Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed his billionaire status, overtaking JAY-Z as the wealthiest rapper alive.
In an Instagram post on Thursday, January 23, Kanye claimed his net worth now stands at $2.77 billion, citing Eton Venture Services, a business valuation company, as the source. “LAA LA LA LA,” Kanye wrote in the caption, seemingly addressing his critics.
According to Eton Venture Services, Kanye West’s financial resurgence is due to his music catalog and sole ownership of the Yeezy brand.
Forbes, a leading authority on celebrity net worth, has yet to verify this figure. As of Friday, January 24, the publication still estimates Kanye’s net worth at $400 million. However, if his $2.77 billion valuation is accurate, Kanye has surpassed JAY-Z, whose fortune Forbes pegs at $2.5 billion.
The two rap legends, who once collaborated on the Watch the Throne album, are the only rappers ever to become billionaires. Reports suggesting Dr Dre and Diddy had also reached this milestone have since been debunked.
50 Cent is also vying for billionaire status. He credits his growing media and spirits ventures with his rising wealth.
Kanye’s return to the billionaire ranks marks a significant turnaround from 2022 when he was stripped of the title after Adidas terminated their lucrative Yeezy partnership due to his controversial antisemitic remarks.
The split reportedly erased $1.5 billion from Kanye’s net worth, leaving him with an estimated $400 million. Following the fallout, Kanye admitted in early 2024 that he was on the brink of bankruptcy, saying to TMZ: “I’m gonna be honest with y’all: I was two months from going bankrupt, really… And we survived. We survived through the cancellation.”
Despite the financial hit, Kanye retained ownership of the Yeezy brand and has since made it independent. The brand’s resurgence has been remarkable, with its latest clothing drop generating seven-figure revenues within 24 hours.
The fallout with Kanye also affected Adidas. The sportswear giant reported a $246 million loss in net income in 2022 due to its severing ties with the Yeezy brand.
Now, with Yeezy’s independent success, Kanye appears to have weathered the storm, reclaiming his status among the world’s wealthiest entertainers.
