Jay-Z Net Worth: How Hip-Hop’s Top Investor Built a $2.5B Empire?

Shawn Corey Carter, professionally known as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record executive, and businessman. He’s currently the richest artist in the music industry, with a net worth that exceeds $2.5 billion.

Jay Z won his first Grammy in 1998

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Jay-Z has won numerous awards for his work, including 25 Grammy Awards, 6 Primetime Emmy Awards, and a NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) President’s Award. He’s also the first solo living rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the first rapper in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Outside of music, Jay-Z runs businesses in fashion, entertainment, real estate, and luxury spirits. He co-founded Rocawear, a successful clothing line that became a staple in urban fashion, and has major investments in Armand de Brignac champagne, D’Ussé cognac, and Uber.

In this article, we’ll give you a full breakdown of Jay-Z’s net worth and his various income sources, from music to business.

What Is Jay-Z’s Net Worth? 

As of 2025, Jay-Z has a net worth of $2.5 billion. He’s considered the wealthiest music artist in the world, with a net worth exceeding that of Taylor Swift ($1.6 billion), Bruce Springsteen ($1.2 billion), and Rihanna ($1 billion).

A good portion of Jay-Z’s net worth comes from his impressive career as a rapper, singer, and songwriter. He has sold over 170 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

Jay-Z’s discography includes 13 solo studio albums, all of which have achieved platinum or higher status, and several collaborative projects, such as Watch the Throne (2014) with Kanye West and Everything Is Love (2018) with Beyoncé. Jay-Z also holds the record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200, with 14 chart-topping releases.

That said, Jay-Z’s net worth doesn’t only come from his music career. In fact, he has earned more from his business ventures and investments than from album sales and touring.

His investment portfolio (which includes Armand de Brignac champagne, D’Ussé cognac, and Uber) is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, and his entertainment company Roc Nation has become a global powerhouse in music, sports, and media.

Here’s a look at Jay-Z’s net worth from 2020 to 2025, according to Forbes:

• 2020: $1 billion
• 2021: $1.4 billion
• 2022: $1.4 billion
• 2023: $2.5 billion
• 2024: $2.5 billion
• 2025: $2.5 billion

Music Career 

Jay-Z has broken several records during his music career. He holds the record for the most Billboard 200 number-one albums by a solo artist (14), has the second-most Grammy nominations (88 nominations, just after Beyoncé’s 99 nominations), and is the rapper with the most Grammy Awards (25 awards).

He has sold over 12 million physical copies and 170 million digital songs, with “The Blueprint 3” (2009) selling upwards of 15 million copies alone.

Music Collaborations 

Jay-Z has collaborated with dozens of famous artists during his career.

His 1999 song “Heartbreaker” with Mariah Carey earned him his first chart-topping song in the United States.

Three years later, he collaborated with R. Kelly in the album The Best of Both Worlds (2004), which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and sold 223,000 copies in its first week of release.

That same year, he collaborated with Linkin Park on “Collision Course,” featuring the Grammy-winning hit “Numb/Encore.”

Jay-Z has also frequently worked with his wife Beyoncé on hits like “Crazy in Love,” “Drunk in Love,” and “Upgrade.”

Here’s a list of the most high-profile musicians Jay-Z has worked with:

• Rihanna
• Kanye West
• Alicia Keys
• Justin Timberlake
• Pharrell Williams
• Swizz Beatz
• Lupe Fiasco
• Nas
• Lil Wayne
• Frank Ocean

Royalties and Music Streams 

Jay-Z earns a sizable income from royalties and music streaming platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Music.

The rapper has 4 million subscribers on YouTube and has amassed 2.8 billion views since the channel’s creation in 2006. His most popular music videos include “Song Cry,” with 122 million views, “The Story of O.J.,” with 161 million views, and “Empire State of Mind” (ft. Alicia Keys) with 392 million views.

YouTube pays its artists between $0.003 and $0.005 per view, meaning that Jay-Z’s YouTube revenue falls between $8.4 million and $14 million.

On Spotify, Jay-Z’s music has a total of 21.7 billion streams. His most listened-to songs include “Crazy In Love” (ft. Jay-Z) with 1.6 billion streams, “Ni**as In Paris” with 1.6 billion streams, and “Umbrella” with 1.9 billion streams.

Spotify pays its artists about the same amount as YouTube ($0.003 and $0.005 per stream), so the rapper earned between $65 million and $108 million from the platform.

Business Ventures 

Here are some of Jay-Z’s most lucrative business ventures:

Roc Nation

Jay-Z is the founder of the multimillion-dollar entertainment company Roc Nation.

