Eazy-E Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Was Eazy-E’s Net Worth?

An American rapper and record executive, Eazy-E was part of the hip-hop group N.W.A. By the time he passed away in 1995, his net worth was estimated to be $8 million.

Eazy-E’s Wealth

Some reports suggest that Eazy-E’s wealth may have peaked at about $35 million during his lifetime. This figure could have been accurate during N.W.A.’s peak success, when Ruthless Records was generating around $10 million each month through record sales. Unfortunately, due to extravagant spending and poor financial decisions, Eazy’s wealth diminished as he approached the end of his life. He purchased a Calabasas, California mansion for $1.1 million in 1991, which was inherited by his wife, Tomica, after his death. Sadly, the property fell into foreclosure merely nine months later.

Early Life

Born Eric Wright on September 7, 1963, in Compton, California, he was the son of Richard and Kathie Wright. His father worked as a postal employee, while his mother was a grade school administrator. Wright left high school after the tenth grade but eventually earned his GED. He primarily supported himself through drug dealing, amassing an estimated $250,000 by the age of 23. However, following the tragic shooting of his cousin, he opted to pursue a career in the flourishing Los Angeles hip-hop scene.

Career

In search of a better future, he entered the music industry, quickly rising to prominence. He began recording music in his parents’ garage during the mid-1980s and established Ruthless Records. By 1987, he became part of the group N.W.A., alongside Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, DJ Yella, MC Ren, and Arabian Prince. The formation of N.W.A. occurred when Ruthless Records artists Dr. Dre and Ice Cube penned “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” Their compilation album, “N.W.A. and the Posse,” was released on November 6, 1987, achieving Gold certification in the US. Eazy-E’s debut record, “Eazy-Duz-It,” came out on September 16, 1988, featuring 12 tracks. It sold over 2.5 million copies and reached #41 on the “Billboard” charts. He continued to develop a successful career with N.W.A., writing and performing popular tracks, including seven out of the eighteen songs on the acclaimed album, “Niggaz4Life.”

In 1989, Ice Cube departed from N.W.A. due to internal conflicts, yet the group continued as a quartet. They released “100 Miles and Runnin” in 1990, but in 1991, N.W.A. began to fracture after Jerry Heller became the band’s manager. In March 1991, Eazy attended a lunch benefiting the Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, hosted by then-President George H. W. Bush, leading to a spokesperson declaring Eazy-E’s support for Bush because of his response to the Persian Gulf War.

Throughout this time, Heller appeared to prioritize Eazy-E’s interests, alienating the other band members. Eventually, Dr. Dre requested to be released from his Ruthless Records contract, but Eazy denied this request. The resulting conflict escalated tensions between the two, culminating in Dre’s exit from Ruthless. Despite his departure, Dre continued to target Eazy in his album, “The Chronic,” prompting Eazy to respond with the EP “It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa.” The 1993 release featured images of Dre in lacy clothing and makeup from his days with the Electro-hop group World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Eazy-E’s final album, “Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton,” was released on January 30, 1996, ten months after his passing.

(Photo credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Personal Life

In 1991, Wright encountered Tomica Woods at a nightclub in Los Angeles. They wed in 1995, a mere twelve days prior to his passing due to AIDS-related pneumonia on March 26th. Following the death of Eazy-E, Tomica took control of Ruthless Records.

On February 24, 1995, Eazy-E was taken to Cedars Sinai Medical Center because of a severe cough and what he thought was asthma. Contrary to his belief, he received an AIDS diagnosis. He publicly declared his condition on March 16th.

Eazy was the father of 11 children from eight different women. Among his acknowledged offspring are Eric Darnell Wright (also known as Lil Eazy-E), Erin, Dominick, and Daijah, born six months posthumously.

At the age of 30, Eazy passed away on March 26, 1995, just a month after being diagnosed. In the weeks leading up to his demise, Eazy reconciled with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. His final resting place is at Rose Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. More than 3,000 individuals attended his funeral, which included Jerry Heller and DJ Yella. Eazy was laid to rest in a gold casket, dressed in a flannel shirt, jeans, and his Compton hat. In October 2016, his daughter Erin initiated a crowdfunding effort to create a film titled “Ruthless Scandal: No More Lies,” aiming to investigate her father’s death. However, the campaign concluded unsuccessfully in December 2016.