Jay Z's Billion Dollar Blueprint Becomes Reality
Shawn Carter Uses Hip Hop to Make One Billion Dollars
Shawn Carter Uses Hip Hop To Make One Billion Dollars
When most people think of Hip Hop, they think of half naked women, $300,000 cars, and iced out jewelry. While Shawn "Jay Z" Carter has been known to be flashy in his past, these days he's much more focused on business than bling. Its hard to believe that in less than twenty years, this music mogul has accumulated close to $1 billion in assets by using Hip Hop as a launching pad.
In 1996, Jay Z released his first solo album, Reasonable Doubt, which only reached #23 on the Billboard charts. Although he did not have a Top 10 album, his persistence and consistence paid off. Since 1996, Jay Z has released an album every year, except for his brief two year retirement from rap.
By the time his second album was released in 1997, Roc-A-Fella Records had become a household name to Hip Hop fans all around the world. Sticking with his brand, Shawn Carter and fellow investors created Roc-A-Wear Clothing, which grossed annual sales of over $700 million per year (Source).
Mr. Carter is also co-owner of the 40/40 Club and a Scottish vodka company called Armadale. Although these are not two of his top performing assets, both are very well known brands around Hip Hop communities, world wide. A fall out with Cristal champagne, over a few racist remarks by Frederick Rouzaud, left Jay Z promoting a lesser known, high-end champagne, Armand de Brignac, also known as "Ace Of Spades." Unfortunately, the brand has not't yet taken off among Hip Hop enthusiasts.
The mainstream public started to take notice of Jay Z when his commercials and music videos started to air on prime time television, during major events. Hewlett Packard debuted his HP commercial during the 2006 NBA Playoffs, which shocked fans and non fans alike. His music video "Show Me What You Got" debut during Monday Night football and fans went crazy.
The Rap Mogul's biggest buzz came when the media started reporting that he officially owned part of the New Jersey Nets. Although fans would like to believe that he owns a big portion of the team, in reality, he owns less than 1% of the franchise (Source). Continuing with the buzz of team ownership, the latest rumor puts Mr. Carter in the buyer's seat once again. There has been a lot of talk of Jay Z's interest in the Yankees, but nothing has been confirmed or denied. If this deal does go through, Jay Z will become the first rap artist to own a team in two different major league sports.
In 2008, Jay Z was listed as #7 in Forbes Celebrity 100, with an estimated earning of $82 million in annual income (Source). It seems as though Jay Z prophesied his Forbes inclusion in 1996, on his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. The rapper says, "fortune top five in the Forbes, you'll see, as you thumb through the Source or read the Rob Report." In April, 2008, rumors started to swarm that Jay Z was selling himself. As the days went on, it became clear that concert promoter Live Nation had taken an interest Jay Z. The deal between Live Nation and Shawn Carter was for $150 million. In return for the large sum of money, Live Nation would acquire an interest in any recording, touring, or merchandising that involved Jay Z (Source).
Shortly after his signing with Live Nation, Jay Z married his long time girlfriend Beyonce' Knowles, a superstar R&B singer. With this final merger, Jay Z's net worth, sky rocketed. Jay Z's former net worth was estimated to be $500 million, and wife Beyonce' Knowles was estimated to be $350 million. The deal with Live Nation gave Shawn Carter the extra $150 million boost that he needed to hit the $1 billion mark ( Source).
Jay Z has shown that given enough time, he can turn adversity into triumph, and a simple rap career into a $1billion lifestyle. In the Hip Hop world, making $500 million is an almost impossible task, but Jay Z "did the impossible, then did it twice" as he quotes on The Blueprint. Finally it only seems appropriate to let Jay Z have the last word. "Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week, I do this in my sleep." Jay Z (Diamonds Are Forever Remix)
Published by etnad0
I am a small business owner with a lot of free time on my hands. I have a weird sense of humor and can be sarcastic at times. If you like my work, add me to your favorites. View profile
- Jay Williams Making Comeback After Motorcycle Accident In 2003 Jay Williams was in a motorcycle that many people thought would end his career, but he continues to try and make his way back into the NBA.
-
A Comparison of the Rookie Quarterbacks Class of 2006: Vince Young, Matt...
This is a synopsis and comparison of the three top quarterbacks drafted in the most recent draft, and how they are doing half way through the season. Vince Young, Matt Leinart,...
-
Should Jay Z Return to Rap?
