Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Ja Rule’s Net Worth: How Much Does He Make?

Ja Rule, the American rapper, singer, and actor, boasts a net worth of $4 million. Back in the late ’90s, Ja Rule soared to fame as one of the most celebrated rappers globally. His hits like “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time” graced the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. However, his reputation took a hit when he became embroiled in the infamous Fyre Festival scandal alongside his partner Billy McFarland.

The Fyre Festival Debacle

Ja Rule was part of the team that organized the calamitous “Fyre Festival” scheduled for late April 2017 on a private Bahamian isle. The event resulted in a catastrophic failure. Attendees, some of whom paid exorbitant sums for tickets, found themselves stranded on a desolate, unsanitary terrain with inadequate provisions and shoddy FEMA tents for lodging. Most scheduled performers had already bailed upon learning about the festival’s dismal conditions even before the attendees arrived. A class-action lawsuit of $100 million was filed against Ja Rule and Billy McFarland by one festival-goer on May 1st, 2017. Ja Rule was eventually acquitted of any involvement in the incident in 2019.

Missed Opportunity in “Fast & Furious”

Ja Rule’s missed chance came in the 2001 movie “The Fast and the Furious,” where he portrayed the character “Edwin” for $15,000. The sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious” (2003), intended to elevate Ja to a leading role worth $500,000, as director John Singleton desired. Unfortunately, Ja Rule’s unresponsiveness and avoidance of Singleton’s attempts led the director to cast Ludacris, whose character “Tej Parker” became a fan favorite and scored him $20-30 million over several franchise installments. Ludacris now commands $5-8 million per film appearance.

Early Days of Ja Rule

Born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, Ja Rule was raised in Hollis by Debra and William Atkins. He immersed himself in the Jehovah’s Witnesses faith due to his parents’ busy schedules but eventually quit at age 12 to venture into drug peddling in Hollis. Frequent skirmishes in school due to his diminutive size marked his youth. Although Ja Rule didn’t graduate, he obtained his GED in 2012.

The Prelude to Ja Rule’s Career

Ja Rule’s journey started in 1994 as a member of the ensemble Cash Money Click. Shortly after, he rebranded himself as “Ja Rule.” The group independently churned out tracks like their debut single, “Get Tha Fortune,” in 1994. Despite signing with TVT Records, they faced label expulsion and disbanded following the incarceration of member Chris Black.

Rising to Prominence

Jay-Z and DMX featured Ja Rule on the song “Time to Build” by Mic Geronimo in 1998. That same year, Rule inked a deal with Def Jam and featured in Jay-Z’s hit single “Can I Get A…” His debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” topped the “Billboard” 200 chart in 1999. His subsequent albums garnered 3x Platinum certifications, claiming #1 on the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Following a string of albums, Ja Rule bid adieu to Def Jam in 2005 and paused his music stint until February 2011 when he commenced work on the album “Pain is Love 2.” Released a year later, the album coincided with his two-year jail term for tax evasion and firearm possession. He was freed in May 2013.

Post-release, Ja Rule and Gotti founded Murder Inc Records. His memoir “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man” hit shelves in 2014, followed by plans for his eighth studio album, which faced indefinite postponement.

In December 2016, Ja Rule graced “The Hamilton Mixtape” with his rendition of Alexander Hamilton’s verse in “Helpless,” performed by Ashanti. Confirming in June 2018, Ashanti revealed a collaboration with Ja Rule on a new album.

Ja Rule’s hit singles such as “Holla Holla,” “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real (Murder Remix),” “Ain’t It Funny,” “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize,” and “Wonderful” highlight his collaborations with artists like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, Ashanti, and R. Kelly. His acting chops were exhibited in movies like “The Fast and the Furious,” “Scary Movie 3,” and his co-starring role with Queen Latifah in 2004’s “The Cookout.”

Exploring Business for Ja Rule

Ja Rule ventured into the fashion world in 2004 with his clothing line ErvinGeoffrey. He delved into the spirit market in 2006 with The Mojito.

In 2021, Ja Rule collaborated with software gurus to initiate Flipkick, a venue to market physical artworks as non-fungible tokens. Notably, he auctioned off a Fyre Media logo portrait for $122,000 via the platform.

Ja Rule’s Personal Sphere

Ja Rule tied the knot with Aisha Murray and shares three offspring: Britney (b. 1995), Jeffrey (b. 2000), and Jordan (b. 2005).

In February 2021, Ja Rule wrapped up an online program at Harvard Business School, flaunting his completion certificate on Twitter.

Ja Rule’s Recognitions and Awards

The Grammy-nominated Ja Rule clinched three Source Awards, an MTV Video Music Award, a World Music Award, a BET Award, a “GQ” Men of the Year Award, a Teen Choice Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

Consider the Legal Hurdles

Ja Rule settled a lawsuit out of court in 2003 after assaulting a man in Toronto. The rapper faced arrests in 2004 for marijuana possession and driving sans a valid license, and in 2007 for charges related to guns and drugs. His stint behind bars lasted almost two years in federal confinement.Ja Rule faced charges related to gun possession and tax evasion. It was reported that he failed to pay taxes on $3 million worth of income earned between 2004 and 2006.

Feuds

Ja Rule has engaged in feuds with various artists and record labels including 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. The most notable feud was with 50 Cent in 1999 when they had a confrontation in Atlanta, following a video shoot in Queens. Ja Rule claimed to have struck 50 Cent with a baseball bat during this encounter. Another incident in New York City involved rapper Black Child, affiliated with Ja Rule’s Murder Inc, stabbing 50 Cent, leading to the latter requiring stitches. In May 2011, both rappers confirmed that they had resolved their feud.