J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: January 8, 2025
What Is J. Cole’s Net Worth?
With a net worth of $60 million, J. Cole stands as an American hip-hop recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the inaugural artist signed to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and consistently ranks among the world’s highest-paid rappers, earning approximately $30 million in a typical year. In June 2023, he became a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets after Michael Jordan sold his share to a group that included both J. Cole and country music artist Eric Church.
He rose to fame as a rapper with his mixtape “The Come Up,” released in 2007. Following this, J. Cole continued to cultivate a loyal fan base through several mixtapes, ultimately attracting the attention of Jay-Z, leading to his signing with Roc Nation in 2009. In 2011, he made his debut with the studio album “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which garnered a number one debut on the Billboard 200 chart. Since then, he has launched five additional studio albums, each achieving a number one ranking on the Billboard 200. Celebrated for his introspective lyrics, compelling storytelling, and socially aware themes, J. Cole has emerged as one of the most revered and impactful rappers of his era, collaborating with various prominent artists and securing multiple Grammy nominations.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Cole founded Dreamville Records, a record label that has signed various successful artists. He is also active in philanthropy, notably with the Dreamville Foundation, which focuses on empowering youth through educational and community outreach initiatives.
Early Life
Born Jermaine Lamarr Cole on January 28, 1985, in Frankfurt, West Germany, J. Cole’s early life was shaped by his family’s circumstances. His father, a U.S. Army veteran, left the family when Cole was young, while his mother, Kay, worked as a postal employee. At just eight months old, Cole and his older brother, Zach, relocated to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where he began rapping at the age of 12. By 14, he had filled notebooks with rhymes but lacked the means to record them. His mother provided him with an 808 beat machine, enabling him to produce his own music. By 17, he started sharing his songs online under the pseudonym “Therapist.” Graduating high school with a 4.2 GPA, Cole moved to New York City on a scholarship to St. John’s University, completing his degree with a 3.8 GPA.
Career
Recognition came for Cole in 2007 with the launch of his debut mixtape, “The Come Up.” Following its release, he was approached by American rapper Jay-Z and subsequently signed to Roc Nation. In 2009, he unveiled his second mixtape, “The Warm Up,” and followed up with “Friday Night Lights” in 2010. The year 2011 saw Cole touring with Drake as a support act, and he released his debut studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which achieved number one status on the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, earning a quick Platinum certification. His second album, “Born Sinner,” came out in 2013, mirroring the success of its predecessor by reaching #1 across those charts as well.
The album “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” released in 2014, also topped the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, achieving Platinum status for both “Born Sinner” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” This latter album earned J. Cole his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Cole’s 2016 release, “4 Your Eyez Only,” also secured the number one spot across the aforementioned charts and was certified Platinum, while topping charts in Canada. In 2018, he released his fifth album, “KOD,” which marked his fifth consecutive album debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. On January 26, 2020, J. Cole earned his first Grammy award.
received the Award for Best Rap Song for his collaboration with 21 Savage on the track “A Lot.”
| J. Cole Career Earnings By Year: | |
| 2014 | $7 million |
| 2015 | $11 million |
| 2016 | $14 million |
| 2017 | $19 million |
| 2018 | $36 million |
| 2019 | $30 million |
| Total: | $117 million |
Some of Cole’s most successful singles feature “Work Out,” “Can’t Get Enough” (featuring Trey Songz), “Nobody’s Perfect” (featuring Missy Elliott), “Power Trip” (featuring Miguel), “Crooked Smile” (featuring TLC), “Deja Vu,” and “Neighbors.” He has been recognized with several BET Hip Hop Awards and has received multiple Grammy Award nominations. From June 2017 to June 2018, J. Cole earned $36 million. Key influences on his rapping style include Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, Eminem, Nas, and Andre 3000. Cole has expressed his belief that Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, and Jay Z are the greatest rappers of all time.
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Other Ventures
In addition to his successful career as a rapper, Cole is involved in music production. In early 2007, he co-founded his own record label called Dreamville Records with Ibrahim Hamad. Since its inception, Dreamville Records has released nine albums, three of which are certified Platinum. Cole has also produced tracks for various artists, including Janet Jackson and Kendrick Lamar, and holds a minor stake in Tidal.
Moreover, Cole founded a non-profit organization named The Dreamville Foundation in October 2011. This organization hosts a range of philanthropic initiatives for underserved youth, such as a supply drive for back-to-school and a book club tailored for young men. The Dreamville Foundation also organizes writing contests and career days. In a notable move, Cole bought back his childhood home, which had previously been repossessed from his mother, in 2014 for $120,000. His intention was to transform the home into rent-free accommodations for single mothers and their children. Additionally, he hosts the annual Dreamville Festival concert series, celebrating local music, culture, and food, featuring notable acts like Nelly, Big Sean, and 21 Savage, with proceeds going to the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy in Raleigh, NC, and The Dreamville Foundation.
In 2020, J. Cole revealed a multi-year partnership with PUMA to serve as an ambassador for their footwear and apparel line. That same year marked the launch of their collaborative shoe, the PUMA RS-Dreamer.
In 2022, J. Cole signed a deal with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. This followed his prior contract in 2021 with the Patriots Basketball Club from the Basketball Africa League, during which he scored five points and achieved three assists and five rebounds across 45 minutes of play over a three-game contract.
Controversies
Cole and DiddyAt the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in NYC, an altercation occurred involving several individuals. The incident was triggered when Diddy confronted Kendrick Lamar regarding a verse in one of his tracks and attempted to pour a drink over Lamar. Cole stepped in, leading to a scuffle between the two camps, which resulted in a minor brawl. Several months later, both Cole and Diddy publicly declared that their conflict had been resolved.
The songs “Everybody Dies” and “False Prophets” by Cole have sparked controversy within the hip-hop community, with many fellow rappers interpreting that he was targeting Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty. Additionally, there is a widespread belief in the hip-hop community that the first verse of “False Prophets” is aimed at Kanye West. Since April 2018, Cole was rumored to be feuding with rapper Lil Pump, but in May 2019, they sat down for an interview together to clear the air and to communicate to fans that they had reconciled their differences.
Personal Life
Cole is in a marriage with Melissa Heholt. They both attended St. John’s University, where she now serves as the Executive Director of the Dreamville Foundation. During a radio interview in May 2018, J. Cole shared that they are parents to a son, and in July 2019, he announced they were expecting another child.
J. Cole is a dual citizen of Germany and the United States.
J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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The data is based on insights from 2023 and 2024, with projections extending into 2025 and 2026. Furthermore, we provide forecast data for the years 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: J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: January 8, 2025