J. Cole

J. Cole

Rapper

Current Networth - $60 Million

Personal Stats

NameJ. Cole
RoleRapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Basketball player
IndustryMusic
Net Worth$60 Million
Real NameJermaine Lamarr Cole
AliasesTherapist, Hollywood Cole, Kill Edward,
Date of Birth and AgeJanuary 28, 1985 (39 years old)
Mother's NameKay Cole
SiblingsZach Cole (Artist)
High SchoolFayetteville Terry Sanford High School
CollegeSt John's University
MixtapesThe Come Up (2007), The Warm Up (2009), Friday Night Lights (2010), Might Delete Later (2024)
AlbumsCole World: The Sideline Story (2011), Born Sinner (2013), 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2014), 4 Your Eyez Only (2016), KOD (2018), The Off-Season (2021)
Other FamilyMelissa Heholt ​(m. 2015), 2 Kids - Ibrahim (2016) and Nina (2021)

Table of Contents

  • About J. Cole
  • Businesses Owned
  • Early Life
  • Family
  • What Is J. Cole’s Net Worth?
  • What Is J. Cole's Claim To Fame?

About J. Cole

J. Cole is a seasoned rapper who takes inspiration from the heavyweights of the industry such as Nas, Eminem, and Tupac. He has 6 platinum albums to his name and we expect no less from Jay-Z’s prodigy. Every time J. Cole drops an album, it ends up making a record or two and his 2021 album The Off-Season is a testament to this fact.

Furthermore, Mr. Cole is more than just a musician or rapper. He is a serious investor and businessman who has spent years building his Dreamville brand. Furthermore, he has some stakes in NBA teams like the Charlotte Hornets as well.


Businesses Owned

  • Dreamville Records

  • Dreamville Ventures

    Oct 11, 2020 - Present
  • Dreamville Festival

  • Dreamville Films

  • Dreamville Studios

    Oct 11, 2020 - Present

Early Life

J. Cole has spent almost two decades in the music industry and released Billboard-topping albums in his career. However, despite the success, J. Cole appears to be an approachable, everyday guy with demure, according to his fans.

  • J. Cole was talented from an early age. He served as a first-chair violinist for the Terry Sanford Orchestra until 2003.
  • At the age of 12, after receiving an ASR-X musical sampler worth $1300 as a Christmas gift from his mother Kay, J. Cole decided to start rapping with his cousin Louisiana rap.
  • In a later year, J. Cole started focusing as a producer as well.
  • When J. Cole was 13, he was exploring Canibus forums where he met producer Elite who has worked with him on several tracks of the album Born Sinner.
  • He was part of a local band, Bomm Sheltuh, and served as a rapper and producer in the group.
  • By the time Cole reached the age of 14, he had already started sampling and writing songs
  • His mother eventually bought him a Roland TR-808 drum machine. J. Cole took the moniker Blaza and started posting on the internet before adopting “Therapist”.
  • At 15, J. Cole was mentored by Nervous Reck and FilthE Ritch of the music group, Bomm Sheltuh.
  • While Jay-Z was making his tenth studio American Gangster, J. Cole visited Roc the Mic Studio with his CDs hoping for a chance to show his work to the famed black rapper. However, he had to wait around 3 hours before getting dismissed by Jay-Z.

Family

“Truly Yours” rapper had a rough childhood. Cole himself says that he “grew up with nothin”. 

  • J. Cole opened his eyes to the world in Frankfurt, West Germany.
  • He was born to a veteran African-American father and a white mother. His father James Cole was serving in the U.S. Army. Meanwhile, J. Cole’s mother, Kay, was a postal worker for the United States Postal Service.
  • Even before Cole turned 1, his father left the family which eventually moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina.
  • J. Cole has one older brother named Zach.
  • Melissa Heholt and J. Cole married in 2015 and have been together since then.
  • "Nobody's Perfect" rapper is a father of two. He has a son named Ibrahim who was born in 2016 and a daughter named Nina who was welcomed in 2021.

North Carolina MC and former basketball player J. Cole’s net worth is in the tens of millions due to his success as a rapper. His concerts and tours have generated around $60 million alone. Furthermore, J. Cole is also your “regular hedge fund guy” who invests millions in companies and NBA teams like the Charlotte Hornets. Not much is known about his real estate but as for his companies, you should scroll down.

Net Worth$60 Million
Salary/Annual Earnings$30 Million
Date of Birth28th January, 1985
Place of BirthFrankfurt, West Germany
GenderMale
Height6' 3"
ProfessionRapper, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, Basketball player
NationalityAmerican
MarriedYes
Children2
No. of Houses1+
No. of Cars3+

What Is J. Cole’s Net Worth?

J. Cole’s Net Worth

As of 2024, J. Cole's net worth is around $60 million.

