Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, has made headlines in all entertainment media for allegedly abusing a 13-year-old girl in 2000 in the company of another rapper who is already facing multiple accusations of sexual crimes: Sean “Diddy” Combs .
It did not take long for Beyoncé’s husband to speak out and deny the accusations. In fact, it was reported that he is already planning a countersuit for defamation against the now woman who has preferred to remain anonymous.
And as the case continues to develop, Jay-Z’s name and career begin to raise many questions about his image.
Before the scandal, many users on social networks recognized the rapper for being the father of Queen B’s children. Many others recognize Jay-Z’s career for massive hits like “Niggas in Paris” alongside Kanye West and “Empire State of Mind” in the company of Alicia Keys.
However, very few know that Carter, despite having an artistic career that could be considered “discreet,” is currently the richest artist on the planet, amassing a fortune of USD 2.5 billion dollars.
Neither Elton John with his half-century of career, nor Paul McCartney collecting the juicy royalties from his time with the Beatles, nor Taylor Swift with her historic Eras Tour achieve the financial success of Jay-Z.
But, if Carter is not even close to having the Spotify views of the aforementioned artists, much less their power to attract concerts, how did he come to have such an immense fortune?
Shawn Carter grew up in a troubled neighborhood in Brooklyn, surrounded by violence and crime. His childhood was marked by the absence of a father, who abandoned him due to drug problems and was murdered when Jay-Z was only 11 years old. At 13 years old, Carter was involved in the sale of crack and cocaine. On one occasion, he even shot his brother in the shoulder during an argument.
His youth was marked by other incidents, such as when in 1999 he stabbed a record producer in a New York nightclub, for which he was sentenced to three years of probation.
Despite this turbulent past, Jay-Z managed to redirect his life. Music became his lifeline, thanks to a teacher who motivated him to follow his passion. He defied initial rejection from major labels by selling his own CDs and establishing his own record label in 1996. Over time, he not only became a successful artist whose record sales have earned him just over $70 million, but also a multifaceted businessman.
Jay-Z’s financial empire goes far beyond music. He has ventured into cinema, video games, fragrances and fashion. Currently, he is co-owner of the NBA team Brooklyn Nets and the exclusive Armand de Brignac champagne brand, considered his most valuable asset and whose value is estimated at USD 290 million dollars.
In addition, his participation in the D’Ussé cognac house adds almost USD 95 million to his assets, along with the record company Roc Nation and the streaming music service Tidal that adds more zeros to his fortune.
His impressive art collection and vast sum of cash and investments, including a sizable stake in Uber USD 65 million dollarsare other pillars of his fortune. In real estate, Jay-Z and his wife Beyoncé own properties in Manhattan, The Hamptons and an opulent estate in Bel-Air, Los Angeles.
These acquisitions reflect not only his financial success, but also his aspiration to offer a privileged environment to his family. After the birth of his twins, Rumi y Sirin 2017, made sure register your children’s nameslike that of his eldest daughter, Blue Ivyto protect them from commercial exploitation.
