How billionaire rapper Jay-Z made and spends his growing fortune
- The American – married to singer Beyoncé – earns millions from music and investments in clothing, alcohol and property
With a net worth of US$1 billion, the American rapper Jay-Z – husband of American superstar singer Beyoncé – is one of the wealthiest musicians in the world.
He has earned millions of dollars from sell-out tours and chart-topping albums over the course of his nearly 30-year career.
Yet music is far from his only moneymaking venture. Over the years, Jay-Z, 49 – whose real name is Shawn Carter – has turned his success in the hip-hop world into a fortune as an entrepreneur.
I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man
His ventures include entertainment labels, a clothing line, upmarket alcohol brands and the music-streaming service, Tidal.
Check out how Jay-Z has earned – and expanded – his 10-digit fortune.
Jay-Z may be a wealthy man today, but he came from humble beginnings.
The burden of poverty isn't just that you don't always have the things you need. It's the feeling of being embarrassed every day of your life
He grew up living in the Marcy Houses public housing estate, which offers subsidised rental accommodation for low-income families, in Brooklyn, New York.
“The burden of poverty isn't just that you don't always have the things you need,” Jay-Z said in 2010.
“It's the feeling of being embarrassed every day of your life, and you'd do anything to lift that burden.”
