J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: February 2, 2025
What Is J. Cole’s Net Worth?
An American hip-hop recording artist, songwriter, and record producer, J. Cole has a net worth of $60 million. He was the first artist to be signed by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label. Consistently ranking among the highest-paid rappers globally, J. Cole typically earns around $30 million annually. Notably, in June 2023, he became a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets after Michael Jordan sold his share to a group that included him and country music star Eric Church.
His rise to fame started with the mixtape “The Come Up,” released in 2007. Following this, he released several more mixtapes, gaining substantial recognition and ultimately catching the eye of Jay-Z, who signed him to Roc Nation in 2009. J. Cole made his debut in studio albums with “Cole World: The Sideline Story” in 2011, which swiftly climbed to the top of the Billboard 200 chart. To date, he has released five additional studio albums, each achieving the same success on the Billboard 200. Renowned for his introspective lyrics, compelling storytelling, and socially conscious messages, Cole has established himself as a highly respected and influential figure within the rap community. He has collaborated with numerous prominent artists and received several Grammy nominations.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Cole founded Dreamville Records, a label that has signed several successful artists. He’s also actively engaged in philanthropic efforts, including the Dreamville Foundation, which focuses on empowering young people through educational and community outreach initiatives.
Early Life
Born Jermaine Lamarr Cole on January 28, 1985, in Frankfurt, West Germany, J. Cole’s childhood was affected by his father, a U.S. Army veteran who left the family when Cole was young. His mother, Kay, worked as a postal worker. When Cole was just eight months old, his mother relocated him and his older brother, Zach, to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where, at the age of 12, he began rapping. By 14, Cole had compiled notebooks full of verses but lacked the means to record them. His mother gifted him an 808 beat machine, enabling him to produce music independently. By 17, Cole began sharing his music online under the name “Therapist.” He graduated from high school with an impressive 4.2 GPA and earned a scholarship to St. John’s University in New York City, where he graduated with a 3.8 GPA.
Career
Cole gained recognition in 2007 after releasing his debut mixtape, “The Come Up.” This led to a significant milestone in his career when American rapper Jay-Z reached out to him and signed him to Roc Nation. In 2009, he released his second mixtape, “The Warm Up,” followed by “Friday Night Lights” in 2010. Cole supported Drake on tour in 2011. The same year, he launched his debut studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” which achieved #1 on the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts, earning a swift Platinum certification. His second album, “Born Sinner,” released in 2013, also debuted at #1 across these charts.
His third album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” released in 2014, similarly topped the Billboard 200, US Rap, and US R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Both “Born Sinner” and “2014 Forest Hills Drive” achieved Platinum status, with the latter earning J. Cole his first Grammy nomination for Best Rap Album. Following that, the album “4 Your Eyez Only” released in 2016, also reached #1 on these various charts and was certified Platinum shortly after. In 2018, he released his fifth album, “KOD,” which debuted at the top of the Billboard 200, marking it as his fifth #1 album. On January 26, 2020, J. Cole was awarded his first Grammy.
for their collaboration on the song “A Lot,” Cole received the Award for Best Rap Song.
Yearly Career Earnings of J. Cole: | |
2014 | $7 million |
2015 | $11 million |
2016 | $14 million |
2017 | $19 million |
2018 | $36 million |
2019 | $30 million |
Total: | $117 million |
The most notable singles by Cole include “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 achieved multiple BET Hip Hop Awards and received several Grammy nominations. Between June 2017 and June 2018, J. Cole’s earnings reached $36 million. Cole attributes his rapping style to the influences of Tupac Shakur, Jay Z, Eminem, Nas, and Andre 3000, having expressed his belief that Tupac, The Notorious BIG, Nas, and Jay Z are the greatest rappers in history.
(Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Additional Ventures
In addition to his thriving rap career, Cole is also a producer. Together with Ibrahim Hamad, he founded Dreamville Records in early 2007. Over the years, Dreamville Records has released nine albums, three of which achieved Platinum status. J. Cole has also produced tracks for artists like Janet Jackson and Kendrick Lamar, among others. Additionally, he holds a minor stake in Tidal.
Cole established a non-profit organization known as The Dreamville Foundation in October 2011. This foundation conducts various charitable events aimed at assisting underprivileged youth, including a back-to-school supply drive and a book club for young men. The Dreamville Foundation also organizes writing contests and career days. In 2014, Cole bought back his childhood home, which had been reclaimed from his mother years ago, for $120,000 with the intention of converting it into rent-free housing for single mothers and their children. He hosts the annual Dreamville Festival concert series that showcases local music, culture, artists, and food, along with performances from well-known artists such as Nelly, Big Sean, and 21 Savage. The festival proceeds support the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy in Raleigh, NC, as well as the Dreamville Foundation.
In 2020, J. Cole revealed a multi-year partnership with PUMA, becoming an ambassador for the footwear and apparel brand. Later that year, they launched their first collaborative shoe, the PUMA RS-Dreamer.
In 2022, J. Cole inked a deal with the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. This followed a contract he signed in 2021 with the Patriots Basketball Club of the Basketball Africa League, during which he played for three games, scoring five points, alongside three assists and five rebounds over a total of 45 minutes.
Controversies
Cole and DiddyAt the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in NYC, an altercation occurred involving multiple parties. The incident was triggered when Diddy confronted Kendrick Lamar regarding a verse from one of his songs and attempted to pour a drink on Lamar. Cole stepped in, which resulted in a confrontation between the two, drawing in their respective crews and leading to a minor brawl. A few months after this event, Cole and Diddy publicly declared that their rivalry had ended.
The songs “Everybody Dies” and “False Prophets” by Cole have ignited controversy within the hip-hop community, prompting speculation among fellow rappers that Cole was targeting Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Yachty. Additionally, it is believed that the first verse of “False Prophets” is aimed at Kanye West. Cole was rumored to have had an ongoing feud with rapper Lil Pump since April 2018; however, the two met for an interview in May 2019, during which they clarified that they had resolved their differences and moved past the rumors.
Personal Life
Melissa Heholt is Cole’s wife. They both attended St. John’s University, and she currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dreamville Foundation. In a radio interview from May 2018, J. Cole shared that they have a son, and he revealed in July 2019 that they were expecting another child.
In terms of nationality, J. Cole holds dual citizenship in both Germany and the United States.
J. Cole Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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The data comes from 2023 and 2024, with forecast information available for 2025 and 2026. Additionally, we have extended the forecast through 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 2, 2025