Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: December 6, 2024
Kanye West’s Net Worth: What Is It?
An American rapper, producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur, Kanye West boasts a net worth of $400 million. Once a multi-billionaire, he ranked among the three richest self-made Black individuals in US history. His fame skyrocketed following the 2004 release of his album The College Dropout. Today, Kanye stands as one of the planet’s most acclaimed and successful musicians, amassing 24 Grammy wins from 75 nominations. Recently, he has shifted his focus from music to the business sector, generating at least $100 million annually from his ventures. A significant portion of his income arises from royalties and other revenue associated with his Yeezy brand and Adidas collaboration. However, over the past few years, his controversial perspectives and statements have resulted in the loss of multiple sponsors and partnerships.
Kanye retains full ownership (100%) of the Yeezy apparel line. During his collaboration with Adidas, he was entitled to a royalty for every revenue dollar generated. The Yeezy brand alone produced $2 billion in annual revenue and $250 million in profit for Adidas. At the height of his partnership with Adidas, the Yeezy brand was valued at approximately $4 – $5 billion by itself.
A UBS evaluation in March 2021 predicted that Yeezy could contribute an additional $3-4 billion to Kanye’s net worth. Furthermore, the same study suggested that Kanye’s prior agreement with The Gap had previously added $1 billion to his overall wealth.
In assessing Kanye West’s net worth during mid-2021, we factored in the following assets and liabilities:
Assets:
- Real estate holdings = $120 million
- Music catalog (including G.O.O.D Music) = $80 million
- Yeezy.com domain = $100 million
- Yeezy brand valuation = $5 billion
- Gap partnership value = $1 billion
- Cash, stocks, and additional assets = $400 million
Total assets = $6.7 billion
Liabilities and other considerations = $100 million
Net Worth = $6.6 billion
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Career Beginnings and Early Life
Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on June 8, 1977. After his parents divorced when he was three, West relocated to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother. While there, his music journey began after he met the producer and DJ No I.D., who became his mentor. He received a scholarship…
Initially attending the American Academy of Art in 1997, he later switched to Chicago State University to focus on English studies. At the age of 20, he dropped out of college to follow his passion for music.
Once he left college, West began producing beats for local musicians while developing his unique sound. His first official production credits came in 1996 with the debut album of Chicago rapper Grave, titled Down to Earth. This period also saw him work with artists such as Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.
Ascendancy to Fame and Music Career
In 2000, West found his significant opportunity when he began collaborating as a producer with Roc-A-Fella Records, working alongside talents like Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His involvement in Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint sparked considerable attention to his skills as a producer. During this time, his production credits accumulated an impressive list of artists, including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.
Although successful as a producer, West aspired to be a rapper. In 2001, he succeeded in persuading the head of Capitol Records to sign him to Roc-A-Fella Records after being turned down for a contract with Capitol.
Following a severe car accident in October 2002, which resulted in a shattered jaw, West was motivated to create the song Through the Wire while his jaw was still wired shut. This track became the basis for his debut album, The College Dropout, which was leaked months prior to its scheduled August 2003 release. West utilized this time to remix, remaster, and fine-tune the album, ultimately postponing its release three times. The album debuted in February 2004 to critical acclaim and garnered 10 Grammy Award nominations, later achieving triple platinum status in the US.
When he commenced work on his second album, West invested two million dollars into its production, even engaging a live string orchestra. Released in August 2005, Late Registration sold over 2.3 million copies in the United States by year-end. His following albums include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), the collaboration with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), the collaboration album with Kid Cudi Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).
In 2013, West released the album Yeezus, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart and topped the US R&B and US Rap charts, also making it to the top in four other countries. His 2016 album The Life of Pablo also hit #1 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the US Rap and R&B charts. The single “FourFiveSeconds” featuring Rihanna and Paul McCartney reached #1 on the US R&B chart. In 2017, he received six Grammy nominations. His next release, Ye, came out in June 2018; however, it was the first album in Kanye’s career that did not achieve platinum status.
Apart from his own albums, West has maintained a role as a producer and featured artist for various musicians, including 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor. He has also engaged in music-related ventures such as the weekly “Sunday Service” orchestrations with the Sunday Service Choir, performing every Sunday since January 2019. Collaborating with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft, he has worked on two operas, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary.
| Earnings of Kanye West 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 |
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Yeezy
Kanye West has always shown a keen interest in the world of fashion, making history by being the first non-athlete to secure a shoe deal with Nike through his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. Additionally, he has collaborated on footwear designs with renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti. In Paris Fashion Week during 2011 and 2012, he also launched two clothing lines.
In December 2013, Adidas made the official announcement regarding its partnership deal with West for a new shoe collaboration. The launch of the Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in “Light Brown” occurred on February 14, 2015, and it was exclusively sold through the Adidas mobile app to New York City residents, selling out within a mere 10 minutes. By December 2017, a total of 19 different colors and six unique designs had been produced under the Adidas and Yeezy sneaker collaboration. West unveiled Season 1 of his Yeezy clothing line in partnership with Adidas in 2015, quickly followed by Season 2 later that same year, and Season 3 debuting in February 2016.
