Johnny Dang is a Vietnamese American jeweler in Houston, best known for custom diamond grillz and his partnership with rapper Paul Wall, with an estimated net worth of $20 million in 2026, according to Celebrity Net Worth. After arriving in Texas in 1996, he moved from flea-market repair work to a celebrity jewelry business that helped make grillz a defining symbol of hip-hop style.
His story connects immigration, family craftsmanship, Houston rap, and luxury jewelry. It also includes a few details that online biographies report differently, especially his birth year and age. Elsewhere on the site: Narvel Blackstock.
| Quick fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Đặng Anh Tuấn |
| Birthplace | Buôn Ma Thuột, Đắk Lắk Province, Vietnam |
| Birth year | 1973 according to Texas Highways; some celebrity databases list 1974 |
| Based in | Houston, Texas |
| Profession | Jeweler and entrepreneur |
| Known for | Custom grillz and hip-hop jewelry |
| Business | Johnny Dang & Co.; first store opened in 1998 |
| Longtime business partner | Rapper Paul Wall |
| Wife | Jennifer Dang |
| Net worth (2026) | $20 million (Celebrity Net Worth estimate) |
How Johnny Dang built his career from Vietnam to Houston
Dang grew up around jewelry making in Vietnam. His father and grandfather worked in the trade, so he learned traditional techniques before coming to the United States. Texas Highways reports that he was born in 1973 in Buôn Ma Thuột and learned the craft without many modern tools.
He moved to Houston in 1996 with his mother and siblings. They reunited with his father, who had moved to the United States years earlier. Dang then worked on jewelry repairs at a flea market while adapting his skills to American styles and equipment.
The repair work created a path into retail. He opened his first store, TV Jewelry, in Sharpstown Mall in 1998.
That beginning matters because his later success did not start with celebrity connections. It started with technical jewelry work and direct contact with Houston customers.
Paul Wall helped connect the jeweler with Houston hip-hop
The biggest turning point came through Houston rapper Paul Wall. Dang made Wall a diamond grill, and the two went into business together in 2002, according to Texas Highways. Celebrity Net Worth credits Dang with a molding process based on dental impressions, so grillz fit comfortably and could be removed.
Wall already had connections inside Houston’s rap community. That opened doors to artists who wanted jewelry that looked different from standard pieces.
Clients soon included Houston names such as Slim Thug and Mike Jones. Grillz became more visible in music, videos, performances, and celebrity fashion.
The relationship worked because each partner brought something different. Dang had technical jewelry skills and new design ideas. Wall understood the culture, artists, and audience.
Why his custom grillz became so closely tied to celebrity culture
Celebrity exposure helped the business grow far beyond Houston. Forbes reported in 2019 that his clients included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Cardi B and Rick Ross. His name has also appeared throughout rap music and pop culture.
Texas Highways highlighted several notable commissions:
- Beyoncé received a more understated custom grill in 2016.
- Katy Perry wore a colorful “Roar” design at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
- Travis Scott wore one of his pieces on the 2017 cover of British GQ.
- Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens wore matching custom grillz at their April 2023 wedding.
The appeal is not limited to celebrity ownership. Customization is central to the product. Customers can choose metals, stones, cuts, colors, and layouts. The company also handles custom production in-house; Forbes counted 50 in-house jewelers in 2019.
Texas Highways reported in 2025 that some of the jeweler’s pieces sell for roughly $1,000 to $200,000, depending on the design.
How old is Johnny Dang?
Johnny Dang was born in 1973, according to Texas Highways, which interviewed him for a 2025 feature, and his Wikipedia biography. That makes him 52 or 53 in 2026; his exact birthday has not been confirmed by a reliable source.
Some celebrity birthday databases list November 21, 1974, instead. Without a confirmed birth date from Dang himself or an official record, 1973 is the better-supported year.
Wife, children, and family life
The jeweler is married to Jennifer Dang. Her connection to the business is well documented. When the couple opened a major Houston store in 2016, Jennifer spoke to the Houston Press about the customer experience and her own fashion line.
The family appears publicly at times, but his career and jewelry business receive far more media attention than his home life.
His family background also shaped his profession. Jewelry making was already part of the family trade before he moved to Texas.
Johnny Dang net worth: $20 million estimate
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at $20 million.
That number is a third-party estimate, not an audited or verified figure. The company is privately held, and there is no public filing showing his complete assets, debts or ownership value.
His money comes from the business itself: the company has operated since 1998, makes its pieces in-house, and sells to both celebrity and retail customers. Texas Highways reported in 2025 that individual pieces sell for roughly $1,000 to $200,000, and the 2016 Houston flagship he opened with Paul Wall expanded the retail side of the business.
Johnny Dang & Co. today
The business remains based in Houston. Its official contact page lists the Richmond Avenue store at 6224 Richmond Ave, Houston, Texas. The company sells custom grillz, chains, watches, pendants, rings, and other jewelry. Customers can also request appointments for custom work.
In-house production remains an important part of the brand. Forbes described a team of 50 jewelers working inside the operation in 2019.
That setup gives the business more control over design and production than a retailer that sends every custom order to outside manufacturers.
Why his influence goes beyond expensive jewelry
The jeweler’s importance to pop culture is not based on price alone. He helped connect traditional jewelry-making with the visual language of Houston hip-hop. Paul Wall provided access to artists, while the designs gave musicians another way to create a recognizable image.
The result exceeded one store. Grillz moved through rap videos, red carpets, sports, fashion, and mainstream celebrity culture.
His career also tells an American immigration story. He arrived in Houston with skills learned in Vietnam, adjusted to different equipment and customer tastes, then built a business around those changes.
The story behind the King of Bling
From a Houston flea-market repair bench to custom pieces for major musicians and athletes, his career grew through craftsmanship, relationships, and constant design changes.
His Houston business, Paul Wall partnership, custom grillz and influence on hip-hop style are well documented, which is why he is widely known as the King of Bling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Celebrity Net Worth estimates his fortune at about $20 million in 2026.
His birth name is Đặng Anh Tuấn. He was born in Vietnam and later settled in Houston, Texas.
He was born in 1973, according to Texas Highways and Wikipedia, so he is 52 or 53 in 2026. Some databases list November 21, 1974, but that date is not confirmed.
He is married to Jennifer Dang. She has appeared publicly with him and was involved in the opening of his Houston flagship store.
Dang keeps details about his children largely private, and reliable sources do not report them.
His partnership with Paul Wall gave him a direct connection to Houston’s hip-hop community. Custom diamond grillz worn by musicians then brought his work to a national audience.
The company’s official contact page lists its Richmond Avenue location at 6224 Richmond Ave in Houston, Texas, near the Galleria.
