Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ja Rule’s Net Worth?

Ja Rule, an American rapper, singer, and actor, holds a net worth of $4 million. He achieved significant fame as one of the leading rappers in the late 1990s, charting multiple hits on the “Billboard” Hot 100, including tracks such as “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time.” In subsequent years, his reputation was marred by the infamous Fyre Festival fraud incident, leading to the incarceration of his business associate, Billy McFarland.

Fyre Festival

In late April 2017, Ja Rule co-organized the “Fyre Festival,” which was to be hosted on a private island in the Bahamas. However, the event became a complete failure. Many attendees, who had paid substantial amounts for tickets, found themselves stranded in a garbage-strewn area with insufficient food and inadequate shelter consisting of FEMA tents. By the time participants arrived at the island, most of the scheduled artists had already canceled due to the apparent conditions. On May 1st, 2017, a class-action lawsuit amounting to $100 million was filed against Ja Rule and co-founder Billy McFarland. Ultimately, in 2019, Ja Rule was exonerated of any liabilities related to the debacle.

“Fast & Furious” Lost Payday

Ja Rule made a notable appearance in the 2001 film “The Fast and the Furious,” earning $15,000 for portraying the cocky LA street racer “Edwin.” For the sequel, which became known as “2 Fast 2 Furious” in 2003, director John Singleton intended to cast Ja Role again with an offer of $500,000. Unfortunately, Singleton reported that Ja Rule ignored his attempts to contact him. Singleton even sought him out at a recording studio to discuss the opportunity but was turned away once more. Consequently, John reached out to Ludacris, who ultimately took on the role of “Tej Parker.” This character has become widely popular, featured in SEVEN films of the franchise, and Ludacris has earned between $20-30 million from this role to date, making $5-8 million for each appearance in the films.

Early Life

Ja Rule, born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, was brought up in the Hollis neighborhood by his parents, Debra and William Atkins. His grandparents were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and with both parents working extensively, Ja Rule spent considerable time with them and began to engage in the practice of that faith. He left the religion at 12 and started selling drugs in Hollis, often finding himself in fights due to his small stature. Although he did not graduate, he obtained a GED in 2012.

Early Career

In 1994, Ja Rule’s musical journey began as part of the group Cash Money Click, shortly thereafter adopting the stage name “Ja Rule.” The group independently released several songs, including their debut single, “Get Tha Fortune,” in 1994. Despite signing with TVT Records, they were dropped after just one year, largely due to the arrest and subsequent imprisonment of a fellow member, Chris Black.

Success“`html

Ja Rule made his debut as a solo artist with the track “Time to Build” by Mic Geronimo, featuring Jay-Z and DMX. He joined Def Jam in 1998 and later that year collaborated on the Jay-Z single “Can I Get A…” His first album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” dropped in 1999, reaching #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. The following two albums earned 3x Platinum certifications and also topped the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. On November 19, 2002, his fourth album was released, debuting at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 and generating two hit singles. In 2003 and 2004, he went on to release his fifth and sixth albums, respectively. After the release of a greatest hits album and his sixth studio album, Ja Rule exited his contract with Def Jam in 2005 and took a break until February 2011, when he announced the commencement of his new album, “Pain is Love 2.” The album was released a year later while he was serving a two-year prison sentence for tax evasion and gun possession, leading to his release in May 2013.

Following his prison term, Ja Rule, along with Gotti, established Murder Inc Records. He also penned a memoir titled “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man,” released in 2014. Although he announced his eighth studio album shortly thereafter, its release was postponed indefinitely.

In December 2016, Ja Rule contributed to “The Hamilton Mixtape,” delivering Alexander Hamilton’s verse in “Helpless,” performed by Ashanti. In June 2018, Ashanti revealed that she was collaborating with Ja Rule on a new album.

Notable singles from Ja Rule include “Holla Holla,” “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real (Murder Remix),” “Ain’t It Funny,” “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize,” and “Wonderful.” His collaborations include works with Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, Ashanti, and R. Kelly. Additionally, he has an acting career, featuring in films such as “The Fast and the Furious” and “Scary Movie 3,” and co-starring with Queen Latifah in 2004’s “The Cookout.”

Business Ventures

In 2004, Ja Rule launched his own clothing line named ErvinGeoffrey. Two years later, in 2006, he also started a liquor company called The Mojito.

In 2021, he teamed up with a group of software engineers to create Flipkick, a platform for selling physical art pieces as non-fungible tokens. Reportedly, he auctioned a portrait of the Fyre Media logo for $122,000 on the site.

Personal Life

Ja Rule is wed to Aisha Murray, and together they have three children: Britney (born 1995), Jeffrey (born 2000), and Jordan (born 2005).

He successfully completed an online course at Harvard Business School in February 2021, sharing his certificate of completion via Twitter.

Accolades

Ja Rule has received four Grammy nominations and has won a total of three Source Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, one World Music Award, one BET Award, one “GQ” Men of the Year Award, one Teen Choice Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

Legal Problems

After
“`In 2003, after an incident involving punching a man in Toronto, Rule opted for an out-of-court settlement for a lawsuit. His arrest for marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license took place in 2004. Later, in 2007, he faced arrest due to charges related to gun and drug possession. Ultimately, he served almost two years in federal prison on charges of gun possession and tax evasion, reportedly failing to pay taxes on an income of $3 million earned between 2004 and 2006.

Feuds

Ja Rule has engaged in feuds with various figures including 50 Cent, G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. The feud that garnered the most attention was with 50 Cent starting in 1999, arising from a video shoot in Queens where 50 Cent allegedly felt threatened by Ja Rule receiving significant affection from the Hollis community. Their confrontation in Atlanta led to Ja Rule claiming he hit 50 Cent with a baseball bat. Another clash took place in New York City, where rapper Black Child, an artist from Ja Rule’s Murder Inc, stabbed 50 Cent, resulting in the need for stitches. By May 2011, both rappers confirmed the conclusion of their feud.