Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ice Cube’s Net Worth?

Ice Cube, an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur, boasts a net worth of $160 million. Transitioning from one of the pioneers of West Coast gangsta rap to a commanding figure in Hollywood, Ice Cube initially gained fame and wealth as a member of N.W.A. He later launched a highly prosperous solo career and has also written, produced, and starred in numerous films.

He achieved initial recognition as part of the revolutionary hip-hop group N.W.A., where he was a key songwriter. The albums of N.W.A., characterized by their incisive and contentious lyrics, played an essential role in making gangsta rap mainstream and greatly influenced the broader hip-hop genre.

In 1989, after departing from N.W.A., Ice Cube began a solo career that solidified his position as one of hip-hop’s most significant icons. His debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” was released in 1990, garnering both commercial success and critical acclaim for its social and political insights. Subsequent albums like “Death Certificate” and “The Predator” further delved into themes surrounding social justice, racial inequality, and urban struggles.

Ice Cube successfully transitioned into acting as well. He made his film debut in John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991, delivering a compelling performance that led to further acting roles. He played a starring role and contributed to the writing of “Friday” (1995), a comedy that evolved into a cult classic. Ice Cube’s filmography spans various genres, encompassing action (“xXx: State of the Union”), family comedy (“Are We There Yet?”), and drama (“Barbershop”).

His contributions as a producer and writer have also been noteworthy. Beyond acting, he produced many films in which he appeared, with his production company, Cube Vision, responsible for several successful film and television projects.

Early Life

Born O’Shea Jackson on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles, Ice Cube is the son of Doris, a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, who worked as a groundskeeper at UCLA. With an older brother and a half-sister who was tragically murdered when he was only 12, he grew up on Van Wick Street. By the age of 14, he began writing rap and hip-hop music, adopting his rapper name from his brother’s threat to toss him into a freezer, causing him to become an ice cube.

He completed his education at William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. At 16, he sold his first song to Eazy-E, who would later join N.W.A. Following high school, Ice Cube moved to Arizona in the fall of 1987 to study architectural drafting at the Phoenix Institute of Technology, finishing his diploma within a year before returning to Los Angeles to chase a career in rap.

Early Career

Ice Cube joined forces with his friend Sir Jinx to form the group C.I.A., performing at parties around L.A. that Dr. Dre hosted. In 1987, C.I.A. launched a track produced by Dr. Dre titled “My Posse.” Showing Eazy-E the lyrics to his rap “Boyz-n-the-Hood,” Ice Cube initially received a lukewarm response, with Eazy-E not liking the lyrics at first.

Later, Eazy-E recorded the song for “N.W.A. and the Posse,” the initial album from N.W.A., which featured Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube as well. The rhymes for Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, along with half of the lyrics for the group’s significant album, 1988’s “Straight Outta Compton,” were penned by Ice Cube. Despite his remarkable contributions, he received only $32,000. Following unresolved disputes over payment and official contracts, Ice Cube departed from N.W.A.

Solo Career

In May 1990, Ice Cube’s debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” was launched, quickly achieving success as rap gained immense popularity. That same year, he released the EP “Kill at Will,” which became the first hip-hop EP to attain Platinum status. In 1991, Ice Cube ventured into acting, portraying Doughboy in John Singleton’s crime drama “Boyz n the Hood,” a role that garnered critical acclaim.

His second album, “Death Certificate,” was released in 1991 and sparked controversy, leading to a divide among audiences and critics. While performing at Lollapalooza in 1992 helped him reach a broader audience, he released “The Predator” in November 1992, which topped both the pop and R&B charts, making history as the first album to achieve this dual success. Critically well-received, it remains his most commercially successful work, with over three million copies sold in the U.S.

The following year saw a decline in Ice Cube’s rap audience. Critics did not respond favorably to his fourth album, “Lethal Injection.” Subsequently, he took a break from music, delaying the release of his fifth album (“War & Peace Vol. 1”) until 1998. In 2000, he toured with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog on the “Up in Smoke Tour” and waited six more years to release his sixth album, “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” charts. Released on September 28, 2010, “I Am the West” became Ice Cube’s ninth solo album. Throughout the 2010s, he collaborated on various projects and worked with diverse artists, including stepping outside the hip-hop genre to create tracks with Trent Reznor and David Bowie. In 2018, he released his tenth solo album, “Everythang’s Corrupt,” following a series of singles released over the years.

Acting Career

Ice Cube made his debut in film acting with “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991. Throughout the following years, he appeared in several films. In 1995, he starred in “Friday,” a movie that…

Released to both critical acclaim and commercial success, the film was starred in, produced, and written by Ice Cube. Several sequels followed “Friday.”

In 1997, Ice Cube took on a role in “Anaconda.” The following year, he was the director, producer, writer, and star of “The Players Club.”

A selection of Ice Cube’s films includes “Are We There Yet” and its sequel, along with “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street.” He also appeared in “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” and “Fist Fight.” Additionally, he was a producer for the 2015 biopic of N.W.A., titled “Straight Outta Compton,” where his son O’Shea Jr. portrayed him.

In October 2021, news emerged that Ice Cube opted out of an upcoming comedy project named “Oh Hell No” after refusing to receive a COVID-19 vaccine—a requirement for filming in Hawaii. As a result, he forfeited a $9 million salary.

Other Ventures

In 1996, Ice Cube teamed up with Mack 10 and WC to form Westside Connection, releasing two albums together.

With a clothing line called Solo by Cube, Ice Cube offers hooded sweatshirts featuring built-in headphones. He became the spokesperson for Coors Light beer in 2011. On January 11, 2017, Ice Cube unveiled his new venture, Big3—a professional basketball league that showcases former NBA legends. The first season kicked off in June 2017.

In 2023, it was announced that Ice Cube collaborated with Jesse Collins to create a new docuseries about the Big3 sports league for Jesse Collins Entertainment, highlighting the league’s success and its journey to becoming a major player in the sports world.

Personal Life

On April 26, 1992, Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff, and together they have five children: O’Shea Jr. (born in 1991), Darrell (born in 1992), Karima (born in 1994), Deja (born in 1994), and Shareef (born in 1995). Ice Cube also has a granddaughter named Jordan.

During a January 2005 interview with NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Terry Gross asked Ice Cube if he allowed his children to listen to his music. He replied, “What’s worked for me is instilling in my kids a level of self-respect and helping them to understand the content of not just music but the violence found on the evening news.” When addressing the topic of profanity, he explained that he teaches his children there are appropriate times for any type of language but emphasized the importance of respecting adults by avoiding certain words around them.

Real Estate

In May 2016, Ice Cube purchased a home in Marina Del Rey, California, for $7.25 million from Jean-Claude Van Damme, who had acquired the property in 2012 for $6 million as a newly built spec mansion. Ice Cube and his wife also own a spacious mansion in Encino, California, which they bought in June 1996 for $2.36 million. This residence spans 1.11 acres and features seven bedrooms in an almost 8,000-square-foot main house, complemented by a pool, spa, and a full-sized basketball court.