Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: November 30, 2024
What is Kanye West’s net worth?
An American producer, rapper, fashion designer, and entrepreneur, Kanye West has a net worth of $400 million. At one point, when he achieved multi-billionaire status, he ranked among the three wealthiest self-made Black individuals in U.S. history. Kanye rose to fame with his 2004 album The College Dropout and is currently one of the most successful and awarded musicians globally, boasting 24 Grammy wins from 75 nominations. Recently, he has shifted his focus from music to the business sector, earning over $100 million annually through various ventures. The bulk of his income has been derived from royalties and earnings tied to his Yeezy brand and partnership with Adidas. However, his candid opinions and controversies have led to the loss of numerous sponsors and partnerships in recent years.
Kanye holds complete ownership of the Yeezy apparel line, with a 100% stake. During his collaboration with Adidas, he received a royalty from every dollar of revenue generated, and the Yeezy brand was responsible for $2 billion in revenue and $250 million in profit for Adidas. At the height of his partnership, the value of Yeezy was estimated between $4 billion and $5 billion.
A UBS valuation in March 2021 indicated that Yeezy could contribute an additional $3-$4 billion to Kanye’s overall net worth, while his previous agreement with The Gap was reported to have added approximately $1 billion.
In mid-2021, when evaluating Kanye West’s net worth, we took into account the following assets and liabilities:
Assets:
- Real estate assets = $120 million
- Music catalogue including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
- Yeezy.com website = $100 million
- Value of Yeezy brand = $5 billion
- Value of Gap partnership = $1 billion
- Cash, equities and other assets = $400 million
Total assets = $6.7 billion
Liabilities and other considerations = $100 million
Net Worth = $6.6 billion
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was three, he relocated with his mother to Chicago, Illinois. It was there that he began to explore music, thanks to his mentorship under producer/DJ No I.D.
In 1997, he enrolled in the American Academy of Art but later shifted to Chicago State University to focus on English studies. Ultimately, at the age of 20, he left college to chase his music aspirations.
After his departure from academia, West started creating beats for local musicians while refining his unique sound. His inaugural official production credits emerged on the debut album of Chicago rapper Grave, Down to Earth, released in 1996. During this phase, he also collaborated with artists such as Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.
Rise to Fame and Music Career
In the year 2000, West’s career began to surge when he took on the role of producer at Roc-A-Fella Records, collaborating with talents like Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His contributions to Jay-Z’s 2001 album, The Blueprint, captured significant attention towards West as a notable producer. His production portfolio during this time showcased an impressive array of artists, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.
While enjoying success as a producer, West had aspirations of being a rapper. In 2001, he successfully persuaded the head of Capitol Records to sign him with Roc-A-Fella Records after being rejected by Capitol.
A life-altering car accident in October 2002, which left West with a shattered jaw, served as a pivotal moment for him. He recorded the track Through the Wire even with his jaw wired shut. This piece laid the groundwork for his debut album, The College Dropout, which unfortunately leaked months before its anticipated August 2003 release. West utilized this interval to remix, remaster, and finalize the album, resulting in three postponements of its launch. Ultimately, The College Dropout debuted in February 2004 to critical acclaim, earning him 10 Grammy Award nominations and achieving triple platinum status in the US.
As he commenced the development of his second album, West poured two million dollars into its production and even enlisted a live string orchestra. Released in August 2005, Late Registration sold more than 2.3 million copies in the United States by the end of that year. His following albums include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), the collaborative album with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), the collaboration with Kid Cudi named Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).
In 2013, West launched the album Yeezus, which soared to #1 on the Billboard 200 as well as on the US R&B and US Rap charts, and in four additional countries. His 2016 release, The Life of Pablo, also reached #1 on the Billboard 200 and reached #2 on both the US Rap and US R&B charts. West’s single “FourFiveSeconds,” featuring Rihanna and Paul McCartney, topped the US R&B chart. In 2017, he garnered six Grammy nominations. The album Ye followed in June 2018; however, it marked the first in Kanye’s career that did not achieve platinum status.
Beyond his own musical endeavors, West has remained active as a producer and a featured artist, collaborating with various musicians such as 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor. Other music initiatives he has embarked on include his weekly “Sunday Service” performances with the Sunday Service Choir, consistently held on Sundays since January 2019. He further teamed up with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft for two operatic pieces, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary.
Kanye West Earnings By Year: | |
Year | Earnings |
2007 | $17,000,000 |
2008 | $30,000,000 |
2009 | $25,000,000 |
2010 | $12,000,000 |
2011 | $16,000,000 |
2012 | $35,000,000 |
2013 | $20,000,000 |
2014 | $30,000,000 |
2015 | $22,000,000 |
2016 | $18,000,000 |
2017 | $22,000,000 |
2018 | $90,000,000 |
2019 | $100,000,000 |
2020 | $200,000,000 |
2021 | $100,000,000 |
2022 | $100,000,000 |
Total: | $637,000,000 |
Yeezy
For a long time, West has demonstrated a keen interest in the fashion industry and became the first non-athlete to secure a shoe deal with Nike through his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. He has also collaborated on footwear with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti. Moreover, he showcased two clothing lines during Paris Fashion Week in both 2011 and 2012.
