Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 4, 2025
Kanye West’s Net Worth: What Is It?
With a net worth of $400 million, Kanye West is known as an American rapper, producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. At one point, he was recognized as a multi-billionaire and ranked among the three wealthiest self-made Black individuals in American history. His rise to fame was propelled by the release of his acclaimed 2004 album, The College Dropout. Currently, Kanye stands as one of the most prominent and celebrated musicians globally, boasting 24 Grammy awards from 75 nominations. In the past few years, his focus has shifted from music to business, where he generates an estimated $100 million annually through various ventures. A significant portion of his income comes from royalties and other earnings tied to his Yeezy brand and partnership with Adidas. However, Kanye’s outspoken nature and controversies have led to the loss of numerous sponsorships and partnerships recently.
Kanye controls the Yeezy apparel line entirely, holding 100% ownership. During his collaboration with Adidas, he reaped a royalty from every dollar of revenue produced. The Yeezy brand alone brought in $2 billion each year in revenue, along with $250 million in profit for Adidas. At the height of their partnership, the Yeezy brand was valued between $4 to $5 billion.
A UBS valuation in March 2021 indicated that Yeezy could contribute an additional $3-4 billion to Kanye’s net worth. Furthermore, the same report suggested that Kanye’s former deal with The Gap previously increased his net worth by roughly $1 billion.
In mid-2021, when estimating Kanye West’s net worth, we took into account the following assets and liabilities:
Assets:
- Real estate assets valued at $120 million
- Music catalogue, including G.O.O.D Music, worth $80 million
- Yeezy.com website estimated at $100 million
- Yeezy brand value at $5 billion
- Value of the Gap partnership at $1 billion
- Cash, equities, and other assets totaling $400 million
Total assets are valued at $6.7 billion.
Liabilities and additional considerations amount to $100 million.
Net Worth = $6.6 billion
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Career Beginnings and Early Life
Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was three, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother. Here, he started his music journey, influenced by producer/DJ No I.D., who served as his mentor. He received a scholarship and…
In 1997, West enrolled at the American Academy of Art but later switched to Chicago State University, where he pursued a degree in English. At the age of 20, he ultimately dropped out to chase his music ambitions.
Following his departure from college, West started creating beats for local musicians while refining his unique sound. His initial production credits came from working on rapper Grave’s debut album, Down to Earth, released in 1996. During this time, he also produced tracks for notable artists such as Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.
Music Career and Rise to Prominence
In 2000, West’s breakthrough arrived when he joined Roc-A-Fella Records as a producer, collaborating with well-known artists like Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His involvement in Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint sparked significant interest in West’s production capabilities. This era saw him credited with impressive works featuring talents such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.
Even with his producer accolades, West’s aspiration was always to become a rapper. In 2001, he convinced the head of Capitol Records to sign him to Roc-A-Fella Records after being turned down for a contract with Capitol.
After a severe car accident in October 2002, which resulted in a shattered jaw, West found inspiration to create the song Through the Wire with his jaw still immobilized. This track laid the groundwork for his debut album, The College Dropout, which was leaked ahead of its expected August 2003 release. West took advantage of the extra time to remix, remaster, and edit the album, delaying its release three times. Eventually, The College Dropout premiered in February 2004, receiving widespread acclaim and earning him 10 Grammy Award nominations, ultimately achieving triple platinum certification in the US.
As he began crafting his second album, West poured two million dollars into production, even bringing in a live string orchestra. Released in August 2005, Late Registration sold over 2.3 million copies in the US by year’s end. His following albums include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), a collaborative album with Jay-Z called Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), a collaboration with Kid Cudi titled Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).
In 2013, West launched the album Yeezus, which topped the Billboard 200 chart as well as the US R&B and US Rap charts, alongside reaching the number one spot in four other countries. The album The Life of Pablo debuted in 2016, achieving first place on the Billboard 200 and second on the US Rap and R&B charts. Additionally, his single “FourFiveSeconds,” featuring Rihanna and Paul McCartney, claimed the top position on the US R&B chart. In 2017, he received six Grammy Award nominations. His subsequent album, Ye, released in June 2018, unfortunately marked the first instance in Kanye’s career where an album did not attain platinum status.
Beyond his personal albums, West has also been active as a producer and featured artist for a variety of other musicians, including 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor. His involvement in music also extends to his weekly “Sunday Service” orchestration with the Sunday Service Choir, which has performed every Sunday since January 2019. Furthermore, he partnered with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft on two operas, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary.
Kanye West Earnings 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
For a long time, West has shown a deep interest in fashion, and he became the first non-athlete to secure a shoe deal with Nike through his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. Furthermore, he has collaborated on footwear designs with brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti. In addition, two clothing lines were launched by him during Paris Fashion Week in 2011 and 2012.
