Kanye West is said to have reclaimed his spot among rap’s billionaire elite, overtaking JAY-Z as the wealthiest rapper alive.
On Thursday (January 23), the acclaimed musician and fashion trailblazer shared an Instagram post announcing his reported $2.77 billion net worth, citing data from the business valuation firm Eton Venture Services. “LAA LA LA LA,” he wrote in the caption, seemingly relishing a moment of triumph over his critics. According to Eton Venture Services, Kanye’s financial resurgence is attributed to “his music portfolio and exclusive ownership of the Yeezy trademark.”
If Kanye West’s fortune has indeed climbed to $2.77 billion, he would surpass his former collaborator and friend, JAY-Z, whose net worth stands at $2.5 billion, according to Forbes. The two icons, who formed the legendary Watch the Throne duo, remain the only rappers to have crossed the billion-dollar threshold. Earlier claims that Dr. Dre and Diddy had achieved similar financial feats have since been invalidated.
50 Cent seems to be closing in on Ye and Hov, asserting last year that he’s on the brink of reaching billionaire status, fueled by his expanding media and spirits ventures.
In 2022, Ye lost his billionaire status after Adidas severed ties with him, ending their profitable Yeezy collaboration due to his string of antisemitic comments. At the time, Forbes estimated that his partnership with the German brand contributed $1.5 billion to his wealth, which was then valued at roughly $2 billion. Following the fallout, his net worth plummeted, leaving him with an estimated $400 million.
The music mogul later confessed that the end of his partnership with Adidas plunged him into severe financial hardship. He stated to TMZ in 2024: “I’m gonna be honest with y’all: I was two months from going bankrupt, really… And we survived. We survived through the cancellation.”
Adidas faced significant financial strain after severing ties with Kanye, projecting a loss of around $246 million in net income for 2022. Meanwhile, West maintained ownership of the Yeezy brand, which he has since taken independent. The company seems to have recovered, raking in seven-figure sales within just one day of its most recent clothing release.
