Jay-Z is a Billion Dollar Man! Here's How the Rapper Earned His Riches 

Jay-Z is one of the richest rappers alive, not to mention one of the richest people alive. Coming from nothing in Brooklyn’s Marcy Houses projects, Shawn Corey Carter went from selling drugs to selling out stadiums alongside wife Beyoncé, but his acumen doesn’t end with his skills on the mic. His usually-savvy investments and partnerships have made him some serious bank—adding up to an approximate Jay-Z net worth of over $1 billion (yep, billion with a b). Learn how he accumulated this massive net worth and what’s next.

What is Jay-Z’s net worth?

Jay-Z’s net worth is estimated to be $1 billion in 2020.

Jay-Z’s music pulls in a pretty penny

Jay-Z’s extensive musical catalog was estimated to be worth close to $100 million, and he’s made more money from album and single sales than most artists: According to Forbes, Jay-Z owns both his masters and publishing rights to his work as of 2014, meaning he makes bank whenever his music is licensed for use in television, film or samples from other artists. Forbes reports that Jay-Z previously estimated that his debut album, Reasonable Doubt—which doesn’t have the smash singles his subsequent work boasts—brings in $100,000 annually alone; his entire catalog is estimated to rake in more than $5 million per year.

Related: Post Malone’s Net Worth Is Impressive—Here’s How the ‘Rockstar’ Made His Riches

Jay-Z’s tour revenues are huge

Most artists make the bulk of their income from live performances, and Jigga Man is no exception. His On the Run and On the Run II tours with Beyoncé grossed a whopping $364 million between them, and his other outings are incredibly lucrative: For his 2017 4:44 Tour, he pulled in $48,698,354 from 32 concerts across North America. From fall 2013 through the end of January 2014, Jay-Z’s Magna Carter tour raked in $48.9 million from 52 shows. His summer 2013 tour with Justin Timberlake grossed $75.3 million from 14 shows. In 2011, Jay-Z joined forces with Kanye West for their Watch the Throne tour, grossing $40,079,477 across 57 shows.

Jay-Z’s clothing line proved wealth never goes out of style

In 1997, Jay-Z founded his RocaWear clothing line. A decade later, he sold the brand for a whopping $204 million.

Jay-Z invested in his hometown in a big way: Through the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center

Jay-Z bought stakes in the then-New Jersey Nets in 2003, eventually bringing the team back to his hometown of Brooklyn. He also owned stakes in the Barclays Center, the arena where the team holds court. In 2013, to prevent a conflict of interest with his Roc Nation Sports agency venture, he sold all of his stakes in both the team and the arena, netting an estimated $1.5 million.

Jay-Z’s real estate portfolio is a real moneymaker

Together, Jay-Z and Beyoncé own some seriously sweet properties.

According to Architectural Digest, the couple purchased a $26 million mansion in East Hampton, New York, in 2017, the same year they welcomed twins Rumi and Sir. The same year, they dropped $88 million on an estate in Bel Air, California. They also own a $6.8 million penthouse in New York City as well as a $2.6 million mansion in New Orleans.

In what may be a prophetic move, Hov and Bey unloaded a mansion in Miami’s exclusive Isle of Billionaires for $9.3 million.

Related: Who Is the Richest Kardashian? Details on the Family’s Explosive Net Worth

Jay-Z owns an expensive art collection

Mr. Carter has an artistic eye and an appreciation for the finer things in life. His art collection is estimated to be worth a cool $70 million, featuring pieces including Jean-Michel Basquiat‘s “Mecca,” worth an estimated $4.5 million alone. Jay-Z is credited with actually raising the late artist’s stock significantly and introducing whole new generations to his socially conscious works.

This is the Basquiat painting that set a world record when it sold for $110.5 million: https://t.co/7sPJGorWWY pic.twitter.com/QM0FwsqvCB

— Global Grind (@GlobalGrind) May 19, 2017

He’s not a businessman. He’s a business, man!

In 2015, Jay-Z purchased Tidal for $56 million. After a rough start, the music streaming service is estimated to be valued at a whopping $600 million—not quite Spotify numbers, but a major return of Hov’s investment, and netting him about $100 million of his net worth.

His investments don’t end there. His champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, is worth an estimated $310 million; cognac brand D’Ussé clocking in at $100 million; and his Roc Nation entertainment and sport management agency at $75 million. He also has a stake in Uber valued at $70 million (which he originally purchased for just $2 million), as well as in JetSmarter.

Jay-Z has also had brand partnerships with Reebok, Cherry Coke, Cohiba cigars and Budweiser, as well as a producer credit on NBA 2K13.

Next, find out Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s pal Meghan Markle’s net worth now that she’s no longer a senior royal.