When Jay-Z (born Shawn Corey Carter) said, "I'm Not A Businessman, I'm A Business, Man," he was not playing. After becoming Hip Hop's first billionaire in 2019, the Brooklyn mogul, 53, has now reached a new level, as his current net worth is estimated at $2.5 billion, reports Forbes. This makes him the richest rapper alive.
He is now listed as the 1,210th most-wealthiest person in the world following the sale of his controlling interest in D’Usse to Bacardi, the brand’s parent company, for a reported $750 million.
Although he has not released an official album since 2018's Everything Is Love, a collaboration with wife Beyoncé, the entertainer's wealth is generated in numerous ways with his diverse business empire. His investments in Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Usse cognac are valued at over $400 million, he boasts high-end real estate assets in New York and Los Angeles, large cash investments, and his legendary music catalog continues to grow in value.
“Even in a year without a tour or album release, Jay-Z mints millions from his Armand de Brignac champagne and D'Ussé cognac,” the Forbes report stated. “The Brooklyn-born rapper was crowned hip-hop’s first billionaire by Forbes in 2019, thanks to a sprawling and diversified empire.”
Roc Nation, his entertainment company, has seen tremendous growth and the sale of the streaming service Tidal caused his net worth to skyrocket to $1.4 billion last year. An ardent art collector, his collection includes works by Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Additionally, Marcy Venture Partners, Jay-Z’s investment firm, invested $16.5M in Stellar Pizza, a pizza delivery chain powered by robots and has raised almost $90 Million since its inception.
Back in October, the rapper filed a lawsuit against Bacardi over the brand’s lack of financial transparency in their partnership with D’Usse after he was offered $500 million for his stake. He was seeking $1.5 billion in the sale.
