Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Wondering about Kanye West’s net worth?

With a net worth of $400 million, Kanye West is an American producer, rapper, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. He was once among the three richest self-made black individuals in US history when he was a multi-billionaire. Kanye’s fame rose significantly following the release of his 2004 album The College Dropout. Today, he stands as one of the most successful and awarded musicians globally, boasting 24 Grammy wins out of 75 nominations. In recent times, he has shifted his focus from music to the business realm, raking in at least $100 million annually from various ventures. Predominantly, his earnings stem from royalties and related income tied to his Yeezy label and Adidas collaboration. Despite his lucrative ventures, his outspoken opinions and controversies have led to losing several sponsors and partnerships in recent years.

Kanye fully owns the Yeezy apparel line and earned a royalty on each dollar of revenue generated during his partnership with Adidas. The Yeezy brand reeled in $2 billion annually in revenue, with $250 million in profit for Adidas. At its peak during the Adidas partnership, the estimated worth of the Yeezy brand was pegged at $4 – $5 billion.

By March 2021, a valuation by UBS suggested that Yeezy could add $3-4 billion to Kanye’s net worth bottom line. The same report indicated that Kanye’s former collaboration with The Gap had previously added $1 billion to his net worth.

Upon evaluating Kanye West’s net worth in mid-2021, key assets and liabilities to consider were:

Assets:

• Value of real estate assets = $120 million
• Music catalogue, including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
• Yeezy.com website valuation = $100 million
• Assessed worth of Yeezy brand = $5 billion
• Value of The Gap partnership = $1 billion
• Includes cash, equities, and other assets totaling $400 million

Total assets sum up to $6.7 billion

Liabilities and other considerations amount to $100 million

Overall Net Worth = $6.6 billion

Insight into Early Life and Career Start

Born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia, Kanye Omari West faced his parents’ separation at age three. He relocated with his mother to Chicago, where his foray into music commenced after crossing paths with producer/DJ No I.D., who took him under his wing. Initially, Kanye secured a scholarship for the American Academy of Art in 1997 but later shifted to Chicago State University to study English. Eventually, at age 20, he abandoned formal education to pursue a music career.

Upon departing college, Kanye began crafting beats for local artists while refining his distinct style. His debut production credits trace back to his work on Chicago rapper Grave’s first album, Down to Earth, in 1996. Noteworthy artists during this period for whom he produced include Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.

Journey to Stardom and Musical Path

In 2000, Kanye’s pivotal moment arrived as he commenced work as a producer at Roc-A-Fella Records, collaborating with luminaries like Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His contributions to Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint swiftly drew considerable attention to his prowess as a producer. During this period, West’s production portfolio boasted big names like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.

Despite excelling as a producer, Kanye’s aspiration primarily leaned towards rap. By 2001, he successfully persuaded the head of Capitol Records to sign him to Roc-A-Fella Records after an initial Capitol Records contract refusal.

Following a grave car accident in October 2002 that left his jaw shattered, West was inspired to pen the song Through the Wire while his jaw mended. This track served as the cornerstone for his inaugural album, The College Dropout, which was leaked months ahead of its slated release in August 2003. Seizing the opportunity, West proceeded to remix, refine, and edit the album, postponing its launch three times. Ultimately, The College Dropout hit the shelves in February 2004 to widespread critical acclaim, bagging him 10 Grammy Award nominations and eventually attaining triple platinum certification in the US.

As he delved into his sophomore album, West poured two million dollars into its production, even enlisting a live string orchestra. Late Registration arrived in August 2005, swiftly moving over 2.3 million units across the US by year-end. Subsequent albums in his discography include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), a collaborative effort with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), a joint venture with Kid Cudi Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).

In 2013, West dropped the album Yeezus, which soared to the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart along with topping the US R&B and US Rap charts and similar achievements in four other nations. His release of The Life of Pablo in 2016 also scaled the heights, claiming the #1 rank on the Billboard 200 chart and securing the #2 slots on the US Rap and US R&B charts.

Reached #1 on the US R&B chart was West’s single “FourFiveSeconds” with Rihanna and Paul McCartney, with his nomination for six Grammy Awards in 2017. Released in June 2018 was his next album, Ye,, which unfortunately marked the first in Kanye’s career not to go platinum.

Continuing to work as a producer and featured artist for other musicians such as 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor, West has also ventured into music-related projects. These include his weekly orchestration “Sunday Service” with the Sunday Service Choir since January 2019, and his collaboration with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft on two operas, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary.

