Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ice Cube’s Net Worth?

Ice Cube, an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur, boasts a net worth of $160 million. He has evolved from one of the pioneers of West Coast gangsta rap to a powerful figure in Hollywood today. Initially gaining fame and wealth as a member of N.W.A., Ice Cube later launched a highly successful solo career while also writing, producing, and starring in numerous films.

He first rose to prominence as a key member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A., serving as one of its main songwriters. N.W.A.’s albums, featuring incisive and often controversial lyrics, played a critical role in the popularization of gangsta rap, significantly impacting the hip-hop genre.

Following his departure from N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube began a solo career that reinforced his influence in hip-hop. His debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” released in 1990, was met with commercial success and both critical acclaim and controversy for its commentary on social and political issues. Subsequent albums, such as “Death Certificate” and “The Predator,” continued to delve into themes of social justice, racial inequality, and urban struggles.

In parallel with his musical achievements, Ice Cube successfully transitioned into acting. His feature film debut came in John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991, where he delivered a compelling performance that led to additional acting opportunities. He starred in and co-wrote the script for “Friday” (1995), a comedy that achieved cult status. His filmography spans various genres, including action (“xXx: State of the Union”), family comedy (“Are We There Yet?”), and drama (“Barbershop”).

Additionally, Ice Cube has made significant contributions as a producer and writer. He has produced many films in which he has starred, and his production company, Cube Vision, has been behind several successful film and television projects.

Early Life

O’Shea Jackson, known as Ice Cube, was born on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles. He is the son of Doris, a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a groundskeeper at UCLA. Ice Cube has an older brother, and he faced the tragic loss of his half-sister when he was only 12 years old. Growing up on Van Wick Street in Los Angeles, he began writing rap and hip-hop music at the age of 14. His rapper name came from a story in which his older brother purportedly threatened to slam him into a freezer, saying he’d come out an ice cube—the name ultimately stuck.

He attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. At the age of 16, Ice Cube sold his first song to future N.W.A. member Eazy-E. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona in the fall of 1987, where he studied architectural drafting and earned his diploma within a year. Following this, he returned to Los Angeles to chase his dreams in rap.

Early Career

Ice Cube, along with his friend Sir Jinx, formed the group C.I.A., performing at parties in L.A. hosted by Dr. Dre. In 1987, Ice Cube and C.I.A. released a track called “My Posse,” which was produced by Dr. Dre. When Ice Cube shared the lyrics of a rap he had written titled “Boyz-n-the-Hood” with Eazy-E, the latter initially despised the lyrics.Sure! Here is the revised structure while maintaining the original HTML format:

Eventually, Eazy-E went on to record a song for “N.W.A. and the Posse,” which served as the debut album for N.W.A., featuring Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube among its members. The rhymes of Dr. Dre and Eazy-E were crafted by Ice Cube, who is credited with writing half of the lyrics for the group’s landmark album, 1988’s “Straight Outta Compton.” Despite his significant contributions, he received only $32,000. After disputes regarding his payment and unresolved issues with official contracts, Ice Cube departed from N.W.A.

Solo Career

Released in May 1990, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” Ice Cube’s debut solo album, achieved instant success as it capitalized on the rap genre’s soaring popularity at that time. That same year saw the release of his EP “Kill at Will,” which made history by becoming the first hip-hop EP to achieve Platinum status. In 1991, he ventured into acting, portraying Doughboy in John Singleton’s acclaimed crime drama “Boyz n the Hood,” earning praise from critics for his performance.

His second album, “Death Certificate,” launched in 1991, became a center of controversy and polarized both audiences and critics. 1992 marked his performance at Lollapalooza, which helped broaden his fanbase. In November of that year, “The Predator,” his third album, debuted at #1 on the pop and R&B charts, a historic first, and received positive reviews from critics. This album remains his most commercially successful effort, with sales surpassing three million copies in the U.S.

The subsequent year witnessed a decline in Ice Cube’s rap following. His fourth album, “Lethal Injection,” elicited a tepid reception from critics. He subsequently took a break from music, releasing his fifth album, “War & Peace Vol. 1,” only in 1998. Teaming up with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog, he participated in the “Up in Smoke Tour” in 2000 before waiting another six years to drop his next album, “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” charts. Ice Cube’s ninth solo project, “I Am the West,” hit shelves on September 28, 2010. Throughout the 2010s, he worked on various projects with different artists and even collaborated with Trent Reznor and David Bowie outside the hip-hop arena. In 2018, he launched his tenth solo album, “Everythang’s Corrupt,” after a gradual release of singles over a period of several years.

Acting Career

Ice Cube made his entry into film acting with “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991. Following that, he appeared in several films over the ensuing years. In 1995, he starred in “Friday,” a film that marked a turning point in his acting career.

Released to both critical acclaim and commercial success, the film that starred, was written by, and produced by Ice Cube—“Friday”—spawned several sequels.

He appeared in “Anaconda” in 1997. The following year, he took on multiple roles in “The Players Club,” as director, producer, writer, and star.

Among Ice Cube’s other films are “Are We There Yet” and its follow-up, “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street,” “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” and “Fist Fight.” Additionally, he produced the 2015 biopic “Straight Outta Compton” about N.W.A., in which his son O’Shea Jr. portrayed him.

In October 2021, news broke that Ice Cube opted out of participating in an upcoming comedy film titled “Oh Hell No” after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which was mandatory for the production filming in Hawaii. He relinquished a $9 million salary to withdraw from the project.

Other Ventures

In 1996, Ice Cube established Westside Connection alongside Mack 10 and WC, subsequently releasing two collaborative albums.

He launched a clothing line named Solo by Cube, featuring hooded sweatshirts with integrated headphones. In 2011, he became a spokesperson for Coors Light beer. On January 11, 2017, Ice Cube unveiled his new venture, Big3, a professional basketball league showcasing former NBA stars. The inaugural season kicked off in June 2017.

In 2023, it was announced that Ice Cube collaborated with Jesse Collins to produce a docuseries for the Big3 sports league through Jesse Collins Entertainment, chronicling the league’s success and its journey to becoming a major force in the sports world.

Personal Life

Ice Cube wed Kimberly Woodruff on April 26, 1992. Together they are parents to five children: O’Shea Jr. (born 1991), Darrell (born 1992), Karima (born 1994), Deja (born 1994), and Shareef (born 1995). He also has a granddaughter named Jordan.

During a January 2005 interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Ice Cube was asked if he permitted his children to listen to his music. He replied, “What’s worked for me is instilling in my kids a level of self-respect and helping them to understand the content of not just music but the violence found on the evening news.” When asked about profanity, he stated that he teaches his children there are suitable times to use certain language but encourages them not to use specific words around adults as a sign of respect.

Real Estate

In May 2016, Ice Cube purchased a home in Marina Del Rey, California, for $7.25 million, previously owned by Jean-Claude Van Damme, who bought it in 2012 for $6 million as a brand-new spec mansion. Furthermore, he and his wife possess a large mansion in Encino, California, acquired in June 1996 for $2.36 million. This residence is situated on a 1.11-acre lot and features seven bedrooms within a nearly 8,000-square-foot main house complete with a pool, spa, and a full-size basketball court.