In December 2013, the collaboration between Adidas and West was officially announced. The Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in “Light Brown” made its debut on February 14, 2015, available exclusively on the Adidas mobile app for New York City residents, where it sold out within just 10 minutes. By December 2017, a total of 19 colors and six designs had been launched as part of the Adidas and Yeezy sneaker collaboration. In 2015, West introduced Season 1 of his Yeezy clothing line with Adidas, quickly followed by Season 2 later that year and Season 3 in February 2016.
Due to the success of his initial releases, Adidas revealed a long-term contract with West in June 2016. On average, Kanye receives a royalty of 10% on net revenues from Adidas. He enjoys a higher royalty on merchandise sold through his own website, YeezySupply.com, compared to Adidas.com. His overall average royalty rate is approximately 10%.
It is important to highlight that as of now, Kanye fully owns the Yeezy apparel line, holding 100% of the ownership.
G.O.O.D Music
The record label and production company G.O.O.D Music, founded by Kanye in 2004 in collaboration with Sony BMG, stands for “getting out our dreams.” Signatories to the label feature artists such as West himself, John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.
Other Assets and Philanthropy
He also holds ownership of KW Foods LLC., which has rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain operating in Chicago. In January 2012, he announced the creation of DONDA, a creative content company named in honor of his late mother, Donda West. Additionally, West is a co-owner of the music streaming platform Tidal, along with fellow artists like Jay-Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, most of whom possess a 3% equity stake.
In terms of philanthropy, his efforts include the Kanye West Foundation, which supports educational initiatives for African American and Latino children, along with his contributions of time, talent, and financial support to organizations related to Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth, among others. Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Kanye donated $2 million, which was shared between the Floyd family and other victims of police brutality, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
Real Estate
In the United States, Kanye West possesses approximately $100 million in real estate assets, which includes land, buildings, and homes. Below is a summary of some of his most significant property transactions.
Kim and Kanye’s main home during their marriage was a vast estate located in Hidden Hills, California, a suburban area of Los Angeles. This estate is made up of several connected parcels, the first of which was purchased in 2014 for $23 million through two separate transactions. The initial version of their property featured a newly constructed mansion set on 4.5 acres. Over several years, the couple invested millions customizing, rearranging, and expanding their residence. In 2019, they further enlarged the estate with acquisitions of two adjacent properties, culminating in an impressive 7.5-acre estate. A staggering sum of $28.5 million has been spent solely on the real estate dealings to develop the Hidden Hills estate, not to mention tens of millions more for renovations. The current assessed value of this estate stands at over $60 million. By September 2021, Kim transferred $23 million to Kanye to officially take ownership of the property, with around $3 million allocated for the home’s interior furnishings.
In September 2021, Kanye acquired a beachfront residence in Malibu for $57.3 million. Designed by Tadao Ando, this home was constructed in 2013 for Wall Street tycoon Richard Sachs, who spent seven years acquiring permits and overseeing the building process. The final home, which covers 4,000 square feet, is comprised of 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, and features 12 pylons embedded 60 feet into the sand. Richard Sachs listed the home in 2020 for $75 million. Kanye never occupied the property and placed it on the market in December 2023 for $53 million. The listing agent noted that potential buyers should be prepared to invest “several million dollars” to render the house habitable due to Kanye’s incomplete construction projects. Below is a drone video preview of the Malibu mansion:
Additional real estate holdings consist of:
- A $16 million estate covering 320 acres on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, where his Sunday Services have been held and where he attempted to construct several dome-shaped buildings, but was halted by the LA County Building Commission due to permitting issues.
- A $15 million ranch known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch situated on 6,700 acres in Wyoming.
- A commercial property worth $2 million located in Cody, Wyoming.
- Kanye West has also restored his childhood home in Chicago, completing the work in 2023.
In late 2019, Kanye made an acquisition of an additional ranch in Wyoming called Monster Lake Ranch for $14 million. This ranch was sold in June 2024.
Personal Life
From 2002 to 2008, West had an intermittent relationship with designer Alexis Phifer. He was involved with model Amber Rose from 2008 to 2010. In April 2012, he started dating reality television star Kim Kardashian, and the couple wed in May 2014. They share four children but divorced in 2022. For a short time in 2022, Kanye was linked to actress/model Julia Fox.
Reports in January 2023 indicated that Kanye entered into an informal marriage with Australian architect Bianca Censori in a private ceremony held in Beverly Hills.
Kanye was granted the approval to change his legal name to “Ye” in October 2021.
Kanye West Net Worth 2019
Outlined below is the breakdown used to ascertain Kanye West’s net worth of $600 million in 2019:
Assets:
- Real estate assets = $120 million
- Music catalog including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
- Value of Yeezy brand = $500 million
- Other assets = $20 million
Total assets = $720 million
Liabilities and other considerations = $100 million
2019 Net Worth = $600 million (taking into account a conservative error margin of $20 million)
Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data presented here is from 2023 and 2024, with projections for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, the forecast data has been expanded to include 2027 and 2028.
* This information was taken from various sources around the world, including these countries:
Australia, Canada, USA, UK, UAE, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Indonesia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, US, United Kingdom, United States of America, Malaysia, U.S., South Africa, New Zealand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan.
Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi.
Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling Islands), Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia (Hrvatska), Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic.
Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, Metropolitan, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories.
Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy.
Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg.
Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar.
Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand (NZ), Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway.
Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe.
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Helena, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria.
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK (United Kingdom), USA (United States of America, U.S.), US Minor Outlying Islands.
Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State (Holy See), Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Post Title: Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: November 30, 2024