Kanye West Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Kanye West’s net worth?

With a net worth of $400 million, Kanye West is an entrepreneur, fashion designer, rapper, and producer from the United States. At one point, when he was a multi-billionaire, he ranked among the three wealthiest self-made Black individuals in American history. He gained significant recognition following the release of his 2004 album, The College Dropout. Presently, Kanye is considered one of the most successful and celebrated musicians globally, having won 24 Grammy Awards from 75 nominations. In recent years, he has shifted his focus from music to business, generating at least $100 million annually through several ventures. The majority of his income is derived from royalties and other earnings associated with his Yeezy brand and partnership with Adidas. However, his controversial statements and views have led to the loss of numerous sponsors and collaborations in recent years.

Kanye holds full ownership of the Yeezy apparel line, with a 100% stake. While collaborating with Adidas, he earned a royalty on every dollar of revenue produced. The Yeezy brand generated $2 billion in annual revenue, resulting in $250 million in profit for Adidas. At the height of his partnership with Adidas, the Yeezy brand’s estimated value was between $4 and $5 billion.

In March 2021, a valuation by UBS suggested that Yeezy could contribute an additional $3-4 billion to Kanye’s net worth. The same report indicated that Kanye’s previous partnership with The Gap had previously added around $1 billion to his net worth.

When evaluating Kanye West’s net worth in the middle of 2021, we took into account the following assets and liabilities:

Assets:

• Real estate holdings valued at $120 million
• Music catalog, including G.O.O.D Music, estimated at $80 million
• The Yeezy.com website valued at $100 million
• The Yeezy brand valued at $5 billion
• The Gap partnership valued at $1 billion
• Cash, equities, and other assets totaling $400 million

Total assets amount to $6.7 billion

Total liabilities and considerations equal $100 million

Net Worth = $6.6 billion

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Kanye Omari West was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. After his parents divorced when he was three, he relocated to Chicago, Illinois, with his mother. There, he started to explore music after meeting producer/DJ No I.D., who became his mentor. He received a scholarship

Initially enrolled at the American Academy of Art in 1997, West later transferred to Chicago State University, where he pursued a degree in English. Ultimately, at the age of 20, he decided to leave school to follow his passion for music.

Once he dropped out of college, West started creating beats for local musicians while developing his unique style. His first official production credit came in 1996 with Chicago rapper Grave’s debut album, Down to Earth. During this period, he also produced tracks for other artists, including Foxy Brown, Deric “D-Dot” Angelettie, and Harlem World.

Rise to Fame and Music Career

In 2000, West secured a significant opportunity when he began to produce for Roc-A-Fella Records, collaborating with artists like Ludacris, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson. His work on Jay-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint sparked considerable interest in his production abilities. The talent showcased during this era included notable names like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Janet Jackson.

Even though West found success as a producer, his ultimate aspiration was to become a rapper. In 2001, he succeeded in convincing the head of Capitol Records to take him on at Roc-A-Fella Records after initially being turned down by Capitol.

A life-changing car accident in October 2002 resulted in a shattered jaw for West, yet it galvanized his creativity; he recorded Through the Wire while still having his jaw wired shut. This song became pivotal in shaping his first album, The College Dropout, which was leaked months prior to its planned release in August 2003. During that time, West took the opportunity to remix, remaster, and edit the album, leading to its release being postponed three times. Finally, The College Dropout came out in February 2004, receiving widespread critical acclaim and securing 10 Grammy Award nominations, ultimately achieving triple platinum certification in the US.

As he embarked on his second album, West invested a whopping two million dollars into its production, even enlisting a live string orchestra. Released in August 2005, Late Registration sold over 2.3 million copies in the United States by the end of that year. His future albums include Graduation (2007), 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), a collaborative project with Jay-Z titled Watch the Throne (2011), Yeezus (2013), The Life of Pablo (2016), Ye (2018), a collaboration with Kid Cudi known as Kids See Ghosts (2018), Jesus is King (2019), and Donda (2021).

The album Yeezus was released by West in 2013, achieving #1 on the Billboard 200 as well as on the US R&B and US Rap charts, along with topping charts in four additional countries. His 2016 release,The Life of Pablo, also reached #1 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the US Rap and US R&B charts. West’s single “FourFiveSeconds” (featuring Rihanna and Paul McCartney) climbed to #1 on the US R&B chart. In 2017, he received six Grammy Award nominations. His subsequent album, Ye, was unveiled in June 2018, though it marked the first occasion in Kanye’s career where an album did not achieve platinum status.

Beyond his own releases, West has maintained his role as a producer and featured artist for numerous musicians, including 6ix9ine, XXXTentacion, Lil Pump, Chance the Rapper, Kid Cudi, and Teyana Taylor. He also began projects connected to music, such as his weekly “Sunday Service” performances with the Sunday Service Choir, which have been held every Sunday since January 2019. Additionally, he collaborated with contemporary artist Vanessa Beecroft on two operas, Nebuchadnezzar and Mary.

Kanye West Earnings By Year:
Year	Earnings
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

Kanye West has shown a longstanding passion for fashion, becoming the first non-athlete to secure a shoe deal with Nike, thanks to his 2009 Air Yeezys sneaker. Footwear collaborations followed with brands like Louis Vuitton, Bape, and Giuseppe Zanotti. He also showcased two clothing lines during Paris Fashion Week in 2011 and 2012.

