The secret to Jay-Z's wealth lies in his lucrative liquor businesses and the 50% stake LVMH purchased in his champagne empire, Armand de Brignac, also known as Ace of Spades. Jay-Z's impressive asset portfolio includes a fine art collection featuring works by the iconic Jean-Michel Basquiat, his music catalog, and shares in companies like Block and Uber.
On the other hand, Kanye West was another rapper who had hit billionaire status, previously making it to Forbes' 2022 list, with a reported net worth of $2 billion. However, due to Adidas ending their partnership with him following his antisemitic behavior, his net worth dipped to $400 million. According to Forbes, the deal with the brand accounted for a staggering $1.5 billion of his net worth.
Apart from his partnership with Adidas, Kanye West's remaining fortune is derived from real estate, cash, his music catalog, and a 5% stake in ex-wife Kim Kardashian's shapewear firm, Skims. Kanye's controversial behavior not only cost him significant partnerships but also led to the removal of millions of dollars from his JP Morgan Chase account. He was also dropped by Balenciaga and other brands.
It's intriguing to see how these two rappers have made their fortunes through their business ventures and partnerships, highlighting the importance of diversifying one's portfolio to create wealth. Nonetheless, it's a cautionary tale that even the most affluent celebrities can suffer losses and damage their reputation with poor behavior
