Rebecca St. James Net Worth: Grammy Winner’s $3M Fortune from Music, Films, and Ministry

Rebecca St. James, born Rebecca Jean Smallbone on July 26, 1977, in Sydney, Australia, is a Grammy Award-winning contemporary Christian music (CCM) artist, actress, and author with an estimated net worth of $3 million as of 2025. Her accumulated wealth reflects over 30 years in the faith-based entertainment industry, spanning RIAA certified Gold albums, nine No. 1 Christian radio hits, bestselling books, and roles in faith-based films. Her annual income ranges from $150,000 to $300,000 through diversified revenue streams including music royalties, speaking fees, book sales, and media projects.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Rebecca grew up in a Christian household in Sydney, Australia, where her father, David Smallbone, worked as a music promoter. At age 13, she opened for Christian artist Carman during his Australian tour, launching her music career. In 1991, her family relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, after David received a job offer. The Smallbone family of nine—parents David and Helen Smallbone, along with seven children—faced severe financial hardship when David’s job fell through, surviving on community support from neighbors and First Baptist Church of Franklin (now Church of the City).

In 1993, Rebecca signed with ForeFront Records, adopting her stage name at the label’s request. Her 1994 self-titled major label debut marked the beginning of her rise in contemporary Christian music.

Grammy Success and Music Career

Rebecca’s breakthrough came with her 1996 album “God”, which achieved RIAA Gold certification (500,000+ copies sold). Her 1998 album “Pray” won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album in 2000, establishing her as a leading figure in the Christian music scene. Throughout her career, she has sold nearly two million albums worldwide and achieved nine No. 1 singles on Christian radio.

Key Albums and Chart Success:

• God (1996) – RIAA Gold certified, peaked at No. 168 on Billboard 200
• Pray (1998) – Grammy-winning album featuring hit title track
• Transform (2000) – Chart success with worship-focused material
• Worship God (2002) – Successful worship album
• I Will Praise You (2011) – Return album after hiatus
• Dawn EP (2020) – Recent project showing continued relevance
• Kingdom Come (2022) – Latest full-length album

Her music continues to generate income through streaming royalties, radio play, and digital downloads, providing steady passive income decades after initial release.

Marriage to Cubbie Fink and Family Life

On April 23, 2011, Rebecca married Jacob “Cubbie” Fink, a founding member and former bassist of the Grammy-nominated indie pop band Foster the People. The band achieved international fame with their hit single “Pumped Up Kicks,” which reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned three Grammy nominations. Cubbie, a Colorado native who served as a missionary in South Africa before his music career, left Foster the People in 2015 to pursue film production and ministry work.

The couple has three children: daughters Gemma Elena (born 2014) and Imogen Watson (born 2018), and son River Jack (born 2020). Rebecca and Cubbie co-host a parenting podcast with Focus on the Family and co-authored the book “Lasting Ever: Faith, Music, Family, and Being Found by True Love,” released February 4, 2025, through David C Cook publishers. Cubbie serves as executive producer on Rebecca’s music projects and has worked on films including Priceless (2016) and Unsung Hero (2024).

The family resides in Nashville, Tennessee, where Rebecca homeschools their children, prioritizing intentional living and ministry impact over material accumulation.

Unsung Hero: Major Financial Milestone

In April 2024, Lionsgate released “Unsung Hero,” a biographical drama about the Smallbone family’s journey from Australia to Nashville. The film, produced by Kingdom Story Company and co-directed by Rebecca’s brother Joel Smallbone (from the Grammy-winning duo For King & Country), grossed $21.2 million at the global box office against a $6 million production budget.

The film debuted at No. 2 at the domestic box office during its opening weekend and remained in wide release for three weeks. Rebecca made a brief cameo as a flight attendant and contributed two songs to the soundtrack in collaboration with For King & Country. The film’s cast included Candace Cameron Bure, Lucas Black, and Jonathan Jackson.

The success of Unsung Hero represents a major financial milestone, likely providing Rebecca with film earnings through profit participation or producer credits, while significantly boosting demand for her speaking engagements and future entertainment projects.

Speaking Engagements and Ministry Work

Rebecca commands speaking fees between $10,000 and $20,000 per event, appearing at churches, women’s conferences, youth conventions, and faith-based gatherings nationwide. Her topics include music ministry, faith journey, family values, purity, and marriage, making her a sought-after speaker for religious conferences.

This income stream provides substantial diversified revenue while avoiding the financial liability of extensive touring. As a recognized voice in contemporary Christian music, she monetizes her expertise through ministry work rather than traditional concert tours, representing values-based wealth building.

