Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Title: Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Last Updated: January 20, 2025
What is Kanye West’s net worth?
Kanye West, an American entrepreneur, fashion designer, rapper, and producer, boasts a net worth of $400 million. At one point when he was a multi-billionaire, he ranked among the three wealthiest self-made black individuals in American history. He achieved significant recognition with the release of his 2004 album, The College Dropout. Currently, he stands as one of the most awarded and successful musicians globally, with 24 Grammy victories from 75 nominations. Recently, he has shifted focus from music to business, generating a minimum of $100 million annually through his various ventures. A substantial portion of his income stems from royalties and earnings associated with his Yeezy brand and partnership with Adidas. However, his controversial opinions and behavior have resulted in the loss of many sponsors and partnerships in recent years.
Kanye fully owns the Yeezy apparel line. While collaborating with Adidas, he received a royalty for every dollar earned in revenue. The Yeezy brand reportedly generated $2 billion annually in revenue and $250 million in profit for Adidas. At the height of his collaboration with Adidas, the Yeezy brand was valued between $4 billion and $5 billion.
A UBS valuation from March 2021 estimated that Yeezy could contribute between $3 billion and $4 billion to Kanye’s net worth. Additionally, the same valuation indicated that his previous partnership with The Gap had previously added $1 billion to West’s net worth.
In evaluating Kanye West’s net worth as of mid-2021, the following assets and liabilities were taken into account:
Assets:
- Real estate assets valued at $120 million
- Music catalog, including G.O.O.D Music, worth $80 million
- Yeezy.com website valued at $100 million
- Estimated value of Yeezy brand at $5 billion
- Value attributed to Gap partnership at $1 billion
- Cash, equities, and other assets estimated at $400 million
Total asset valuation = $6.7 billion
Liabilities and additional considerations amount to $100 million
Net Worth = $6.6 billion
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Early Life and Career Beginnings
Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was just three years old, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother. There, he began to explore music after being mentored by producer/DJ No I.D.
Initially, he intended to enroll at the American Academy of Art in 1997 but later switched to Chicago State University to focus on English studies. Ultimately, he decided to drop out at the age of 20 to chase his passion for music.
After leaving college, West started producing beats for local musicians while refining his unique sound. His first credit as a producer came with the release of Chicago rapper Grave’s debut album, Down to Earth, in 1996. During this time, he also worked with artists like Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.
Rise to Fame and Music Career
A significant turning point for West occurred in 2000 when he began his production career at Roc-A-Fella Records, collaborating with artists such as Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His contributions to Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint sparked considerable interest in his production abilities. The roster of his production credits from this era includes major names such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.
While his production success was notable, West always aspired to be a rapper. In 2001, he successfully persuaded the head of Capitol Records to bring him on board with Roc-A-Fella after being turned down for a contract with Capitol.
In October 2002, a severe car accident left West with a shattered jaw, which motivated him to create the song Through the Wire, recording it while his jaw was still wired shut. This track became the cornerstone of his debut album, The College Dropout, which was leaked months ahead of its initial release date in August 2003. West took the opportunity to remix, remaster, and edit the album, delaying its launch three times. Eventually, The College Dropout premiered in February 2004, receiving widespread critical praise that led to 10 Grammy Award nominations and ultimately achieving triple platinum certification in the US.
When it came to his second album, West invested two million dollars in its production, even engaging a live string orchestra. Late Registration debuted in August 2005, selling over 2.3 million copies in the US by the year’s end. His following albums include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), the collaborative album with Jay-Z Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), the collaborative project with Kid Cudi Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).
In 2013, West released Yeezus, which peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, as well as topping the US R&B and US Rap charts and reaching the top in four additional countries. His album The Life of Pablo, released in 2016, also achieved #1 on the Billboard 200 and placed #2 on both the US Rap and US R&B charts. The single “FourFiveSeconds,” featuring Rihanna and Paul McCartney, reached #1 on the US R&B chart. In 2017, he earned six Grammy nominations. June 2018 marked the release of Ye, which, unfortunately, became the first album in Kanye’s discography not to receive platinum status.
Beyond his own work, West has remained active as a producer and featured artist for various musicians, including 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor. He has also embraced music-related projects such as his weekly “Sunday Service” performances with the Sunday Service Choir, which have taken place every Sunday since January 2019. Additionally, he partnered with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft to create 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 keen interest in fashion, marking his name as the inaugural non-athlete to sign a shoe deal with Nike through the launch of his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. He has also collaborated on footwear designs with renowned brands such as Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti. Furthermore, in 2011 and 2012, he launched two clothing lines during Paris Fashion Week.
