In the business world it is often said that you are only worth as much as your last deal. So how do you quantify the net worth of a rap mogul who made his living from music and other ventures? In this article, I take a look at Jay-Z’s net worth and evaluate the rapper’s myriad sources of income. Spoiler : He is one of the smartest investors in 2021 !

Jay-Z is one of the most famous and richest rappers in the world and also one of the richest individuals. Shawn Corey Carter went from drug dealer to rap superstar alongside his wife Beyoncé , but his business acumen doesn’t end with his rap talent.

Jay-Z has made a name for himself in the worlds of music, art and business. His keen financial acumen and connections have earned him a substantial fortune – around €864 million to be exact.

What is Jay-Z Net Worth?

Jay-Z’s net worth as of 2021 is €864 million.

How did Jay-Z make his millions? His 10 Best Sources of Income in Detail!

1. Music

Jay-Z’s massive music catalog was valued at over $100 million in 2014, and he’s made more money from album and single sales than most other artists: As of this year, Jay-Z owns both the mastering and publishing rights, according to Forbes on his recordings, so he benefits whenever his music is licensed for television or film use.

Jay-Z’s debut album Reasonable Doubt — which doesn’t include the big hits of his later work — alone is bringing him $100,000 a year; his entire works are expected to generate more than 5 million USD per year. In 2021, this income will be generated primarily through streaming.

2. Tours

Jay-Z has been a fixture in the touring business for years. In 2003, he embarked on his first solo tour and was the highest-earning hip-hop artist of the year with $16 million from 45 shows.

In 2013, Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail World Tour was also extremely lucrative: the tour, which opened for Justin Timberlake, grossed $48.03 million, making it one of the highest-grossing tours of the year despite only spanning 22 shows.

Jay-Z also made millions from his Watch The Throne Tour with Kanye West , which grossed more than $75 million at the North American box office alone — and an estimated $100 million worldwide — making it one of the highest-grossing tours of the year.

3. RocaWear

Jay-Z capitalized on his clothing brand RocaWear, which was sold to Iconix Brand Group in 2007 for $204 million. This brand was originally a clothing label that Jay-Z founded in 1999; by 2007, it generated annual sales of more than $700 million.

Iconix bought RocaWear and then four years later sold 70 percent of the brand to Dassem Management. Iconix will remain the owner until at least 2024.

4. Brooklyn Investments (NBA Team and Barclay Arena)

Jay-Z has also invested in real estate and a professional basketball sports team, the Brooklyn Nets. With his help, he helped bring a professional basketball team to Brooklyn — and he paid $500 million for the privilege.

He later sold half his shares in the team for an estimated $225 million in what is considered one of the most lucrative sports deals of all time. Jay-Z also owns an interest in Barclay’s Center – the arena where the Brooklyn Nets play their NBA games.

5. Roc Nation Sports Agency

Jay-Z is the face of Roc Nation Sports, a sports agency he founded in 2013. The company represents high-profile athletes such as NBA star Kevin Durant and Robinson Canó. It also manages players’ marketing deals with companies like Beats by Dre, which they can then use to launch their own brands – a strategy Jay-Z is very familiar with.

6. Real Estate

In 2018, Jay-Z and Beyoncé purchased a $26 million mansion in East Hampton, New York while also adopting twins Rumi and Sir. That same year, they spent $88 million on a home in Bel Air.

They also own a $6.8 million penthouse in New York City and a $2.6 million mansion in New Orleans, both worth around $7 million. With the investments, the couple’s assets are likely to have increased further.

7. Music Labels

Jay-Z has also made millions through his business ventures as a record publisher: he is a co-owner of more than 20 companies and co-founder of Roc Nation, which he co-founded with Live Nation and Interscope Records after leaving Def Jam Records. This includes record labels, artist management companies and more.

8. Other Business Activities

Jay-Z has also been involved with various other ventures including Armadale Vodka and Budweiser Select. He even has his own credit card – the Platinum Plus Mastercard with the black Jay-Z logo. The card is administered by Barclays, which has extended a $200 million line of credit to Jay-Z.

9. Tidal

One of Jay Z’s most well-known businesses is his music streaming service, Tidal. He bought the company in 2015 for $56 million and brought in a number of celebrities – including Madonna, Rihanna and Alicia Keys – as co-owners.

In April 2016, the platform reached its original goal of one million subscribers; currently there are more than three million.

10. Brand Deals

His endorsement deal with Budweiser in 2017 was worth an estimated $35 million to Jay-Z and earned him two platinum records for songs. In the past he has also worked with well-known companies such as Reebok, Coca-Cola and Cohiba.

What does Jay-Z spend his millions on?

He is an art collector of the extra class

The rap superstar is an art collector who appreciates the finer things in life. His collection, which also includes works by Jean-Michel Basquiat and Damien Hirst, is valued at around $70 million and contains pieces worth an estimated $4.5 million alone.

Jay-Z’s music career in detail

In 2015, Forbes ranked Jay-Z as the wealthiest hip-hop artist in the United States — and the second richest rapper of any genre. Many were surprised by this award, but it’s important to know that outside of the rap world, Jay-Z is a successful businessman. Jay-Z managed to make a career out of music because he was smart enough to start his own record label from the start.

Jay-Z’s beginnings as a rapper lie alongside fellow rapper The Notorious BIG, or Biggie Smalls as many have come to know him. After making his mark as an artist, Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records with a business partner. The company eventually struck a multi-million dollar distribution deal with Def Jam Recordings and began signing other rappers like Beanie Sigel and Memphis Bleek.

Jay-Z’s net worth is estimated at €864 million, with some sources claiming it could be even higher. While Jay-Z continues to invest in various companies, he’s also currently president of Def Jam Recordings — a position that earns him $15 million a year, according to Forbes. Accordingly, Jay-Z is one of the richest rappers in the world. Kanye West is estimated to have even more money than Jay-Z. However, this could change again in 2022.