Roc Nation has signed some of the biggest names in the industry, including artists like Rihanna, DJ Khaled, Alicia Keys, Shakira, and Jay Park, as well as athletes like NBA player LeMelo Ball, NFL quarterback Kyler Murray, and WNBA point guard Skylar Diggins.

The company generates an estimated annual revenue of around $287 million and has a valuation of over $140 million.

In 2017, the company signed a $200 million touring deal with Live Nation. The company also secured a $25 million, five-year deal in 2023 with the NFL to produce Super Bowl Halftime Shows.

Armand de Brignac and D’Ussé Cognac 

Jay-Z has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the liquor industry, specifically Armand de Brignac and D’Ussé Cognac.

Jay-Z acquired full ownership of Armand de Brignac in 2014 for $200 million. The brand’s products range from $350 to upwards of $950, with rare editions like 30-liter Midas bottles fetching over $100,000 each.

In 2021, Jay-Z sold a 50% stake to LVMH’s Moët Hennessy, the world’s leading luxury conglomerate. According to Forbes, the deal was valued at $300 million.

Jay-Z also co-founded D’Ussé Cognac in 2012 with Bacardi. Following a legal dispute over valuation and management, Jay Z decided to sell 25% of his stake to Bucardi for $750 million, granting Bucardi 75% ownership.

Today, D’Ussé Cognac has a valuation of approximately $3 billion.

Fashion Brand Rocawear 

In 1997, Jay-Z co-founded the clothing brand Rocawear with Damon Dash and Kareem “Biggs” Burke.

At its peak, the clothing brand was generating annual sales of over $700 million, making it one of the most well-known urban fashion brands of the early 2000s.

In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to Rocawear to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million but kept a stake in the company. He currently plays a role in overseeing the brand’s marketing, licensing, and product development.

As of 2025, Rocawear earns an estimated annual revenue of around $15 million.

40/40 Club 

In 2003, Jay-Z opened an upscale sports bar in New York called 40/40 Club alongside his business partner, Juan Perez. The club featured luxury decor, sports memorabilia, and exclusive events with artists like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Lil Uzi, and Jay-Z himself.

 

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The NYC bar was an instant hit. Just two years after its opening, Jay-Z opened branches in Brooklyn’s Barclays Center Arena, the Atlanta airport, and Las Vegas.

The 40/40 club hosted numerous high-profile events over the years, including presidential fundraisers and album release parties.

In 2011, the NYC club underwent a $10 million renovation to modernize the space and attract new clientele. At the time, the club generated around $5 million in annual profits, with estimates later increasing to $10 million.

In 2023, the New York location closed its doors. The exact reason for the closure is unknown, but many assume that it was partly because Jay-Z plans to relocate the club to a new venue in New York City.

Music Streaming Platform Tidal 

Tidal is a music streaming service launched in 2014 by the Norwegian-Swedish company Aspiro. The company was acquired by Jay-Z in 2015 for $56 million through his company Project Panther Ltd. Jay-Z brought on several high-profile musicians as co-owners and stakeholders, including Beyoncé, Madonna, Rihanna, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys.

In 2017, the Sprint Corporation bought a 33% stake in Tidal for $200. Then, in 2021, the financial tech Square (now Block Inc.) purchased a major stake for $297 million. As of 2017, Tidal’s valuation stands at $600 million. We couldn’t find the company’s value in 2025, but it has likely reached the $1 billion mark.

Currently, Tidal has over 110 million songs and music videos in its catalogue. The service also offers exclusive content, like live performance streams, documentaries, never-before-seen artist interviews, and ticket presales for members.

Uber and Other Investments 

Jay-Z’s $70 million stake in Uber is a notable example of his early and successful venture into tech investments.

In 2011, he purchased a $2 million stake in Uber during its Series B funding round. Back then, the company was valued at approximately $300 million.

By 2019, Jay-Z’s investment had appreciated to an estimated $70 million, making a 35-fold increase. Today, Uber has a valuation of over $190 billion.

Other than Uber, Jay-Z has made millions from investments in Julep (beauty brand), JetSmarter (mobile application for private jet users), and Away (premium luggage company).

Movies and TV Shows 

Jay-Z has appeared in several movies and TV shows. He was featured in the crime action film “State Property” and its sequel, where he played a supporting role alongside Roc-A-Fella Records artists. He also appeared in the film “The Great Gatsby” (2013).

Additionally, he played himself in music-related videos and documentaries, such as Beyoncé’s “Black Is King” and “Homecoming.”

Jay-Z also served as a producer in several well-known films and TV series. This includes “The Great Gatsby” (2013), “Annie” (2014), and “Time: The Kalief Browder Story” (2017).

More recently, he produced the 2021 all-black Western movie “The Harder They Fall,” which was released on Netflix. The film reportedly cost $90 million to make.

