Justin Timberlake has been one of the most recognisable names in American pop culture for more than 30 years — from child performer to boy band frontman to solo superstar to movie actor. Right now in 2026, people are searching for him partly out of nostalgia for his music, and partly because of an ongoing legal matter from a 2024 arrest. This profile covers both — plus his full background, family, career, and current status — in plain, factual terms.
ℹ️ Quick ID: Full name: Justin Randall Timberlake. Born: January 31, 1981. Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Known for: NSYNC, solo albums Justified, FutureSex/LoveSounds, The 20/20 Experience; films The Social Network, Friends with Benefits; Grammy winner; actor; producer.
Background: Who Is Justin Timberlake?
Justin Timberlake grew up in the small community of Shelby Forest, near Millington, just outside Memphis, Tennessee. His parents divorced when he was two years old. His father, Randy Timberlake, played bass and sang in a bluegrass band and introduced him to country legends like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson through weekend visits. His mother, Lynn Harless, later became his manager through her company Jut-in-Time Entertainment. His paternal grandfather was a Baptist minister who taught him guitar chords as a child.
He was performing publicly by age eleven, when he appeared on the television talent show Star Search as a country singer going by “Justin Randall.” From 1993 to 1994, he was cast on the Disney Channel’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club, where he performed alongside future stars including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Ryan Gosling, and JC Chasez. That cast is now considered one of the most remarkable collections of young talent assembled on a single television program.
In 1995, Timberlake joined the boy band that would make him a global name: NSYNC. The group became the third best-selling boy band in music history, selling over 70 million records. When Timberlake left in 2002 to go solo, the transition was handled so cleanly that he never lost momentum. His debut solo album Justified went Platinum immediately, and his 2006 album FutureSex/LoveSounds is still regarded as one of the defining pop records of that decade.
Latest Update
As of August 19, 2026
As of August 19, 2026, the most significant story surrounding Justin Timberlake is not a new album or a tour — it’s an ongoing legal matter. In June 2024, Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, and charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI) after his vehicle ran a stop sign and was observed drifting between lanes. He was arraigned and released without bail the following morning.
⚠️ Legal Status — Confirmed: In June 2026, Timberlake’s legal team obtained a temporary restraining order to block the release of police bodycam footage from his 2024 DWI arrest. His attorneys argued the footage could prejudice future proceedings. As of the date of publication, no trial date has been publicly confirmed and no new music or tour dates have been officially announced through major ticketing platforms.
The restraining order and continued legal proceedings are the primary reason searches for his name have remained elevated throughout 2026. Searches are also being driven by a wave of social media nostalgia — TikTok edits of NSYNC performances and early-2000s solo clips have consistently pushed his name back into trending topics, independent of any new release. His wife, actress Jessica Biel, gave a rare public statement in 2026 expressing support for him during this period and spoke briefly about family life at their home in Montana.
No confirmed new studio album or dedicated 2026 tour schedule exists on his official channels as of the date of this article. Fan speculation about new music has been active, but nothing has been officially announced or verified.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
Timberlake was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 31, 1981. His parents split when he was two, and he was raised primarily by his mother. Both parents remarried, and Timberlake has described both sides of his extended family as close-knit. From his father’s second marriage, he has two half-brothers, Jonathan and Stephen. He also had a half-sister who died shortly after birth; he later paid tribute to her in the NSYNC song “My Angel in Heaven.”
His grandfather introduced him to the guitar and to country and gospel music. That foundation — country storytelling, gospel delivery, and later hip-hop production influences absorbed through Memphis culture — is audible throughout his solo catalog. He grew up singing in his church choir and entered talent competitions before he was a teenager. By the time he joined The Mickey Mouse Club at age twelve, he had already been performing competitively for years.