Kanye West Earnings By Year:
2007	$17,000,000
2008	$30,000,000
2009	$25,000,000
2010	$12,000,000
2011	$16,000,000
2012	$35,000,000
2013	$20,000,000
2014	$30,000,000
2015	$22,000,000
2016	$18,000,000
2017	$22,000,000
2018	$90,000,000
2019	$100,000,000
2020	$200,000,000
2021	$100,000,000
2022	$100,000,000
Total:	$637,000,000

Yeezy

With a strong interest in fashion, West was the first non-athlete to secure a shoe deal with Nike for his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. Collaborating on designs with Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti, he also unveiled two clothing lines at Paris Fashion Week in 2011 and 2012.

Adidas officially announced its collaboration with West in December 2013, marking the debut of the Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in “Light Brown” on February 14, 2015. By December 2017, a total of 19 colors and six designs had been released in the Adidas and Yeezy sneaker collaboration. The Yeezy clothing line premiered in 2015, with subsequent releases in 2016.

Signing a long-term contract with Adidas in June 2016 following successful releases, Kanye earns around a 10% royalty on net revenues from Adidas on average. Notably, he garners a higher royalty for items sold via his website, YeezySupply.com, as opposed to Adidas.com, maintaining a blended average royalty rate of about 10%. Kanye holds 100% ownership over the Yeezy apparel line.

G.O.O.D Music

Establishing the record label and production company G.O.O.D Music in 2004 with Sony BMG, Kanye’s label houses artists like John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.

Other Assets and Philanthropy

Aside from his music ventures, Kanye owns KW Foods LLC., holding rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain in Chicago. Launching DONDA in January 2012, a creative content company named after his late mother, Kanye also co-owns music streaming service Tidal with artists like Jay-Z and Rihanna. Involved in philanthropy activities like the Kanye West Foundation, aiding education for African American and Latino children, he supports various causes such as Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth, among others. In June 2020, Kanye donated $2 million towards the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor in light of their struggles with police brutality.

Real Estate

With real estate holdings of approximately $100 million in the US, Kanye’s notable acquisitions and sales include the Hidden Hills estate he shared with Kim during their marriage. Acquiring multiple parcels in Hidden Hills since 2014, totaling over 7.5 acres, the estate has seen extensive customization and expansions, with an assessed value over $60 million. In September 2021, Kim transferred the property into her name for $23 million.

In September 2021, Kanye acquired a beachfront home in Malibu for $57.3 million. Designed by Tadao Ando, the 4,000-square-foot home was initially built for Wall Street tycoon Richard Sachs, showcasing unique materials and design. Kanye listed the property in December 2023 for $53 million, acknowledging necessary post-construction work. Interested buyers may need to allocate additional funds for renovations.

Explore this drone video tour of Kanye’s Malibu residence:

Other…Included in the real estate assets are:

• A $16 million, 320-acre estate on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, where his Sunday Services have been hosted. This is also where he tried to construct a series of domed structures, a project that was halted by the LA County Building Commission due to permit issues.
• Bighorn Mountain Ranch, a 6,700-acre ranch in Wyoming valued at $15 million.
• A $2 million commercial property in Cody, Wyoming.
• Kanye West also retains ownership of his childhood home in Chicago, which he finished restoring in 2023.

In late 2019, Kanye acquired Monster Lake Ranch in Wyoming for $14 million, which he later sold in June 2024.

Personal Life

Between 2002 and 2008, West had an on-and-off relationship with designer Alexis Phifer. Following this, he dated model Amber Rose from 2008 to 2010. By April 2012, he entered a relationship with reality star Kim Kardashian, eventually tying the knot in May 2014. Together, they have four children and finalized their divorce in 2022. In a brief period in 2022, Kanye dated actress/model Julia Fox.

Reports surfaced in January 2023 of Kanye’s informal marriage to Australian architect Bianca Censori in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.

In October 2021, Kanye successfully changed his legal name to “Ye.”

Kanye West Net Worth 2019

We calculated Kanye West’s net worth in 2019 to be $600 million, considering:

Assets:

• Real estate assets = $120 million
• Music catalog including G.O.O.D Music = $80 million
• Value of Yeezy brand = $500 million
• Other assets = $20 million

Total assets amounted to $720 million, with liabilities and other considerations at $100 million, resulting in a net worth of $600 million in 2019 (allowing for a $20 million conservative margin of error).