Following the successful outcomes of his initial releases, in June 2016, Adidas announced a long-term agreement with West. Typically, Kanye receives a 10% royalty on the net revenues from the Adidas collaboration. His royalty rate for merchandise sold on his own website, YeezySupply.com, is significantly higher compared to the sales on Adidas.com, resulting in an average blended royalty rate around 10%.
As of now, it’s important to highlight that Kanye possesses 100% ownership of the Yeezy apparel line.
G.O.O.D Music
Kanye established the record label and production company G.O.O.D Music in 2004 in collaboration with Sony BMG. The acronym “G.O.O.D” stands for “getting out our dreams.” Artists affiliated with the label include West himself, John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.
Other Assets and Philanthropy
He also possesses the company KW Foods LLC., which holds the rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain located in Chicago. In January 2012, West declared the formation of DONDA, a creative content enterprise named after his late mother, Donda West. Alongside other musical talents like Jay-Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, West is a co-owner of the music streaming platform Tidal, with most stakeholders owning a 3% equity stake.
His charitable initiatives include the Kanye West Foundation, which supports education for African American and Latino children, in addition to devoting time, resources, and funds to various causes such as Hurricane Katrina recovery, World Water Day, and Live Earth. In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Kanye made a donation of $2 million that was divided between Floyd’s family and other victims of police brutality, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
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Real Estate
Kanye West possesses approximately $100 million in real estate holdings across the United States, encompassing land, buildings, and homes. A summary of his prominent real estate transactions is provided below.
While married, Kim and Kanye’s main residence was a vast estate located in Hidden Hills, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. This estate comprises several connected parcels, with the first one purchased in 2014 through two separate deals for $23 million. Initially, the property featured a newly constructed mansion set on 4.5 acres. Over the years, the couple invested millions customizing, rearranging, and expanding the home. In 2019, they expanded their estate further by acquiring two adjacent properties, resulting in a monumental combined 7.5-acre estate. An eye-popping $28.5 million was spent on real estate transactions alone to establish the Hidden Hills estate, alongside tens of millions more dedicated to renovations. The current appraised value of the Hidden Hills estate exceeds $60 million. In September 2021, Kim transferred the property into her own name by paying Kanye $23 million, with approximately $3 million allocated for the home’s interior furnishings.
Kanye acquired a beachfront property in Malibu in September 2021 for $57.3 million. This home, designed by Tadao Ando, was constructed in 2013 for Richard Sachs, a Wall Street tycoon. Sachs spent seven years securing permits and completing the building process. The finished residence spans 4,000 square feet and is comprised of 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, and features 12 pylons driven 60 feet into the sand. Sachs listed the property for sale in 2020 at $75 million. However, Kanye never occupied the house and put it on the market in December 2023 for $53 million. According to the listing agent, prospective buyers should be prepared to invest “several million dollars” to make the house livable due to unfinished construction projects undertaken by Kanye. A drone video tour of the Malibu mansion is available below:
Additional real estate properties include:
- A 320-acre estate located on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, appraised at $16 million. This site has hosted his Sunday Services and was the intended location for a series of domed structures before the LA County Building Commission halted those plans due to permit issues.
- A 6,700-acre ranch known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch situated in Wyoming – valued at $15 million
- A $2 million commercial property located in Cody, Wyoming
- Kanye also reclaimed his childhood home in Chicago, restoring it in 2023.
Towards the end of 2019, Kanye purchased an additional ranch in Wyoming named Monster Lake Ranch for $14 million. This ranch was sold in June 2024.
Personal Life
West had a tumultuous relationship with designer Alexis Phifer from 2002 to 2008. Following this, he dated model Amber Rose between 2008 and 2010. In April 2012, he entered a relationship with reality star Kim Kardashian, marrying her in May 2014. They share four children but divorced in 2022. Kanye briefly dated actress/model Julia Fox in 2022.
Reports in January 2023 indicated that Kanye wed Australian architect Bianca Censori in an informal private ceremony in Beverly Hills.
In October 2021, Kanye successfully petitioned to officially change his legal name to “Ye.”
Kanye West Net Worth 2019
The following outlines the calculation that led to estimating Kanye West’s net worth at $600 million in 2019:
Assets:
- Real estate holdings = $120 million
- Music catalog, including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
- Yeezy brand valuation = $500 million
- Other assets = $20 million
Total assets = $720 million
Liabilities and additional factors = $100 million
2019 Net Worth = $600 million (factoring in a conservative error margin of $20 million)
Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data is sourced from 2023 and 2024, with forecasts extending to 2025 and 2026. Additionally, we provide extended forecasts for 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: December 6, 2024