My opinion on why Jay Z should not return to rap.
-
Jay-Z, Biography of the SuperStar Rapper
Biography of rapper Jay-Z
- Jay Leno Prepares for Smooth Transition from Tonight Show Chair Jay Leno did a great job as Tonight Show host when Johnny Carson retired in 1992. Leno has redefined the role for his generation, and he is preparing to pass the torch to Conan O'Brien.
- Jay Ward's Dudley Do-Right Makes His Way to DVD
- The Biography of Jay Leno
- White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen's Comments to Jay Mariotti, Apology Afterwards, Pl...
- Top Sites for Finding Jay-Z's Lyrics
- An Interview with Ross The Intern from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- Biography of New Fall TV Actor: Jay Hernandez of Six Degrees
- Reviewing Jay McDaniel's "Lonely Critics"
|
|
- Jay Z Drops His First Album
- NBA Franchise Owner
- Jay Z Hits $1 Billion
15 Comments
Post a Commenthey lan he is richer than you and he past billion long time you don't know what you taking about
you'll are all hates the man is rich facs it .the rishest rapper alive
part 2 . . . I know Carter has more $ than my whole posterity will ever earn, but I dont beleive he is net worth $500-$547mill as reported.
-->He sold his music label rocafella to defjam.
-->He sold his clothing label to Iconix. yea he made temporary $ from the sales, but in the long run defjam & iconix will earn the huge profits.
-->His liquor I dont hear any1 demanding.
I dont see pppl wering his shoes
(though they did sell out when they 1st came out bc of hype, & back then there was no WORLDWIDE RECESSION).
or asking for his cologne/parfum.
-->Live nation gave him 150mill upfront for thier Rocnation deal. But for 10yrs Rocnation owns him. LN gets a % of EVERYTHING: cd sales, d/l, concert tours, merchandsing....Carter got give them back that $150 PLUS. I bet they're uhappy they made these 2 huge deals (Madonna & Carter) now that there is a worldwide recession. Fr18Dec9
part 1 . . . . $1billion NO WAY!$
FIRSTLY, NET WORTH is different from GROSS worth. Takeaway the debt Carter has & then you'll see how much he truly has. Taxes are 40% off the top, then he has 2 pay all his employeees.
Carter-- sadly like all AfrAm business owners. Russ sold DefJam, Death Row went bankrupt, etc-- sold Rocawear($80mill).
As weak or incosistent as Puffy may be, he stills own Bad Boy.
$1billion NO WAY!$
FIRSTLY, NET WORTH is different from GROSS worth. Takeaway the debt Carter has & then you'll see how much he truly has. Taxes are 40% off the top, then he has 2 pay all his employeees.
Carter-- sadly like all AfrAm business owners. Russ sold DefJam, Death Row went bankrupt, etc-- sold Rocawear($80mill).
As weak or incosistent as Puffy may be, he stills own Bad Boy.
I know Carter has more $ than my whole posterity will ever earn, but I dont beleive he is net worth $500-$547mill as reported.
-He sold his music label to defjam.
-He sold his clothing label to Iconix. yea he made temporary $ from the sales, but in the long run defjam & iconix will earn the huge profits.
-His liquor I dont hear any1 demanding. I dont see pppl wering his shoes
(though they did sell out when they 1st came out bc of hype, & back then there was no WORLDWIDE RECESSION).
or asking for his cologne/parfum.
-Live nation gave him 150mill upfront for thier Rocnation deal. But for 10
. Rocawear was sold for 80 something mil.
It is interesting how everyone is so concerned with someone elses money, but if you must know, he sold Rocawear for 204 million Cash, he netted over 82 million last year, and has consistently been ranked above the 300 million net worth range, The truth? we'll never know!
It says he's grossed $1b over 20yrs, but his net worth is only about $150million at the moment in Forbes (assets - oustanding debt obligations).
Gross is before any kind of expenses, taxes, depreciation, etc., etc. Feasible, but still hard to believe since these numbers are all speculation and not publicly recorded/reported by the parties. It also serves Jay's interests to inflate his gross.
Antoine Walker grossed more than $100 million during his NBA career and is now as broke as you and I. So, don't put too much stock in gross #'s.
if you idiots would bother reading it says "NET" worth not "GROSS"
I wouldn't expect jay-z fans to understand how money works. No he is nowhere near a billionaire. He is worth $250 mil tops.