Jermaine Lamarr Cole or simply J.Cole has been one of the highest-paid rappers and pop artists by Forbes for several years. In 2018, with an annual earnings of $35.5 million, J. Cole also made it to the 2018 Celebrity 100 Earnings list published by Forbes. It is also the same year in which “The Warm Up” rapper made the most money of his career.

A big share of J. Cole’s wealth comes from his earnings from album sales and online streaming. In 2021, he officially broke Spotify’s one-day streaming record with his then-newly-released album “The Off-Season” which amassed 62 million streams. According to estimates, J.Cole must have earned over $425,000 just from Spotify streams alone in just one day.

Furthermore, the “KOD” album singer has KO’ed several rappers from his generation with a total album sales of over 9 million globally. It is unclear how much money he made from these sales but it should be in tens of millions.

Cole also earns money from touring and concerts. According to Billboard, his concerts have fetched nearly $91 million. However, despite being the 12th highest-grossing hip-hop touring artist of all time, J. Cole still doesn’t get all the money since a big share goes to record labels and other collaborators. That being said, his Forest Hills Drive Tour sold 575,000 tickets and generated $20.4 million in revenue. Additionally, the 4 Your Eyez Only Tour grossed $35.6 million.

Meanwhile, J. Cole's "Can't Get Enough" of his music accompaniments. So he went on to become a hedge fund manager himself for those green Washington bills. He owns a record label Dreamville Records and has a minor share in Jay-Z’s former company TIDAL. Moreover, J. Cole also has a small share in the Charlotte Hornets.


What Is J. Cole's Claim To Fame?

J. Cole's Claim To Fame

J. Cole’s fame can be attributed to the following major events in his life.

  • Signing with Roc Nation: In 2010, the “Lights Please” song from “The Warm Up” mixtape gave J. Cole the biggest record deal of his life. He signed with his mentor Jay-Z’s record label, Roc Nation which eventually let him climb “Forest Hills Drive”.
  • Cold World: The Sideline Story: J. Cole’s first studio album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum by RIAA and Gold by BPI. With 855,000 in sales, The Sideline Story is his 5th best-selling album in the US.
  • 2014 Forest Hills Drive: It is the highest-selling album by J. Cole with an estimated 1.2 million record sales. Forest Hills Drive also got J. Cole his first “Best Rap Album” nomination at the Grammys. 
  • KOD: Cole’s previous albums such as Born Sinner and 4 Your Eyez Only were a success but KOD was praised as a work of art. It broke several records for online streaming set by the likes of Drake, Taylor Swift, and others but what can our boy do? He is the Revenge of the Dreamers after all.
  • Masters Buy Back: For J. Cole “Business Is Business”. He appreciated the guidance his mentor provided but the rapper did buy back his masters from Jay-Z because he wanted his kids to see his work and if they later point in their life if they choose to sell it then it will be up to them.

What Businesses Does J. Cole Own Or Is Part Of?

J. Cole's business portfolio

For J. Cole money is a strange thing, Like he says, “Can’t take it when you die, but you can’t live without it”. Apparently, he is more focused on the second part, and here is why.

  • Dreamville Records: In 2007, J. Cole and Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad founded a record company, Dreamville Records which now houses artists like Cozz, Omen, EarthGang, and others on its roster. Reportedly, the New York City-based record label has an estimated annual revenue of $32 million. 
  • Dreamville Ventures: Along with Ibrahim "Ib" Hamad, J. Cole launched a multi-disciplinary media company, Dreamville Ventures in 2020. It is an umbrella company to various other subsidiaries co-owned by J. Cole.
  • Dreamville Festival: It was started in 2018 and since then it has celebrated Black music and has become a huge success. However, the festival includes more than just music. It also promotes local culture, food, and art. The two-day annual event generated around $6 million in revenue in 2022. Furthermore, Dreamville Festival is managed by Dreamville Ventures. Essence reports that in 2023, the festival has given a boost of $145 million to the local economy.
  • Dreamville Films: The film production and distribution was created in 2015. It has partnered with HBO and made documentaries like J. Cole: Road to Homecoming, Forest Hills Drive: Homecoming, and J. Cole: 4 Your Eyez Only. The company also works under Dreamville Ventures. 
  • Dreamville Studios: Dreamville Ventures’s subsidiary, Dreamville Studios is a content production company established in 2020. That said, Candace Rodney is the president of the company.

What Brand Endorsements Does J. Cole Have?

J. Cole's brand endorsements

Throughout his career, J. Cole has collaborated with numerous companies. Here are some notable brand collaborations and sponsorships he has had.

  • PUMA: In 2020, J. Cole inked a multi-year deal with PUMA and also became the brand ambassador. As part of the collaboration, the rapper released PUMA RS-Dreamer (or reimagined Sky Dreamer), a signature shoe that was sold for $130.
  • Bally: In 2015, Bally and J. Cole came together for the Swiss luxury brand’s 2015 fall collection. He even went to Jamaica to film a video with Bally, according to the New York Times. From shoes to backpacks, Cole endorsed a lot of products for Bally.
  • NBA: Other than playing for the Eastern Team during the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game, J. Cole and his music have also done endorsements for the association. In 2018, J. Cole's "ATM" song was selected for the NBA playoffs ad campaign.