In December 2013, an official announcement came from Adidas regarding its collaboration with West for a new shoe line. The Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in “Light Brown” debuted on February 14, 2015, exclusively for users in New York City via the Adidas mobile app, selling out in just 10 minutes. By December 2017, a total of 19 colors and six designs had emerged from the partnership between Adidas and Yeezy. Season 1 of West’s Yeezy clothing line premiered in 2015 in conjunction with Adidas, swiftly followed by Season 2 later that year, and then Season 3 in February 2016.
With the remarkable success of his initial releases, Adidas confirmed a long-term partnership with West in June 2016. Typically, Kanye receives a 10% royalty from the net earnings generated by Adidas, reaping a higher royalty for merchandise sold on his personal site, YeezySupply.com, compared to Adidas.com. Overall, his average blended royalty rate hovers around 10%.
It is important to highlight that, as of now, Kanye possesses complete ownership of the Yeezy apparel line.
G.O.O.D Music
Kanye established the G.O.O.D Music record label and production firm in 2004 in partnership with Sony BMG. The acronym “G.O.O.D” stands for “getting out our dreams,” and artists affiliated with the label encompass West himself, alongside John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.
Other Assets and Philanthropy
Additionally, he owns KW Foods LLC., which holds the rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain located in Chicago. In January 2012, West proclaimed the creation of DONDA, a creative content company named in dedication to his late mother, Donda West. Furthermore, he shares ownership of the music streaming service Tidal with several other music artists including Jay-Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, with most stakeholders owning a 3% equity stake.
His philanthropic efforts encompass the Kanye West Foundation, dedicated to improving education for African American and Latino children, alongside contributions of time, skills, and finances to various causes like Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth, among others. In June 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, Kanye donated $2 million, dividing the funds between the Floyd family and victims of police brutality, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
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Real Estate
Kanye West possesses approximately $100 million in real estate across the United States, including land, buildings, and residences. Below is an overview of his most significant real estate transactions.
While married, their main residence was a sprawling estate in Hidden Hills, California, a suburb of LA. This estate includes multiple adjoining parcels, the initial one purchased in 2014 through two transactions for a total of $23 million. The first version of their property showcased a newly constructed mansion on 4.5 acres. Over several years, the couple invested millions customizing, rearranging, and expanding the property. In 2019, they further increased their estate by acquiring neighboring properties in two separate transactions, consolidating into a vast 7.5-acre property. The total expenditure on real estate transactions alone totaled a remarkable $28.5 million to form the Hidden Hills estate, while tens of millions more were allocated for renovations. Currently, the assessed value of the Hidden Hills estate exceeds $60 million. In September 2021, Kim paid Kanye $23 million to transfer the property’s ownership to her name, with around $3 million directed towards the home’s furnishings.
Kanye acquired a beachfront residence in Malibu in September 2021 for $57.3 million. Designed by Tadao Ando, this home was constructed in 2013 for Wall Street executive Richard Sachs. Sachs spent seven years acquiring permits and completing the build. The final property measures 4,000 square feet, built with 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, and anchored by 12 pylons driven 60 feet into the sand. In 2020, Sachs listed the home for $75 million. Kanye never inhabited the residence and put it on the market in December 2023 for $53 million. According to the listing agent, prospective buyers should be ready to spend “several million dollars” to make the house livable following Kanye’s incomplete construction projects. Below is a drone video tour of the Malibu mansion:
Additionally, Kanye’s real estate portfolio encompasses:
- A $16 million, 320-acre estate located on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, where he has hosted his Sunday Services and previously attempted to construct a series of domed structures before being halted by the LA County Building Commission due to permit issues.
- A Wyoming ranch spanning 6,700 acres, known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch, valued at $15 million.
- A commercial property in Cody, Wyoming, worth $2 million.
- Kanye also possesses his childhood home in Chicago, which he completed renovations on in 2023.
Kanye acquired an additional ranch in Wyoming named Monster Lake Ranch for $14 million in late 2019, which he sold in June 2024.
Personal Life
West was in an alternating relationship with designer Alexis Phifer from 2002 until 2008 and dated model Amber Rose between 2008 and 2010. In April 2012, he started dating reality television star Kim Kardashian, and they wed in May 2014. The couple has four children together and finalized their divorce in 2022. For a brief time in 2022, Kanye entered into a relationship with actress/model Julia Fox.
In January 2023, reports emerged indicating that Kanye had entered into an informal marriage with Australian architect Bianca Censori during a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.
In October 2021, Kanye was granted approval to officially change his legal name to “Ye.”
Kanye West Net Worth 2019
The following is the breakdown used to calculate 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
- Yeezy brand value = $500 million
- Additional assets = $20 million
Total assets = $720 million
Liabilities and other factors = $100 million
2019 Net Worth = $600 million (with a conservative margin of error of $20 million)
Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)
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Data is sourced from 2023 and 2024, with forecasted data extending to 2025 and 2026. We also project data for 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: January 20, 2025
