Jay-Z’s Net Worth Only Continues to Grow

Let us tell you how Jay-Z became the second richest rapper in the world, with a net worth of more than $1 billion.

Jay-Z’s Net Worth Only Continues to Grow

Jay-Z is the epitome of a success story, and the 52-year-old rapper doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Not only did he produce the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show — an epic ode to old-school rap — but his Made in America Festival will also be back in its 10th year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in September 2022.

And he’s not just successful in producing music. He has several business ventures, including co-founding the venture capital firm, Marcy Venture Partners, and launching Tidal, a streaming platform that’s set out to compete with Spotify.

So, how did he attain his whopping $1.4 billion net worth? Let’s take a look.

Jay-Z: From Hard-Knock to Hard Cash

Jay-Z talks into microphone about net worth

Rapper Jay-Z was born Shawn Carter in Brooklyn, New York, back in 1969. He started out rapping in the 1980s and showed from the earliest days of his career that he had a mind and aspiration for the business side of hip hop music. Jay-Z co-founded Rock-A-Fella Records in 1995 and was the former CEO of Def Jam Recordings.

As with certain rappers of the gangsta rap era, Jay-Z did have his run-ins with the law, including a stabbing charge in 1999 for which he pled guilty and served out his three-year probation. Jay-Z vowed never to risk his future and fortune again, and instead focused on expanding his business and wealth.

Marrying Beyonce

Odds are, had Jay-Z not turned over a new leaf, he would not have been in the position to meet and marry the love of his life, the beautiful and talented Beyonce Knowles-Carter. Considered by many to be the power couple of the music industry, their partnership is one of conscientious success and philanthropy.

Even without his wife, Jay-Z has spent years making the sort of business decisions that helped make him the first rapper to hit the billion-dollar mark.

His Most Notable Investments

Jay-Z has had a stunning array of smart investment choices over the years. In fact, it is believed the New York rapper has had more than 100 various investments. In the past, Jay-Z was a partial owner of the NBA team, the Brooklyn Nets, from 2003 until 2013. Other investments include Epic Games and Savage X Fenty.

One of his biggest money moves was the decision to found and set up the Tidal streaming service. Its goal was to ensure that artists could earn considerably more money for their streamed singles than what was getting offered by rivals at Spotify and Apple. He’s since sold the company to Jack Dorsey’s Square Inc., but the rapper is still heavily involved.

Bel Air Mansion: $88 Million

Jay-Z and Beyonce own a lavish mansion in Los Angeles’ Bel Air neighborhood, with eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms. The colossal complex reportedly comes with a 15-car garage, bullet-proof windows and four swimming pools, among a host of upscale amenities.

Though the rapper and pop diva forked over many millions upfront for the home, this piece of real estate continues to cost them a whopping $1 million per year in taxes.

What’s Next for Jay-Z?

Jay-Z has his sights set on a partial stake in the Washington Football Team. If he’s successful, he would become the first black owner in the NFL.

On the music side, despite previous attempts to retire, Jay-Z can’t stay away from the rap game; he continues to release new music periodically. Most recently, he released “Neck & Wrist,” a collaboration with Pharrell Williams and Pusha-T.

New music and business ventures await Jay-Z, and he might retake the crown of “the richest rapper” from his former associate, Kanye West, who sits at No. 1 on this list.