50 Cent Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is 50 Cent’s net worth?

With a net worth of $40 million, 50 Cent, an American rapper, producer, actor, and entrepreneur, rose to fame in the early 2000s. His debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’”, propelled him to global recognition, achieving multiple platinum certifications and producing hits such as “In Da Club.” He also found substantial success with subsequent albums like “The Massacre.” Famed for his unique style that merges aggressive lyrics with catchy melodies, 50 Cent has sold millions of albums around the globe. His impact is felt beyond just music, as he has made significant advancements in business, particularly through investing in Vitamin Water, which netted him a considerable profit upon its sale to Coca-Cola. Furthermore, 50 Cent has successfully transitioned into film and television, both in acting and producing roles, with his semi-autobiographical series “Power” becoming a major success, leading to several spin-offs.

Throughout his career so far, he has accumulated earnings between $200-300 million from diverse avenues such as record sales, touring, and various brand partnerships. However, his lavish spending (especially on real estate, automobiles, and legal fees) resulted in him filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2015. More details on that filing will be provided later in this article. At his peak, just prior to the bankruptcy, 50 Cent’s net worth exceeded $100 million.

Early Life

Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, in Queens, New York City, 50 Cent grew up in the South Jamaica neighborhood with his mother, Sabrina, a drug dealer, who passed away when he was just eight. After her death, he was raised by his grandmother. At the age of 12, he began selling narcotics after school. In 10th grade, metal detectors at his high school led to his arrest after he attempted to bring guns and drug money onto the premises. He faced another arrest in 1994 for selling cocaine to an undercover officer and was arrested once more when police discovered heroin, crack cocaine, and a firearm in his home. He served six months in a boot camp, where he also earned his GED.

Early Career and Shooting

Jackson garnered attention after dropping the controversial underground rap single “How To Rob.” In May 2000, as he prepared to release “Thug Love,” a collaboration with Destiny’s Child, he was shot and subsequently hospitalized. The attack occurred outside his grandmother’s house in Queens when a gunman fired nine shots, hitting 50 Cent in his hand, arm, hip, both legs, chest, and left cheek. The alleged assailant, Darryl Baum, who was Mike Tyson’s bodyguard, was killed three weeks post-attack. Following a hospital stay of 13 days, Jackson signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records, but was later dropped after attempting to release the song “Ghetto Qu’ran.” He was also placed on the recording industry’s blacklist in the United States, prompting him to head to Canada to record mixtapes for popularity. In 2002, he introduced the mixtape “Guess Who’s Back?”.

Rise to Fame

In 2002, Eminem discovered Jackson. Impressed by “Guess Who’s Back?”, Eminem invited Jackson to Los Angeles…

meeting Dr. Dre. After signing a $1 million record deal, 50 Cent released “No Mercy, No Fear.” The soundtrack of Eminem’s film “8 Mile” included a song by 50 Cent. His enormous popularity soared in 2003 with the release of his debut album “Get Rich or Die Trying.” This album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and nearly sold a million copies within the first four days. In a record-setting week, the lead single, “In Da Club,” became the most-listened-to song in radio history. Soon after, Interscope granted 50 Cent his own label, G-Unit Records. In March 2005, he released his next album, “The Massacre,” which also proved to be a tremendous success, selling 1.14 million copies in just four days and maintaining the number-one position on the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks. His third album, “Curtis,” was released in 2007 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The fourth album, “Before I Self Destruct,” came out in November 2009. Delays caused by disputes with his record label pushed the release of his fifth album, “Street King Immortal,” to November 2012. To date, over 21 million units of his studio albums have been sold.

Other Pursuits

During his relatively brief time in the limelight, 50 Cent established the label G-Unit Records, launched the G-Unit clothing line, and appeared in numerous films alongside icons such as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. In 2012, he also created a boxing promotion company known as The Money Team.

Bankruptcy Filing

On July 13, 2015, the Wall Street Journal announced that 50 Cent had filed for Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy protection. This filing took place in the US bankruptcy court of Hartford, Connecticut, as he was a Connecticut resident at that time.

At the time of filing, 50 was residing in Mike Tyson’s former mansion located at 50 Poplar Hill Dr, Farmington, CT 06032. Reportedly, 50 Cent’s assets were valued between $10 million and $50 million, with debts claimed in equal amounts.

Days prior to the filing, a jury had mandated that 50 pay $5 million to Rick Ross’ ex-girlfriend, Lavonia Leviston, for the intentional release of a sex tape featuring her. This judgment included $2.5 million for unauthorized use of her image and an additional $2.5 million for emotional distress. The presiding judge ordered Mr. Jackson to provide proof of income and net worth for the jury’s evaluation of potential punitive damages.

