J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 4, 2025
What Is J. Cole’s Net Worth?
With a net worth of $60 million, J. Cole is an American hip-hop artist, songwriter, and record producer. He was the inaugural artist to sign with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label and consistently ranks among the world’s highest-paid rappers, earning approximately $30 million each year. In June 2023, he became a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets after Michael Jordan sold part of the team to a group that included J. Cole and country music artist Eric Church.
His recognition as a rapper began with the 2007 release of his mixtape “The Come Up.” J. Cole’s subsequent mixtapes helped him amass a dedicated fan base, ultimately leading to Jay-Z signing him to Roc Nation in 2009. Cole made his studio album debut with “Cole World: The Sideline Story” in 2011, which entered the Billboard 200 chart at number one. Since then, he has launched five more studio albums, each reaching the top of the Billboard 200. Renowned for his introspective songwriting, compelling storytelling, and socially aware themes, J. Cole has established himself as a significant and respected figure in contemporary rap. He has collaborated with numerous prominent artists and has received multiple Grammy nominations throughout his career.
Beyond music, Cole founded Dreamville Records, a label that has welcomed several successful artists. He also engages in philanthropy through initiatives such as the Dreamville Foundation, aimed at uplifting youth through educational and community outreach endeavors.
Early Life
Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known as J. Cole, was born on January 28, 1985, at an Army base in Frankfurt, West Germany. His father, a U.S. Army veteran, deserted the family during Cole’s childhood, while his mother, Kay, worked as a postal employee. At just eight months old, Cole and his older brother, Zach, moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where Cole began rapping at the age of 12. By 14, he filled notebooks with lyrics but lacked the means to record his work. His mother provided him with an 808 beat machine, enabling him to produce his own music. At 17, he began sharing his songs online, using the name “Therapist.” After graduating high school with a 4.2 GPA, he moved to New York City on a scholarship to St. John’s University, earning a 3.8 GPA upon graduation.
Career
Cole garnered attention in 2007 with his debut mixtape, “The Come Up.” Shortly thereafter, Jay-Z reached out to him, leading to Cole’s signing with Roc Nation. He followed his debut with the 2009 mixtape “The Warm Up,” and in 2010 released “Friday Night Lights.” Cole toured with Drake as a supporting act in 2011 and launched his first studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, achieving Platinum certification quickly after its release. His second album, “Born Sinner,” came out in 2013, also hitting number one across these charts.
Released in 2014, the album “2014 Forest Hills Drive” similarly reached the top of the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, earning Platinum status for both “Born Sinner” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive.” The latter earned him his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. His 2016 release, “4 Your Eyez Only,” continued the momentum, reaching number one in Canada as well and achieving rapid Platinum certification. Cole’s fifth album, “KOD,” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 in 2018, marking his fifth consecutive number one album. On January 26, 2020, J. Cole received his first Grammy.
received the Award for Best Rap Song for their collaboration on “A Lot” with 21 Savage.
J. Cole Career Earnings By Year: | |
2014 | $7 million |
2015 | $11 million |
2016 | $14 million |
2017 | $19 million |
2018 | $36 million |
2019 | $30 million |
Total: | $117 million |
Some of Cole’s biggest hits are “Work Out,” “Can’t Get Enough” (featuring Trey Songz), “Nobody’s Perfect” (featuring Missy Elliott), “Power Trip” (featuring Miguel), “Crooked Smile” (featuring TLC), “Deja Vu,” and “Neighbors.” He has earned multiple BET Hip Hop Awards and received numerous Grammy nominations. From June 2017 to June 2018, J. Cole amassed earnings of $36 million. Influences on his rapping style include Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, Eminem, Nas, and Andre 3000. He has publicly stated that he considers Tupac, The Notorious BIG, Nas, and Jay Z to be the greatest rappers of all time.
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Other Ventures
In addition to his prosperous rap career, Cole is involved in production. He co-founded Dreamville Records with Ibrahim Hamad in early 2007. The label has released nine albums, three of which achieved Platinum certification. J. Cole has worked on singles for various artists, including Janet Jackson and Kendrick Lamar. He is also a minor stakeholder in Tidal.
Additionally, Cole founded The Dreamville Foundation in October 2011, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping underprivileged youth through initiatives such as a back-to-school supply drive and a book club tailored for young men. The foundation sponsors writing contests and career days as well. In 2014, Cole bought back his childhood home, which had been repossessed from his mother, for $120,000 to create rent-free housing for single mothers and their children. He hosts an annual concert series known as the Dreamville Festival, highlighting local music, artists, culture, and food, alongside well-known performers like Nelly, Big Sean, and 21 Savage. Proceeds from the festival support the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy in Raleigh, NC, and The Dreamville Foundation.
In 2020, J. Cole forged a multi-year partnership with PUMA, becoming an ambassador for the brand’s footwear and apparel. Their first collaborative shoe, the PUMA RS-Dreamer, was launched that same year.
In 2022, J. Cole entered into a contract with the Scarborough Shooting Stars, a team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League. This followed a deal he made in 2021 with the Patriots Basketball Club in the Basketball Africa League, where he scored five points and registered three assists and five rebounds over 45 minutes in three games.
Controversies
In relation to Diddy and Cole…
Involved in an altercation at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in NYC, the incident began when Diddy confronted Kendrick Lamar regarding a verse from one of his songs, attempting to pour a drink on Lamar. Cole stepped in, leading to a physical conflict between the two parties and their respective crews, resulting in a minor brawl. A few months thereafter, Cole and Diddy publicly declared that their feud had come to an end.
Controversy surrounding Cole’s tracks “Everybody Dies” and “False Prophets” arose in the hip-hop community, with speculation that Cole was taking jabs at rappers Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty. Additionally, many in the community interpreted the first verse of “False Prophets” as aimed at Kanye West. Since April 2018, there had been rumors of an ongoing feud between Cole and rapper Lil Pump; however, in May 2019, they sat down together for an interview to clarify that they had resolved their differences and laid the rumors to rest.
Personal Life
Cole is in a marital union with Melissa Heholt. Both attended St. John’s University, and she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dreamville Foundation. During a radio interview in May 2018, J. Cole shared that they are parents to a son, and in July 2019, he disclosed that they were expecting another child.
J. Cole possesses dual citizenship in Germany and the United States.
J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data is sourced from 2023 and 2024, with projection data covering 2025 and 2026. Additionally, we have extended the forecast to cover 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: J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 4, 2025