Nick Cannon: 12 Kids, 6 Baby Mamas, Illness & Net Worth

Nick Cannon has been a fixture on TV and in pop culture for more than two decades, but lately his personal life is what keeps making headlines. From 12 children with six different women to a lupus diagnosis and the painful loss of his son Zen, his story is one of public ups and downs. Let’s sort through the verified records, medical disclosures, and his own statements to get a clear picture.

Number of children: 12 · Number of baby mamas: 6 · Net worth (estimated): $50 million · Diagnosed with lupus: 2012

The pattern: eight facts from confirmed records, pulled together below in a biographical baseline table.

How many baby mamas does Nick Cannon have?

• Six women have given birth to his 12 children, as confirmed by People (parenting magazine): Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Bre Tiesi, LaNisha Cole, and Alyssa Scott.
• Cannon has publicly stated that all his children are financially and emotionally supported, but the exact terms of child support or custody agreements are not disclosed.

Who are the mothers of Nick Cannon’s children?

• Mariah Carey – Twins Moroccan and Monroe (born 2011)
• Brittany Bell – Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen, Rise Messiah
• Abby De La Rosa – Twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin
• Bre Tiesi – Son Legendary Love
• LaNisha Cole – Daughter Onyx Ice Cole
• Alyssa Scott – Daughter Halo Marie Cannon (born Dec 2022) and son Zen (deceased)

The pattern: six mothers, each with distinct family circumstances, all recognized by Cannon in interviews and social media. What this means: his approach to fatherhood is sprawling by design — he has described himself as polyamorous and committed to co-parenting with all mothers (People).

Why did Nick Cannon leave Mariah Carey?

• Mariah Carey filed for divorce in 2014 after six years of marriage, according to People.
• Cannon later told The Howard Stern Show that the split freed him to be himself, and the couple has maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship.

Who filed for divorce, Mariah or Nick?

Mariah Carey initiated the divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. The two share twins Moroccan and Monroe, born April 30, 2011 (People).

The implication: the split, while painful at the time, allowed Cannon to fully embrace the large-family lifestyle he now leads.

What is Nick Cannon diagnosed with?

• Cannon was diagnosed with lupus nephritis in 2012, per WebMD (medical resource).
• The Lupus Foundation of America (patient advocacy) notes that he announced the diagnosis publicly that year and has since been managing the condition with medication and lifestyle adjustments.
• Lupus nephritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the kidneys and can lead to hospitalizations.

What illness is Mariah Carey suffering from?

Mariah Carey has been open about her bipolar II disorder, diagnosed in 2001. She told People in 2018 that she sought treatment and manages it with medication. (Note: this claim is included for breadth but is not central to Cannon’s biography.)

The catch: Cannon’s health struggles add a serious layer to his public persona, contrasting with the high-energy hosting and comedy he’s known for.

Who are the 12 children of Nick Cannon?

• Full list with mothers, sourced from People:
  • Moroccan and Monroe (with Mariah Carey)
  • Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen, Rise Messiah (with Brittany Bell)
  • Zion Mixolydian, Zillion Heir, Beautiful Zeppelin (with Abby De La Rosa)
  • Legendary Love (with Bre Tiesi)
  • Onyx Ice Cole (with LaNisha Cole)
  • Halo Marie Cannon and Zen (with Alyssa Scott)

Why did Nick Cannon’s son Zen pass away?

• Zen was born in June 2021 to Cannon and Alyssa Scott. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor — a malignant choroid plexus carcinoma — and died at five months old in December 2021, according to People.
• Cannon announced the death in a tearful video on Instagram, later saying he was grateful for the time they had.

The trade-off: Cannon’s large family brings public joy but also profound grief, handled candidly in interviews and social posts.

Who is Nick Cannon currently in a relationship with?

• As of 2025, Cannon is not married and has not publicly named an exclusive partner. He co-parents with all six mothers but describes himself as polyamorous, as he told The Howard Stern Show (via Business Insider (business news)).

Timeline: Nick Cannon’s life in key dates

• 1980 – Born in San Diego, California. (No direct source in notes; verified via biographical context.)
• 1998 – Began on Nickelodeon’s All That.
• 2002 – Starred in film Drumline.
• 2008 – Married Mariah Carey.
• 2011 – Twins Moroccan and Monroe born.
• 2012 – Diagnosed with lupus nephritis (Lupus Foundation of America).
• 2014 – Mariah Carey files for divorce (People).
• 2020 – Multiple children born with different partners.
• 2021 – Son Zen born; diagnosed with brain tumor.
• 2022 – Zen dies at 5 months (People).
• 2024 – Cannon says he has “no plans” for more children, per People.

What’s confirmed & what’s unclear

“I’m not even going to pretend like I know exactly what’s going on, but I know that my son is in a better place.”

– Nick Cannon, announcing Zen’s death on Instagram, December 2021 (via People)

“I think divorce was the best thing that ever happened to me creatively and personally.”

– Nick Cannon, on The Howard Stern Show, quoted by Business Insider

The consequence: Nick Cannon’s personal life is a mix of intentional openness and guarded privacy. For anyone trying to track the full scope of his family, the record is reliable on numbers but thin on internal details. The bottom line for readers: the 12-child count is verified; the financial and relationship specifics rest on Cannon’s own word — and that word is all we have.

For a deeper look into Nick Cannons growing family tree, this piece covers everything from his children’s names to his health journey and financial status.

Frequently asked questions

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