Kanye West reclaims title as wealthiest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z
Kanye West has reportedly regained his position as the wealthiest rapper alive, overtaking JAY-Z with a staggering net worth of $2.77 billion.
The revelation comes from business valuation firm Eton Venture Services, which attributes West’s financial resurgence to “his music portfolio and exclusive ownership of the Yeezy trademark.”
On Thursday, 23 January, the music and fashion icon shared the news via an Instagram post, writing, “LAA LA LA LA,” in what appeared to be a celebratory jab at his critics.
If the reported figures hold true, Kanye’s fortune surpasses that of JAY-Z, whose net worth currently stands at $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. The two titans, who once collaborated on the acclaimed Watch the Throne album, remain the only rappers to have crossed the billion-dollar mark. Earlier claims of Dr. Dre and Diddy joining the billionaires’ club have since been debunked.
Kanye West’s return to billionaire status comes after a turbulent period. In 2022, the rapper lost his billionaire standing when Adidas terminated their lucrative Yeezy partnership in the wake of his controversial antisemitic remarks. At the time, Forbes estimated that the partnership contributed $1.5 billion to his wealth, which was then valued at roughly $2 billion. Following the fallout, Kanye’s net worth plummeted to an estimated $400 million.
West later opened up about the financial strain he endured following the partnership’s collapse. Speaking to TMZ in 2024, he admitted, “I’m gonna be honest with y’all: I was two months from going bankrupt, really… And we survived. We survived through the cancellation.”
Despite the setback, Kanye retained ownership of the Yeezy brand, which he has since operated independently. The company’s recent success, including generating seven-figure sales within a single day of its latest clothing release, appears to have been instrumental in his financial rebound.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent is positioning himself as a potential contender in the billionaire ranks. The rapper and entrepreneur asserted last year that he is nearing billionaire status, bolstered by his thriving ventures in media and the spirits industry.
The fallout between Kanye and Adidas also proved costly for the German brand, which projected a loss of around $246 million in net income for 2022 following the severance. However, the split paved the way for West to take full control of the Yeezy brand, which has since demonstrated its resilience and profitability.