How Does J. Cole Spends His Money?

J. Cole hates spending money, according to Vulture. He is even fussy about the $15 Wi-Fi charge at hotels despite having a worth of $60 million. However, he does let his pockets loose from time to time. He travels to expensive locations like Rome in a rented private jet with his wife, Melissa Heholt. Besides that, J. Cole mostly invests his money in his companies held under the Dreamville brand. He is a hedge fund manager and venture capitalist as well which allows him to buy stakes in NBA teams such as Charlotte Hornets. The rappers like to spend on expensive cars from brands like Bentley and Jaguar.


How Many Houses Does J. Cole Own?

J. Cole's house

One of the major property owned by J. Cole is,

  • Fayetteville, North Carolina: On Forest Hill Drive in Fayetteville, North Carolina, lies a beautiful childhood home belonging to J. Cole. In 2018, J. Cole’s 1,600-square-foot house was vandalized, and “Do you even care about the Ville?” was written on the outside wall. Nonetheless, Cold holds this home and the street it is on deal to his heart and the name of his third studio album is a testament to this fact. He bought back the house years ago. Furthermore, according to CBS, he didn’t purchase it to live there but to give it rent-free to single mothers in need. He bought the house for $120,000 through his non-profit, Dreamville Foundation.

As for other properties owned by J. Cole are still not privy to public information on a larger scale. Redditors have alleged that the rapper has had houses in North Raleigh, Cary, and other areas in North Carolina but none are supported by solid evidence.


How Many Cars Does J. Cole Own?

J. Cole's car collection

J. Cole has a history of acquiring and owning a wide range of automobiles, including classy and sophisticated ones. Check out some of J. Cole's cherished treasures from his garage in a moment.

  • Tesla Cybertruck: In June 2024, XXL Magazine reported that J. Cole was spotted shopping for a Cybertruck. It is yet to be determined if he actually bought a $81,895 truck or not.
  • Bentley Bentayga: J. Cole’s “Middle Child” music video features a Bentley Bentayga covered in mud and dirt. It is not revealed if he actually owns the car, or it was just a promotional prop.
  • Mercedes-Benz W140: In the “Under The Sun” music video, Mercedes-Benz W140 was featured. It is also likely a good candidate for J. Cole’s garage.
  • Lamborghini Urus: The $240K high-performance sports SUV is among many alleged cars such as the Jaguar F-Type and Porsche 911 Speedster that are in J. Cole’s car collection.

What Are J. Cole’s Charitable Contributions And Philanthropic Endeavors?

J. Cole’s Charitable Contributions

J. Cole has done a lot to help others through his charitable contributions. Here are some examples:

  • The Dreamville Foundation: In 2011, J. Cole established a nonprofit organization called the Dreamville Foundation. Its goal is to assist urban youth by organizing workshops, activities, and educational opportunities mostly in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 2017, the organization received $34,000 from Colin Kaepernick. Besides that, Cole also brought back his childhood home through his charity foundation to give it rent-free to single mothers. The foundation has also provided help for those affected by Hurricane Florence with food and shelter.
  • Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle: In 2018, J. Cole pledged a $10,000 donation to Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle through Colin Kaepernick’s Million Dollar Pledge. 
  • Social Struggles: J. Cole has been an active supporter of social struggle and justice movements such as Black Lives Matter.
  • Pampering Fans: When his fan Cierra Bosarge wrote to J. Cole about how he affected her life, the rapper ended up at her high school graduation to show the support and appreciation she had for him.

What’s Next For J. Cole?

J. Cole has been working on his highly anticipated album, The Fall Off. This will be his seventh studio album, following his last one from 2021 called The Off Season. The release date has not been officially confirmed yet. He has teased new music from The Fall Off in a DVD-styled vlog. He also released a one-minute snippet of his new material, along with a short tour vlog using a burner account on Instagram. He also co-headlined Drake’s tour "It's All a Blur - Big as the What" which ended in April 2024.


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FAQs

How much does J. Cole make a year?

J. Cole’s annual income is in the millions. In 2018, he made $35.6 million making his highest-earning year of his career.

What is J. Cole’s net worth?

J. Cole has a net worth of $60 million most of which comes from investments, concerts and tours, brand endorsements, and online streaming revenue.

What business does J. Cole owns?

J. Cole started with his Dreamville Records. Later, he created Dreamville Ventures which is a parent company for Dreamville Studios, Dreamville Films, and Dreamville Festival.

Does J. Cole own the Charlotte Hornets?

No, J. Cole doesn’t own the Charlotte Hornets. When Michael Jordan sold his stakes in the NBA team to a group headed by Gabe Plotkin, J. Cole acquired a minority stake as a member of the investor group.



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