Art Collection 

Jay-Z’s art collection is valued at approximately $70 million, making him among the world’s Top 200 art collectors.

His collection includes works by well-known artists such as Andy Warhol, Richard Prince, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Damien Hirst, and Laurie Simmons.

One of Jay-Z’s most valuable pieces is Basquiat’s “Mecca,” purchased for $4.5 million in 2013 and now valued at over $20 million.

Car Collection 

Jay-Z has an impressive $35 million car collection. Among them include:

• Corvette C1 (1957): 125,000
• Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet: $150,000
• Ferrari F430 Spider: $190,000
• Bentley Continental GT: $200,000
• Rolls-Royce Phantom: $400,000
• Maybach 57S: $416,000
• Maybach 62S: $470,000
• Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren: $500,000
• Dartz Prombron: $1.1 million
• Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport: $1.4 million
• Pagani Zonda F: $1.4 million
• Maybach Exelero: $8 million
• Rolls-Royce Boat Tail: $28 million

Watch Collection 

Jay-Z has been an avid watch collector since the 90s and has been credited with bringing certain brands to the mainstream. Here are some of Jay-Z’s most expensive watches:

• Richard Mille RM001: $2.3 million
• Richard Mille RM056 “The Blueprint”: $5.5 million
• Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime: $6 million
• Patek Philippe Sky Moon Celestial: $400,000
• Patek Philippe Nautilus: $1.5 million
• Richard Mille RM056 Green Sapphire Tourbillon: $5.5 million
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Openworked: $330,000
• Audemars Piguet Royal Oak with a Yves Klein Blue “Aubergine”: $375,000
• Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman Panda”: $2 million
• Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Split Seconds Chronograph: $470,000
• Richard Mille RM047 Tourbillon “Samurai”: $1.6 million
• Patek Philippe Piece Unique: $3.6 million
• Patek Philippe Grand Complications Sky Moon Tourbillon: $5.3 million
• Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph: $1.2 million

In total, Jay-Z’s watch collection is worth over $37 million. If Jay-Z decides to sell one of his watches, its value will likely double or even triple in price at the auction for the mere reason that he used to own it.

Real Estate

Jay-Z owns several multimillion-dollar properties across the world.

Jay-Z’s most expensive property is a 40,000-square-foot mansion in Malibu, California, which he and his wife Beyoncé purchased for a staggering $200 million. It’s the second-most expensive home sale in US history, just after the 2019 sale of a $238 million penthouse by Ken Griffin.

Jay-Z and his wife Beyoncé’s Malibu Estate is worth $200 million

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In 2015, Jay-Z purchased a 13,000-square-foot mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, for $2.5 million.

Two years later, he bought a 12,000-square-foot estate on 5.5 acres of land for $26 million. That same year, he and Beyoncé bought a 30,000-square-foot mansion in Bel Air, Los Angeles, for $88 million. The estate features eight bedrooms, six interconnected buildings, four outdoor pools, a spa, a wellness center, and bulletproof windows.

Outside the United States, the couple owns a $4 million island in the Bahamas and a 58-acre estate in the Cotswolds District, Gloucestershire, which they bought for £8.5 million (around $11.4 million).

In total, Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s real estate properties add up to at least $350 million—and those are just the properties that can be found online. Jay-Z likely has several other properties listed under his name across the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Does Jay-Z still make music? 

Jay-Z mostly spends his time managing his businesses and investment portfolio. His last solo album was “4:44” released in 2017, followed by the collaborative album with Beyoncé, “EVERYTHING IS LOVE” in 2018.

That said, there have been rumors suggesting that Jay-Z is working on new music as of 2025. Longtime collaborator Memphis Bleek and producer The Alchemist have both implied that Jay-Z is in the studio, possibly preparing to release new material. However, no official album or release date has been confirmed.

Does Jay-Z own a sports team? 

Jay-Z previously owned a small stake in the Brooklyn Nets and helped bring the team to Brooklyn, but sold his share in 2013 to focus on his sports agency, Roc Nation Sports.

Does Jay-Z donate to charity? 

Yes, Jay-Z regularly donates to charity. He has donated millions to disaster relief efforts, including a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he donated a similar amount for the pandemic relief.

Additionally, he co-founded the Shawn Carter Foundation in 2003 with his mother, which provides scholarships and educational support to disadvantaged youth.

In 2025, the foundation raised $20 million at its 20th-anniversary gala.

Does Jay-Z invest in cryptocurrency? 

Yes, Jay-Z invests in cryptocurrencies, specifically Bitcoin.

In 2021, Jay-Z invested in a Bitcoin endowment fund created in partnership with Jack Dorsey (founder of Twitter and Square/Block), called ₿trust. The duo invested roughly 500 Bitcoins into the fund, worth approximately $23.6 million at the time of its creation.