50 Cent Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is 50 Cent’s net worth?

With a net worth estimated at $40 million, 50 Cent is an American rapper, producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He gained prominence in the early 2000s when his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’” launched him into international stardom, achieving multiple platinum certifications and producing hits such as “In Da Club.” His following albums, such as “The Massacre,” also experienced significant success. Renowned for his unique style that merges aggressive lyrics with memorable hooks, 50 Cent has sold millions of albums globally. His impact, however, goes beyond music; he has made notable business moves, particularly with his investment in Vitamin Water, which yielded a hefty payout upon its sale to Coca-Cola. Moreover, he has successfully ventured into film and television as both an actor and a producer, with his semi-autobiographical TV series “Power” becoming a popular title, giving rise to several spin-offs.

Through various projects, including record sales, tours, and brand partnerships, 50 Cent has amassed between $200-300 million during his career. Sadly, his extravagant expenditures, especially in real estate, cars, and legal battles, led him to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2015, an event we will discuss further in this article. Before this financial setback, his peak fortune exceeded $100 million.

Early Life

Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, in Queens, New York City, 50 Cent was brought up in the South Jamaica neighborhood by his mother, Sabrina, a drug dealer who passed away when he was just eight years old. Subsequently, he was raised by his grandmother. At the age of 12, he began to deal narcotics after school. While in 10th grade, his troubles mounted when he was caught with guns and drug money by metal detectors at his high school, leading to his arrest. In 1994, he faced another arrest for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer. A subsequent police raid of his home discovered heroin, crack cocaine, and a firearm, resulting in a six-month boot camp sentence from which he earned his GED.

Early Career and Shooting

Jackson garnered attention with a controversial underground rap single titled “How To Rob.” In May 2000, his plans to release “Thug Love,” a collaboration with Destiny’s Child, were interrupted when he was shot and ended up hospitalized. This violent episode occurred outside his grandmother’s residence in Queens, where an assailant, identified as Darryl Baum (who was Mike Tyson’s bodyguard), fired nine shots, hitting 50 Cent in multiple areas including his hand, arm, hip, legs, chest, and cheek. The attacker was subsequently killed three weeks later. Jackson remained hospitalized for 13 days during which time he signed a publishing deal with Columbia Records. However, his attempt to release the song “Ghetto Qu’ran” led to him being dropped by the label and blacklisted in the recording industry in the United States. As a result, he moved to Canada to record music for mixtapes, ultimately increasing his popularity. In 2002, he released the mixtape “Guess Who’s Back?”.

Rise to Fame

In 2002, 50 Cent was discovered by Eminem, who was so taken with “Guess Who’s Back?” that he invited Jackson to Los Angeles.meeting Dr. Dre. After signing a $1 million record deal, 50 Cent released “No Mercy, No Fear.” Moreover, a song by 50 Cent was featured in Eminem’s movie, “8 Mile,” contributing to his rise in popularity. He gained extraordinary fame in 2003 with his debut album “Get Rich or Die Trying,” which not only debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts but also sold nearly a million copies within its first four days. In a record-breaking week, the lead single, “In Da Club,” became the most-listened-to song in radio history. Subsequently, Interscope granted 50 his own label, G-Unit Records. In March 2005, Jackson launched his next album, “The Massacre,” which proved to be another massive success, selling 1.14 million copies in its first four days and reigning atop the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks. His third album, “Curtis,” was released in 2007, making its debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The fourth album, “Before I Self Destruct,” came out in November 2009. Delays caused by disputes with his record label pushed the release of his fifth album, “Street King Immortal,” to November 2012. As of now, his studio albums have amassed sales exceeding 21 million units.

Other pursuits

During his relatively brief time in the limelight, 50 Cent established G-Unit Records, initiated a clothing line named G-Unit, and even appeared in various films alongside icons like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Furthermore, he launched a boxing promotion company called The Money Team in 2012.

Bankruptcy Filing

On July 13, 2015, the Wall Street Journal highlighted that 50 Cent had sought Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy protection. This filing occurred in the US bankruptcy court located in Hartford, Connecticut, as he was a resident of the state at that time.

At the filing’s time, 50 was residing in Mike Tyson’s former mansion at 50 Poplar Hill Dr, Farmington, CT 06032. Within the documents, his reported assets were evaluated to be between $10 million and $50 million, with debts claimed to be of similar amounts.

The bankruptcy petition came just days after a jury ruled for 50 to compensate Rick Ross’ ex-girlfriend, Lavonia Leviston, with a $5 million judgment for the intentional release of a sex tape featuring her. This judgment included $2.5 million for unauthorized use of her image and an additional $2.5 million for emotional distress. The presiding judge also mandated Mr. Jackson to provide proof of income and net worth for further assessment of potential punitive damages.

