Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ja Rule’s Net Worth?

The net worth of Ja Rule, an American rapper, singer, and actor, stands at $4 million. In the late 1990s, he was among the most famous rappers globally, with hits like “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time” charting on the “Billboard” Hot 100. His later years were marked by a tarnished reputation due to his involvement in the notorious Fyre Festival scandal, which led to his business partner Billy McFarland ending up in prison.

Fyre Festival

In 2017, Ja Rule co-organized the “Fyre Festival,” meant to occur on a private Bahamian island in late April. Unfortunately, the event turned into a major failure. Attendees, some of whom spent thousands of dollars on tickets, found themselves stranded on a littered gravel lot with minimal food and only FEMA disaster tents for shelter. By the time the festival-goers arrived, most of the planned performers had already canceled due to the appalling conditions. On May 1, 2017, a festival attendee filed a $100 million class-action lawsuit against Ja Rule and his co-founder Billy McFarland. In 2019, Ja Rule was exonerated of any misdeeds linked to the incident.

“Fast & Furious” Lost Payday

Ja Rule made a notable cameo as street racer “Edwin” in the 2001 film “The Fast and the Furious,” for which he received $15,000. For the sequel, 2003’s “2 Fast 2 Furious,” director John Singleton aimed to feature Ja Rule as a primary actor again, offering him $500,000 to reprise his role. Unfortunately, Ja Rule did not respond to Singleton’s attempts to contact him. Singleton even tracked him down at a recording studio but was met with indifference once more. Consequently, Singleton turned to Ludacris, who went on to portray “Tej Parker,” a character that became a fan favorite and has appeared in SEVEN installments of the franchise. So far, Ludacris has earned between $20-30 million from this role, with his current compensation for film appearances ranging from $5-8 million each.

Early Life

Born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, Ja Rule grew up in Hollis under the care of his parents, Debra and William Atkins. Spending ample time with his Jehovah’s Witness grandparents while his parents worked, he practiced the faith until the age of 12. He then turned to selling drugs in Hollis and frequently found himself in conflicts at school due to his smaller stature. While he did not graduate high school, he obtained his GED in 2012.

Early Career

Initiating his career in 1994 as a member of Cash Money Click, he quickly adopted the stage name “Ja Rule.” The group released various songs independently, particularly their debut single, “Get Tha Fortune,” in 1994. After signing with TVT Records, they faced a setback when they were dropped and subsequently disbanded within a year due to the arrest and incarceration of a fellow member, Chris Black.

Success

The song “Time to Build” by Mic Geronimo marked Ja Rule’s first solo appearance, featuring fellow artists Jay-Z and DMX. In 1998, Rule signed with Def Jam and appeared on the Jay-Z single “Can I Get A…” later that year. His debut album, titled “Venni Vetti Vecci,” made its way to release in 1999 and ultimately achieved the #1 position on the “Billboard” 200 chart. Both his second and third albums earned 3x Platinum certification and reached #1 on the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The fourth album, which released on November 19, 2002, entered at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 and generated two hit singles. His fifth and sixth albums followed in 2003 and 2004. After the release of a sixth studio album and a greatest hits collection, Ja Rule ended his contract with Def Jam in 2005, taking a hiatus until February 2011 when he revealed the development of a new album, “Pain is Love 2.” Released a year later, this came during his two-year prison sentence for tax evasion and gun possession. He regained his freedom in May 2013.

Post-incarceration, Ja Rule, alongside Gotti, founded Murder Inc Records. In 2014, he published a memoir titled “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man.” Shortly thereafter, he announced his eighth studio album; however, its release was delayed indefinitely.

In December 2016, Ja Rule contributed to “The Hamilton Mixtape,” rapping Alexander Hamilton’s part in “Helpless,” a song performed by Ashanti. In June 2018, Ashanti confirmed that she and Ja Rule were working together on a new album.

Among Ja Rule’s most prominent singles are “Holla Holla,” “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real (Murder Remix),” “Ain’t It Funny,” “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize,” and “Wonderful.” His collaborations include notable names such as Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, Ashanti, and R. Kelly. Additionally, he has established an acting career, appearing in films like “The Fast and the Furious” and “Scary Movie 3,” alongside Queen Latifah in the 2004 film “The Cookout.”

Business Ventures

In 2004, Ja Rule established his own clothing line, named ErvinGeoffrey. Two years later, he initiated a liquor company called The Mojito.

In 2021, he collaborated with a group of software engineers to create Flipkick, a platform designed for selling physical artwork as non-fungible tokens. Reportedly, he auctioned a portrait of the Fyre Media logo for $122,000 on this platform.

Personal Life

Aisha Murray is Ja Rule’s spouse, and together they have three children: Britney (born 1995), Jeffrey (born 2000), and Jordan (born 2005).

In February 2021, after completing an online course at Harvard Business School, Ja Rule took to Twitter to share his certificate of completion.

Accolades

Nominations for four Grammys highlight Ja Rule’s career, along with three Source Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, one World Music Award, one BET Award, one “GQ” Men of the Year Award, one Teen Choice Award, and an NAACP Image Award that he has won.

Legal Problems

FollowingIn 2003, after a physical altercation involving a man in Toronto, Rule settled a lawsuit privately. By 2004, he faced arrest for marijuana possession and driving with a license that had been suspended. In 2007, he was taken into custody on charges related to gun and drug possession. Ultimately, he spent almost two years in federal prison due to gun violations and tax evasion. Reportedly, he neglected to pay taxes on an income of $3 million accrued from 2004 to 2006.

Feuds

Feuds involving Ja Rule include notable tensions with 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, as well as Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. The most public feud emerged with 50 Cent in 1999, following a video shoot in Queens, as 50 Cent allegedly disapproved of Ja Rule receiving significant affection from the Hollis community. The two confronted one another in Atlanta, and Ja Rule asserts that he struck 50 Cent with a baseball bat. A further altercation happened in New York City where Black Child, a rapper signed under Ja Rule’s Murder Inc, stabbed 50 Cent, necessitating stitches for him. By May 2011, both rappers confirmed that their feud had come to an end.