Jay-Z might have 99 problems, but a fortune ain’t one: The rap mogul is now considered a billionaire

The bona fide title comes by way of Forbes, which conservatively estimates a 10-figure fortune, accounting for his “superstar lifestyle.” Of equal note, the Brooklyn-bred rapper is reported to be the first hip-hop artist to reach billionaire status.

That’s a title that could be contested by fellow mogul Dr. Dre, who declared himself “the first billionaire in hip-hop” in 2014 around the time he cut an estimated $3.2-billion deal with Apple for Beats Electronics. However, at the time, Forbes estimated his value climbing to $800 million.

Like Dre, though, Jay-Z’s fortune isn’t attributed to his musical success but is a consequence of the name recognition it afforded him. Forbes reported that his empire-building prowess came from recognizing “that he should build his own brands rather than promote someone else’s.”

Jay-Z’s business savvy can be traced back to the launch of his Roc-A-Fella record label to release his 1996 debut album “Reasonable Doubt.” Several critically acclaimed albums followed (14 of which went No. 1), as well as 22 Grammy Awards.

He’s also married to singer-turned-business shark Beyoncé. Together, they surpassed the billion-dollar mark in 2017.

Jay-Z has since amassed his wealth through massive liquor, art and real estate deals, by buying stakes in companies such as Uber and starting up the streaming service Tidal.

— Los Angeles Times