Career Path
| Year | Career Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Appeared on Star Search as country singer “Justin Randall,” aged 11 |
| 1993–1994 | Cast on Disney’s The All-New Mickey Mouse Club |
| 1995–2002 | Lead vocalist of NSYNC; group sells 70+ million records worldwide |
| 2002 | Debut solo album Justified released; hits include “Cry Me a River” and “Rock Your Body” |
| 2006 | FutureSex/LoveSounds released; No. 1 on Billboard 200; spawned “SexyBack,” “My Love,” “What Goes Around” |
| 2010 | Acting breakthrough in The Social Network as Sean Parker |
| 2013 | The 20/20 Experience released; fastest-selling album in the U.S. that year |
| 2016 | “Can’t Stop the Feeling” from Trolls soundtrack reached No. 1; won Grammy and Golden Globe nominations |
| 2018 | Man of the Woods released; Super Bowl LII halftime performance |
| 2023 | NSYNC reunited briefly for a new single “Better Place” for the Trolls Band Together soundtrack |
| 2024 | Everything I Thought It Was released; DWI arrest in Sag Harbor, New York, in June |
| 2026 | Legal proceedings ongoing; attorneys obtain temporary restraining order on arrest footage |
Beyond music, Timberlake built a parallel career as a character actor. His performance as Napster co-founder Sean Parker in David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010) earned him serious critical attention. He’s also co-owned several business ventures including the William Rast clothing line, the 901 Tequila brand, and the restaurant Southern Hospitality in New York.
Age
Justin Timberlake was born on January 31, 1981. He turned 45 years old in January 2026.
Religion
Timberlake was raised Baptist and sang in a church choir as a child. In later interviews, he has described himself as more “spiritual than religious” rather than following a specific organised faith, though he has referenced his Christian upbringing in multiple contexts.
Spouse and Partner
Timberlake married actress Jessica Biel on October 19, 2012, in a private ceremony in southern Italy. The couple has two sons: Silas Randall Timberlake, born in April 2015, and Phineas, born in 2020 (the exact birth date was not publicly disclosed). Both parents have spoken about keeping their children off social media. The family lives primarily in Montana. Timberlake and Biel had a widely reported period of public difficulty following the 2024 DWI arrest, but they have remained married. Biel publicly expressed her support for him in 2026.
Net Worth
Celebrity Net Worth estimates Justin Timberlake’s net worth at $250 million as of 2026. Other sources have placed the figure as high as $350 million. The variation comes from the difficulty of accounting simultaneously for music royalties, touring income, acting fees, production earnings, business investments, and real estate. What is confirmed: he has sold over 32 million solo albums and 56 million singles globally, in addition to the 70 million records sold with NSYNC. All five of his solo studio albums are certified Platinum or higher.
Parents
His father is Charles Randall “Randy” Timberlake, who worked as a Baptist choir director and played in a bluegrass band. His mother is Lynn Harless (née Bomar), who became his manager through her company Jut-in-Time Entertainment. His parents divorced when he was two years old. Both remarried, and Timberlake has credited his extended family — particularly his grandfather, who taught him guitar and introduced him to country music — for shaping his early artistic instincts.
Height
Justin Timberlake stands at approximately 5 feet 11¾ inches tall (approximately 1.82 meters).
Education
Because of his early entertainment career, Timberlake completed his secondary education through the University of Nebraska High School, a correspondence and distance learning program used by many young performers whose careers made traditional school attendance impractical. He has not publicly documented any college enrollment beyond that.
Hometown and State of Origin
Memphis, Tennessee — specifically, the small community of Shelby Forest near Millington, where he grew up. Memphis is where his musical roots were planted, through church choirs, his grandfather’s record collection, and the broader Tennessee music culture that shaped his early sound. He has maintained a personal and charitable connection to Memphis throughout his career, including through the Justin Timberlake Foundation, which has supported the Shelby County Public School System.
Official Social Media
Justin Timberlake’s official Instagram account is @justintimberlake. His official website is justintimberlake.com.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
What is Justin Timberlake’s net worth in 2026?