This $5 million judgment followed a prior ruling from a different judge, who ordered 50 to pay $17.5 million due to trademark infringement linked to a past collaboration in a headphone venture. Altogether, he faced potential legal liabilities amounting to $22.5 million before any punitive damages from the sex tape case were considered.

The bankruptcy filing was strategically undertaken for three key reasons:

• #1) To obstruct the judgment creditor (Lavonia Leviston) from interfering with his business operations and imposing liens on his properties.
• #2) To compel the creditor into negotiations to reduce the $5 million judgment.
• #3) To avertthe jury in the sex tape case was prevented from awarding further punitive damages to Ms. Leviston.

Later, he explained:

“Once you achieve success, you become a target. I don’t want to be in the crosshairs. I don’t wish for anyone to single me out as the person they can approach with outrageous claims and endure all that hassle. I’m taking the necessary precautions that any prudent business person would undertake in this situation.“

In response, his lawyer stated:

“The filing allows Mr. Jackson to maintain his involvement with various business ventures and continue his work as an entertainer while he navigates an orderly reorganization of his financial matters.”

Vitamin Water Deal

The most astute financial move made by 50 Cent was his negotiation for a minority stake in Vitamin Water in exchange for being their celebrity spokesperson and endorsing the “Formula 50” drink.

In 2007, Coca-Cola acquired Glacéau, the company behind Vitamin Water, for $4.1 billion. It is widely believed that 50 Cent earned approximately ten times the amount he had garnered from his music career prior to this deal.

Initially reported as a 10% equity stake in Vitamin Water, this would translate into a pre-tax gain of $410 million. However, investment bankers familiar with the transaction later suggested that 50’s stake was more realistically around 2.5%. A 2.5% share would imply that 50 Cent realized between $100-150 million from the sale (before taxes).

Earnings By Year

2007: $32 million

2008: $150 million

2009: $20 million

2010: $8 million

2011: $6 million

2012: $7 million

2013: $7 million

2014: $8 million

2015: $4 million

2016: $6 million

2017: $5 million

2018: $4 million

2019: $4 million

Total: $261 million

Effen Vodka Deal

In July 2017, reports emerged (but remained unconfirmed) suggesting that 50 Cent sold his minority stake in Effen Vodka for $60 million. He took to Instagram to acknowledge that the deal occurred, although he did not specifically affirm the $60 million figure, which was mentioned by DJ Envy during The Breakfast Club radio show. Envy shared the figure but failed to provide a source or verification. It’s feasible that the number originated from 50, which would add intrigue and could indicate its authenticity, but it may also be an exaggeration. We are awaiting further official confirmation, and thus, this number is not included in the aforementioned net worth of 50 Cent.

Starz Deal

In October 2018, 50 Cent entered into a four-year overall agreement with Starz, the cable network host for his drama show, “Power.” This deal, which encompasses a commitment to produce three series, could potentially be valued at $150 million upon meeting all set milestones.

Personal Life

50 Cent shares a son with his former girlfriend, Shaniqua Tompkins. His name is Marquise Jackson.

Born in October 1996, Tompkins later pursued a lawsuit against Jackson seeking $50 million, which was ultimately dismissed. The two have had numerous disputes over social media.

In 2005, 50 supported President George W. Bush following Kanye West’s criticisms regarding the president’s slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Subsequently, in 2008 and 2016, Jackson showed his support for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, respectively. Despite the themes present in many of his lyrics, Jackson abstains from drugs and alcohol.

In May 2016, after passing through Cincinnati International Airport, Jackson confronted a janitor, insulting him based on an accusation of intoxication. The incident came to light as the janitor was actually an autistic and hearing-impaired teenager. Following the viral video, the teenager’s parents considered legal action against 50 Cent. They ultimately reached a settlement that involved a $100,000 donation from 50 Cent to Autism Speaks along with an apology.

Connecticut Mansion

In 2003, 50 Cent acquired a 17-acre estate in Connecticut, which boasts a 50,000-square-foot home featuring 37 bathrooms, 21 bedrooms, a gym, a casino, and a nightclub. Prior to him, the property was owned by Mike Tyson. At the time of the purchase, Tyson was navigating a divorce and had filed for bankruptcy. He was compelled to transfer the mansion to his ex-wife, Monica Turner, who subsequently sold it to 50 Cent for $4.1 million. 50 Cent then invested an extra $6 million into enhancing the property, which included adding a private movie theater, an infinity pool, and a helicopter pad.

During his bankruptcy proceedings in 2015, it was revealed by 50’s attorneys that the upkeep and financing of the mansion typically costs around $72,000 each month, with utility expenses reaching $18,000 alone.

Initially, in 2007, 50 tried to sell the estate for $18.5 million but was unsuccessful. Since then, he has continued to seek buyers without luck. In September 2018, he reduced the asking price down to $4.995 million, but still no buyers came forward. In April 2019, he eventually sold the property for $2.9 million, resulting in an 84% discount from his original asking price and a $1.2 million loss compared to what he paid.