel good and I feel I’ve learned so much more. You think you know everything about the music business and the rules keep changing. The smallest things can make a great difference.”
He went on, “Even if you’re not famous or successful and your career is only beginning, get married with a prenup — music is unpredictable.”
The “Gasolina” hitmaker also highlighted the importance of self-care and personal boundaries.
“It’s very important to be clear on what self-love is and establish limits — all kinds of healthy limits. Learn how to say no,” he explained. “I learned that we sacrifice ourselves for many people, and you do it so much that you normalize it. And that’s not the way it should be.”
Yankee and his longtime wife, Mireddys González, announced their split on December 2, 2024, just after celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. The pair, who began dating as teenagers, share two adult children, Jesaaelys and Jeremy. Their divorce was finalized in February 2025 after what Yankee described as “months of trying to save [his] marriage.”
Before the separation was finalized, the reggaeton star filed injunctions against González and her sister, accusing them of unlawfully withdrawing $100 million from his companies, El Cartel Records and Los Cangris. A court later reinstated Yankee as president of both businesses and froze $75 million in funds during the transition, according to Billboard.
In March 2025, he escalated the legal battle by filing a $250 million lawsuit against both women, alleging financial misconduct, defamation, and the deletion of key company records.
Despite the personal turmoil, Daddy Yankee is gearing up for his first televised performance in three years at the 2025 Billboard Latin Music Awards on October 23. He’s also set to drop his first Christian album, Lamento En Baile (Mourning In Dancing), on October 16 — his first release since 2022.
