Even though the entertainment business seems like the place where billionaires are minute-made, it often is quite the opposite. Nevertheless, this Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter, has managed to become the first hip-hop artist and one of the few entertainers ever to become a billionaire, according to a recent Forbes magazine report.
Initial work
His music career is thought to begin in the late 1980s’ when he first appeared on MTV’s “Yo! MTV Raps”, and after that, he was working with his mentor Jaz-O, despite these seemingly large boosts for a young performer, he was not able to secure himself a record deal. Seeing this as an issue to be fixed he founded the Rock-A-Fella production company with his friends Damon Dash and Kareem Burke.
First success
After sealing a distribution deal in 1996 with record label Priority Records, he released his first album Reasonable Doubt, which gained a lot of critical acclaim from his peers, music experts, and simple fans, in the end landing the album a spot in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. Quickly after that, he became not only a world-renowned musician but also a fashion icon, trendsetter, and an overall example of how to become a success with hard work and talent.
Today his musical discography is worth more than $75 million and the number just keeps growing by the day as his music is being discovered by younger and younger audiences every day.
Not just a musician
Among his creative work, Jay-Z has other business ventures that have helped him secure his billionaire statuses, such as his champagne company Armand de Brignac ($310 million) and cognac D’Ussé in collaboration with Bacardi ($100 million), stakes in companies like Uber, JetSmart, Away and others ($220 million), music streaming service Tidal ($100 million), entertainment company Roc-Nation ($75 million), real estate worth millions of dollars all over the US and an extensive art collection worth approximately $70 million.