In December 2013, Adidas made an official announcement regarding their collaboration with West on a shoe deal. The Yeezy Boost 750 sneaker in “Light Brown” launched on February 14, 2015, exclusively for users of the Adidas mobile app in New York City, selling out in just 10 minutes. By December 2017, 19 colors and six designs had emerged from the Adidas and Yeezy partnership. Kanye introduced Season 1 of his Yeezy clothing line with Adidas in 2015, with Season 2 debuting later that year and Season 3 in February 2016.

Due to the triumph of his early releases, Adidas extended a long-term contract to West in June 2016. Typically, Kanye receives a 10% royalty on net revenues made through Adidas, while he enjoys a higher royalty for merchandise sold directly through his own website, YeezySupply.com, compared to Adidas.com. His average blended royalty rate hovers around 10%.

As of this writing, it is important to highlight that Kanye possesses complete ownership of the Yeezy apparel line.

G.O.O.D Music

Kanye established the record label and production entity G.O.O.D Music in 2004 in partnership with Sony BMG. The acronym “G.O.O.D” stands for “getting out our dreams.” Artists associated with the label include Kanye West himself, John Legend, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T, Q-Tip, Kacy Hill, and Teyana Taylor.

Other Assets and Philanthropy

He is also the owner of KW Foods LLC., which holds the rights to the Fatburger fast-food chain located in Chicago. In January 2012, he announced the creation of DONDA, a content-focused company named in honor of his late mother, Donda West. Moreover, West co-owns the music streaming platform Tidal alongside other artists such as Jay-Z, Rihanna, Madonna, Chris Martin, and Nicki Minaj, most of whom possess a 3% equity stake.

Among his philanthropic efforts is the Kanye West Foundation, which aims to improve educational opportunities for African American and Latino youth, while he has also dedicated time, resources, and funds to various initiatives including Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth. In response to the murder of George Floyd in June 2020, Kanye contributed $2 million to be divided between the Floyd family and other victims of police violence, including Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

Real Estate

Kanye West’s real estate portfolio in the United States is valued at approximately $100 million (including land, buildings, and homes). Here’s a summary of his most significant real estate transactions.

The couple’s primary residence during their marriage was a vast estate located in Hidden Hills, California. This estate is made up of several interconnected parcels, with the first acquired in 2014 through two transactions costing $23 million. Initially, their property featured a new mansion on a 4.5-acre lot. Over the years, the couple invested millions customizing, rearranging, and expanding the home. In 2019, they made two additional purchases of nearby properties, extending their estate to a combined 7.5 acres. A remarkable total of $28.5 million has been invested in real estate transactions in the process of developing the Hidden Hills estate. Additionally, significant sums have gone towards renovations. Its current assessed value exceeds $60 million. In September 2021, Kim transferred the property fully into her name after paying Kanye $23 million, which included about $3 million for the contents of the home.

Kanye acquired a beachfront home in Malibu for $57.3 million in September 2021. Designed by Tadao Ando, the residence was built in 2013 for Wall Street financier Richard Sachs, who spent seven years on permits and construction. This completed home spans 4,000 square feet and consists of 1,200 tons of concrete, 200 tons of steel, and features 12 pylons embedded 60 feet into the sand. Sachs listed the property for $75 million in 2020. However, Kanye never occupied it and subsequently put it up for sale in December 2023 at $53 million. According to the listing agent, potential buyers should expect to invest “several million dollars” to make the house habitable, due to Kanye’s incomplete construction projects. Below is a drone video showcasing the Malibu mansion:

Other properties in his real estate portfolio include:

• A 320-acre estate valued at $16 million located on Stokes Canyon Road in Calabasas, where he held his Sunday Services and attempted to construct a series of domed buildings before being halted by the LA County Building Commission over permit violations.
• A 6,700-acre ranch known as Bighorn Mountain Ranch in Wyoming, appraised at $15 million.
• A commercial property in Cody, Wyoming, worth $2 million.
• Kanye West also restored his childhood home in Chicago, completing the renovation in 2023.

Kanye purchased an additional ranch named Monster Lake Ranch in Wyoming for $14 million in late 2019, which he sold in June 2024.

Personal Life

Kanye’s romantic history includes an on-and-off relationship with designer Alexis Phifer from 2002 to 2008 and a relationship with model Amber Rose from 2008 to 2010. He began dating reality star Kim Kardashian in April 2012 and they got married in May 2014. The couple has four children together but divorced in 2022. Briefly in 2022, Kanye was in a relationship with actress/model Julia Fox.

In January 2023, reports emerged that Kanye and Australian architect Bianca Censori had engaged in an informal marriage during a private ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Kanye’s request to change his legal name to “Ye” was granted in October 2021.

Kanye West Net Worth 2019

The following is the breakdown used to estimate Kanye West’s net worth for 2019, which was calculated at $600 million:

Assets:

• Real estate assets valued at $120 million
• Music catalog, including G.O.O.D Music, estimated at $80 million
• Yeezy brand’s value of $500 million
• Other assets totaling $20 million

Total asset valuation amounts to $720 million.

Liabilities and other considerations account for $100 million.

The net worth for 2019 stands at $600 million, with a conservative error margin of $20 million.