Justin Timberlake’s net worth is estimated at $250 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth as of 2026. Some other sources place the figure higher, up to $350 million, factoring in real estate, business ventures, and entertainment income that is difficult to calculate precisely. His wealth comes from music sales, global touring, acting, production, and business ownership including the William Rast clothing line and the 901 Tequila brand.
What happened with Justin Timberlake’s DWI arrest?
In June 2024, Timberlake was arrested in Sag Harbor, New York, and charged with driving while intoxicated after police observed his vehicle failing to stop at a stop sign and drifting between lanes. He was arraigned and released without bail. In June 2026, his attorneys obtained a temporary restraining order to block the release of police bodycam footage from the arrest, arguing it could prejudice future legal proceedings. As of August 2026, no trial date has been publicly confirmed.
Who are Justin Timberlake’s children?
Timberlake has two sons with his wife, actress Jessica Biel. Silas Randall Timberlake was born in April 2015 and named in part after Timberlake’s late grandfather. Their second son, Phineas, was born in 2020; the couple did not publicly disclose his exact birth date. Both parents have spoken about keeping their sons away from social media exposure for as long as possible.
Was Justin Timberlake really in NSYNC?
Yes. Timberlake joined NSYNC in 1995 as the group’s youngest member and lead vocalist. He was around 14 at the time. NSYNC became one of the biggest-selling boy bands in history, with over 70 million records sold globally. He left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career. In 2023, the surviving members reunited briefly to release one new song, “Better Place,” for the Trolls Band Together animated film.
Is Justin Timberlake still married to Jessica Biel?
Yes. Timberlake and actress Jessica Biel married in October 2012 and remain married as of August 2026. The couple experienced a period of public strain in 2019 following photographs of Timberlake holding hands with a co-star, for which he publicly apologised. They navigated those reports as a couple and remained together. Biel made supportive public statements about him following his 2024 DWI arrest as well.
What is Justin Timberlake’s most successful song?
“SexyBack” (2006) is widely cited as one of his signature singles and spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Can’t Stop the Feeling” (2016) is another commercially dominant track, reaching No. 1 in 100 countries and winning multiple awards. Both are among his most-streamed songs globally, along with “Mirrors,” “Cry Me a River,” and “What Goes Around…/…Comes Around.”
Did Justin Timberlake win a Grammy?
Yes. Timberlake has won ten Grammy Awards across his career, including in categories like Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. His Grammy wins span multiple decades, beginning with his early solo work and continuing through the FutureSex/LoveSounds and The 20/20 Experience eras. He has received over 40 Grammy nominations in total.
Is Justin Timberlake releasing new music in 2026?
As of August 19, 2026, no new Justin Timberlake album or single has been officially announced. His most recent studio album was Everything I Thought It Was, released in March 2024. While fan communities have been active with speculation about new material, no release date, title, or tracklist has been confirmed through his official channels or label.
Wrap-Up
Justin Timberlake’s career arc covers more ground than almost any other artist of his generation. He went from a child doing country music impressions on Star Search to anchoring one of the best-selling boy bands ever, then stepped away from that to build a solo catalog that holds up critically and commercially more than two decades later. He also made genuine inroads as a dramatic actor — his role in The Social Network was not a celebrity cameo, it was a committed performance that critics took seriously. That kind of range is rare.
2026 finds him in a quieter, more complicated place. The DWI proceedings have kept his name in headlines without any new music attached to them, which is a different kind of visibility than what he’s built his career on. His family — Jessica Biel and their two sons — appear to be the primary focus of his private life, and the couple has been deliberate about protecting their children from public exposure.
✅ Legacy Note: Timberlake was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame, holds a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as part of NSYNC, and received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music. His Justin Timberlake Foundation has been operating since 2002, supporting arts and music education programs across the United States, including in his hometown of Memphis.
John Wood is the founder and lead editor of Biography Region. He researches and writes accurate, engaging biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers, and public figures, delivering well-sourced, reader-focused content that informs and inspires.