Came December 2013, Adidas formally revealed a new collaboration with West. The Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in a unique “Light Brown” was initially introduced on February 14, 2015, exclusively via the Adidas mobile app to shoppers in New York City, selling out in just 10 minutes. By December 2017, 19 colors and six designs had been released as part of the Adidas and Yeezy sneaker collaboration. In 2015, Season 1 of his Yeezy clothing line debuted with Adidas, rapidly followed by Season 2 later that year and Season 3 in February 2016.
Adidas confirmed a long-term agreement with West in June 2016 due to the impressive success of his earlier launches. Kanye typically receives a royalty of 10% on the net revenues from Adidas. His royalty for products sold via his own platform, YeezySupply.com, is notably higher compared to sales through Adidas.com. On average, his blended royalty rate hovers around 10%.
It’s important to highlight that Kanye fully owns the Yeezy apparel line as of now.
G.O.O.D Music
Kanye established the record label and production company G.O.O.D Music in 2004 in partnership with Sony BMG. The acronym “G.O.O.D” stands for “getting out our dreams.” This label is home to numerous artists, including West himself, John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.
Other Assets and Philanthropy
He is also the owner of KW Foods LLC., which holds the rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain located in Chicago. In January 2012, West made the announcement of founding DONDA, a creative content company named in honor of his late mother, Donda West. He moreover co-owns the music streaming platform Tidal, sharing ownership with other music figures like Jay-Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, most of whom possess a 3% equity share.
His charitable efforts encompass the Kanye West Foundation, which supports educational initiatives for African American and Latino children. He has contributed time, resources, and funds towards Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth, among various other organizations. Following the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Kanye made a donation of $2 million, which was distributed between the Floyd family and other victims of police violence, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
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Real Estate
In the United States, Kanye West possesses approximately $100 million in real estate, including land, buildings, and homes. Below is an overview of his most significant real estate transactions.
During their marriage, the main residence of Kim and Kanye was a sprawling estate located in Hidden Hills, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. This estate comprises several connected parcels, the first of which was purchased in 2014 through two separate transactions totaling $23 million. Initially, their property included a newly constructed mansion set on 4.5 acres. Over the years, the couple invested millions in personalizing, rearranging, and enlarging the home. In 2019, they acquired two neighboring properties through separate transactions to form a combined 7.5-acre estate. Remarkably, $28.5 million was spent solely on real estate purchases to establish the Hidden Hills estate, while renovations cost tens of millions more. The current assessed value of the estate is over $60 million. In September 2021, Kim transferred the property into her name by paying Kanye $23 million, of which about $3 million was for the home’s interior furnishings.
In September 2021, Kanye also acquired a beachfront property in Malibu for $57.3 million. This home, designed by Tadao Ando, was built in 2013 for Wall Street tycoon Richard Sachs. Sachs invested seven years securing permits and completing construction. The completed residence covers 4,000 square feet and consists of 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, and is supported by 12 pylons driven 60 feet into the sand. Sachs initially listed the property in 2020 for $75 million. Kanye has never occupied the home and, as of December 2023, has put it on the market for $53 million. According to the listing agent, prospective buyers should be ready to invest “several million dollars” for repairs to make the house livable following Kanye’s uncompleted construction work. Here is a drone video tour of the Malibu mansion:
Additional real estate holdings include:
- A 320-acre estate located on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, appraised at $16 million. This property has hosted his Sunday Services and was the site of his attempted construction of domed structures, halted by the LA County Building Commission due to permit issues.
- A 6,700-acre ranch known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch in Wyoming valued at $15 million.
- A commercial property worth $2 million in Cody, Wyoming.
- Kanye West has also restored his childhood home in Chicago, completing renovations in 2023.
In late 2019, Kanye acquired an additional ranch in Wyoming, known as Monster Lake Ranch, for $14 million. He sold this ranch in June 2024.
Personal Life
Kanye West had a tumultuous relationship with designer Alexis Phifer from 2002 until 2008. Next, he was involved with model Amber Rose from 2008 to 2010. In April 2012, he began a relationship with reality star Kim Kardashian, marrying her in May 2014. The couple has four children together but divorced in 2022. Following that, Kanye briefly dated actress/model Julia Fox in 2022.
Reports in January 2023 indicated that Kanye and Australian architect Bianca Censori had informally tied the knot in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.
In October 2021, Kanye successfully requested a legal name change to “Ye.”
Kanye West Net Worth 2019
The following is the breakdown used to arrive at Kanye West’s 2019 net worth of $600 million:
Assets:
- Real estate holdings = $120 million
- Music catalog including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
- Valuation of the Yeezy brand = $500 million
- Other assets = $20 million
Total assets amount to = $720 million
Liabilities and other factors equal = $100 million
Net Worth for 2019 = $600 million (with 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 forecast data projected for 2025 and 2026. We extend the forecast data to cover the years 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: February 4, 2025