Rebecca serves as a spokesperson for Compassion International and remains an outspoken advocate for the True Love Waits movement, sexual abstinence, and pro-life causes. Her advocacy work aligns with her personal brand and extends her influence beyond entertainment into ministry circles.

Published Books and Royalties

Rebecca has authored over a dozen books, primarily targeting young Christian women. Her bestselling title “Wait for Me: Rediscoring the Joy of Purity in Romance” (2002) sold more than 100,000 copies, expanding on her hit song’s message about relationships and purity.

Notable Published Works:

• Wait for Me (2002) – Bestseller on purity and relationships
• Pure (2008) – Practical guide on maintaining Christian values
• SHE: Safe, Healthy, Empowered (2004) – Biblical womanhood exploration
• Sister Freaks (2005) – Stories of radical faith
• 40 Days with God (2007) – Devotional guide
• What Is He Thinking? (2011) – Dating advice featuring male perspectives
• Lasting Ever (2025) – Co-authored with Cubbie Fink on faith, marriage, and family

Authors typically earn 10-15% royalties on book sales. With bestselling titles and an established platform, Rebecca’s book deals likely include favorable contract terms, providing steady royalty income alongside music earnings.

Film and Acting Career

Rebecca has appeared in nine faith-based films, adding another income stream through acting roles. While Christian films operate on smaller budgets than Hollywood productions, they generate revenue through DVD sales, streaming platforms, and Christian networks.

Film Roles:

• Sarah’s Choice (2009) – Lead role in pregnancy-decision drama
• A Strange Brand of Happy (2013) – Romantic comedy
• Faith of Our Fathers (2015) – Vietnam War-era drama
• Unidentified (2013) – Faith-based science fiction
• The Frontier Boys (2012) – Coming-of-age drama
• Unsung Hero (2024) – Cameo as flight attendant
• VeggieTales: An Easter Carol – Voice acting

These projects provide licensing fees, appearance charges, and residuals from film distributions, proving her appeal extends beyond the music stage.

For King & Country Family Connection

Rebecca’s brothers, Joel and Luke Smallbone, formed the Grammy-winning duo For King & Country in 2007. The siblings occasionally collaborate professionally, creating cross-promotional opportunities that benefit all their careers. The family’s musical accomplishments span multiple Grammy Awards and Dove Awards, establishing the Smallbones as a prominent family in Christian entertainment.

This family connection to other successful Christian artists provides music industry networks and collaborative opportunities that enhance her brand visibility and earning potential.

Revenue Breakdown and Income Sources

Rebecca’s $3 million net worth stems from multiple income streams:

• Music Royalties: Streaming platforms, radio play, digital downloads, and physical album sales generate ongoing passive income from nearly two million albums sold worldwide.
• Speaking Engagements: $10,000-$20,000 per event at churches, conferences, and youth gatherings provides substantial annual income.
• Book Royalties: Ongoing royalty payments from over a dozen published titles with bestsellers generating six-figure incomes over time.
• Film Projects: Acting fees, profit participation, and producer credits from faith-based films, particularly the $21.2 million success of Unsung Hero.
• Media Projects: Podcast work with Focus on the Family, creating additional income through sponsorships and partnerships.
• Merchandise Sales: Branded products sold at events and through her official website.

Rebecca’s $3 million net worth places her in the middle tier of contemporary Christian music artists. TobyMac has reported a net worths around $10 million, while emerging Christian artists typically earn significantly less. Her financial standing reflects steady career longevity within the Christian entertainment market rather than mainstream crossover success, demonstrating that faith-based content can create lasting career earnings and financial stability.

Lifestyle and Financial Priorities

Rebecca and Cubbie prioritize family, ministry, and creative projects over luxury spending. Their lifestyle reflects intentional living with a focus on homeschooling their children, quality family time, and creative exploration. They invest in experiences such as travel for tours and ministry gatherings rather than material goods, embodying spiritual and emotional gratification through religion-related causes and ministries.

This approach to wealth management emphasizes professional success aligned with spiritual devotion, proving that artists can maintain artistic integrity while building financial security in the faith-based entertainment industry.

Conclusion

Rebecca St. James built her $3 million net worth through strategic career diversification, consistent output in contemporary Christian music, and maintaining strong connections with her audience over 30 years. Her Grammy Award, multiple Dove Awards, RIAA Gold certifications, and recent film success demonstrate sustained relevance across multiple entertainment platforms.

Her story proves that authentic faith-based content can create substantial accumulated wealth and financial stability without requiring mainstream crossover or compromising values, setting a precedent for future Christian artists pursuing professional success within ministry-focused careers.