A year before this, another judge had ordered 50 to pay $17.5 million in damages stemming from a trademark infringement case involving a former partner in a headphone business. Cumulatively, he faced $22.5 million in possible legal judgments before punitive damages from the sex tape case were even considered.

The bankruptcy filing can be seen as a strategic maneuver for three key reasons:

• #1) To shield his business operations from disruption by the judgment creditor (Lavonia Leviston) and to prevent liens on his assets.
• #2) To compel the creditor to negotiate a reduction of the $5 million judgment.
• #3) To avert the disruption of his business and financial stability.

the result of their relationship, and he has often been in the public eye due to their complicated relationship dynamics.

Later, he provided some insight:

“When you achieve success, it puts a target on your back. I want to avoid being a bullseye. I don’t want anyone to choose me as the person they throw astronomical claims at and navigate through all that. I’m ensuring I take the necessary precautions, just like any prudent business person would in this scenario.“

Subsequently, his attorney added:

“This filing allows Mr. Jackson to maintain his engagement with various business pursuits and continue his career as an entertainer while he seeks to reorganize his financial matters in a structured way.”

Vitamin Water Deal

One of 50 Cent’s smartest financial moves took place when he negotiated a minority share in Vitamin Water after serving as their celebrity spokesperson and endorsing the “Formula 50” beverage.

In 2007, Coca-Cola acquired Glacéau, the producer of Vitamin Water, for $4.1 billion. It is commonly believed that 50 Cent profited around ten times more from the Vitamin Water transaction than he had earned from his music career up to that time.

Originally, it was reported that 50 held a 10% equity stake in Vitamin Water, potentially leading to a pre-tax windfall of $410 million. However, investment bankers familiar with the agreement later suggested that his actual stake was closer to 2.5%. With a 2.5% interest, 50 Cent would have earned between $100-$150 million from the sale (before taxes).

Earnings By Year

2007: $32 million

2008: $150 million

2009: $20 million

2010: $8 million

2011: $6 million

2012: $7 million

2013: $7 million

2014: $8 million

2015: $4 million

2016: $6 million

2017: $5 million

2018: $4 million

2019: $4 million

Total: $261 million

Effen Vodka Deal

In July 2017, reports emerged that 50 Cent sold his minority stake in Effen Vodka for $60 million, although this has not been confirmed. He took to Instagram to acknowledge the sale but did not explicitly verify the $60 million figure, which originated from DJ Envy on The Breakfast Club radio show. Envy mentioned the number without providing any sources or confirmation. It’s possible that 50 may have provided this figure, suggesting it could be authentic, though it might also be an exaggeration. We await more official confirmation, which is why this figure is not included in 50’s net worth outlined above.

Starz Deal

In October 2018, 50 Cent entered a four-year overall agreement with Starz, the network that airs his drama series “Power.” This deal includes a commitment to three series and could ultimately be valued at $150 million if all conditions are met.

Personal Life

50 Cent has a son named Marquise Jackson with his former girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins, and their relationship has often attracted media attention due to its complexities.

born in October 1996. Jackson was later sued by Tompkins for $50 million, though the case was dismissed. The two have frequently clashed on social media.

In 2005, 50 supported President George W. Bush after Kanye West criticized him for a delayed response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Jackson later endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. Despite the references in many of his songs, Jackson does not consume drugs or alcohol.

In May 2016, while at Cincinnati International Airport, Jackson confronted a janitor and insulted him, accusing him of being under the influence. It was revealed that the janitor was an autistic and hearing-impaired teenager. The video of the incident went viral, prompting the teenager’s parents to consider legal action against 50 Cent. Ultimately, they reached a settlement with a $100,000 donation from 50 Cent to Autism Speaks and an apology.

Connecticut Mansion

In 2003, 50 Cent acquired a 17-acre estate in Connecticut, which boasts a 50,000-square-foot mansion containing 21 bedrooms, 37 bathrooms, a gym, a casino, and a nightclub. This property was previously owned by Mike Tyson. At the time of the sale, Mike was not only undergoing a divorce but had also filed for bankruptcy. Tyson was mandated to transfer the mansion to his ex-wife, Monica Turner. Following this, Turner sold the estate to 50 Cent for $4.1 million and subsequently invested an extra $6 million on renovations, such as constructing a private movie theater, an infinity pool, and a helicopter pad.

During his bankruptcy proceedings in 2015, it was revealed by 50’s lawyers that the maintenance and financing of the house typically amounted to around $72,000 monthly, with utilities costing $18,000 alone.

50 Cent initially attempted to sell the mansion in 2007 for $18.5 million, but was unsuccessful. He continued trying to sell it over the years without success, eventually lowering the price to $4.995 million in September 2018, still without any buyers. In April 2019, he finally sold the mansion for $2.9 million, marking an 84% reduction from his original asking price and a $1.2 million loss compared to his purchase price.