Chamillionaire Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Chamillionaire’s Net Worth: What Is It?

American singer, rapper, and entrepreneur Chamillionaire has amassed a net worth of $50 million. Besides his thriving music career, he has significantly bolstered his wealth through diverse investment ventures and his leadership as the CEO of Chamillitary Entertainment, an entertainment company.

Early Days

Born as Hakeem Seriki on November 28, 1979, in Washington, D.C., Chamillionaire’s family relocated to Houston, Texas, when he was just three years old. He developed an interest in rap music during his time at Jersey Village High School. Chamillionaire has a sibling, Rasaq Seriki, who is also a rapper.

His Musical Journey

The stage moniker “Chamillionaire” blends “chameleon” and “millionaire.” Seriki and his rapper pal Paul Wall first encountered popular mixtape DJ Michael “5000” Watts while promoting at an event. They offered to help promote Watt’s company, Swishahouse, and persuaded him to let them freestyle on an intro to his radio show on Houston hip-hop station KBXX-FM. Watt’s recorded their freestyles on one of his mixtapes, launching their presence in the Houston rap scene and mixtape circuit. Seriki and Wall initiated the group The Color Changin’ Click and collaborated on the successful album “Get Ya Mind Correct” (2002), which sold over 150,000 copies. Nominated as independent album of the year in 2002 by “The Source” magazine, they gained recognition, with the Color Changin’ Click performing at the SXSW music festival in 2004.

Seriki’s solo debut album, “The Sound of Revenge,” was released in 2005 by Chamilitary Entertainment and Universal Records. The album debuted and peaked at #10 on the “Billboard” 200 chart in the United States and achieved platinum status from the RIAA. It spawned the chart-topping single “Ridin’,” which clinched him the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

“Ultimate Victory” (2007) marked Seriki’s second studio album, featuring collaborations with UGK, Lil Wayne, Devin the Dude, and Lloyd. He had plans for a third album titled “Venom,” slated for a 2011 release, but the project got shelved after his departure from Universal Records. He released the EP “Ammunition” in March 2012 and aimed to drop a third album, “Poison,” in 2013, which remains unreleased to date.

In addition to his studio albums, Seriki achieved immense success with his mixtape projects. His 2004 release “The Mixtape Messiah” included 61 tracks spread over three CDs, making it the lengthiest and highest-selling mixtape in Texas history. This was the maiden installment in the popular Mixtape Messiah series, which spanned seven mixtapes with subsequent releases in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. Seriki ventured into a new mixtape series called “Major Pain” in 2009, unveiling the first disc in February 2010. This was followed by the second “Major Pain” chapter in April 2011, along with the mixtapes “Badazz Freemixes,” “Badazz Freemixes 2,” and “Badazz Slowmixes.”

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Entrepreneurship and Business Ventures

In 2004, he established Chamillitary Entertainment, his record label. The roster included Lil Ken and Troy Henry, while past artists encompassed Yung Ro, 50/50 Twin, and Rasaq, his younger brother. The label boasts over 20 releases, comprising mixtapes and albums. Initially distributed by Universal Records, Chamillitary Entertainment went independent after Seriki’s exit from the major label in January 2011.

In 2003, Seriki made an investment in Houston-based auto dealer Fly Rydes, specializing in customizing cars—a prevalent practice in Texas. He also founded the modeling company Masterpiece Mind Frame. In collaboration with Quincy Jones III, Seriki launched the Global Innovation Tournament as part of the Stanford Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Seminar Series in 2009. Furthermore, in 2009, he invested in Maker Studios, an online video talent network later acquired by Disney for $500 million. Seriki’s initial stake in Maker Studios was $1.5 million, with his payout from the sale reportedly exceeding $20 million. He forged a partnership with Maker Studios founder Mark Suster, a managing partner at venture capital firm Upfront Ventures, securing an entrepreneur-in-residence role at the firm in 2015. With a reduced emphasis on music, Seriki has redirected his attention towards his business ventures.

One of Seriki’s notable investments includes Cruise Automation, a self-driving automation tech firm he backed in 2013. The investment proved lucrative, as General Motors acquired the company for over $1 billion in 2016. In January 2018, he unveiled the social media app Convoz, designed to enhance direct connections between influencers and their fan base. In May 2019, he and rapper E-40 publicized a $25,000 investment initiative in startups led by women or individuals of color. That September, they invested in Atoms, a footwear brand offering shoes in quarter sizes.

In 2022, Chamillionaire’s tech enterprise, X Empire Inc., launched the Access Club beta app, a members-only private social club catering to investment opportunities and exclusive connections with startups and companies seeking engagements with influential individuals.