Kanye West's Net Worth Is On The Upswing In 2024

Starting his career as a music producer in Chicago, Kanye West is a name synonymous with fame, money, and controversies. His diverse portfolio of success in music, fashion, and business has helped Kanye amass significant wealth.
 

Ye currently holds a net worth of $400 million in 2024 which consists of his music catalog, real estate portfolio, and his brand Yeezy. However, Kanye once had a net worth of almost $2 billion which has shrunk significantly over the past few years. Wondering how? Let’s take a detailed look into the life of Chi-Town genius, and how he came from most overlooked to most overbooked.

What is Kanye West’s Net Worth?

Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier

As of 2024, Ye boasts a net worth of $400 million.

According to Forbes, Kanye current $400 million fortune includes cash, real estate investments, a lucrative music catalog, and a 5% stake in his ex-wife Kim Kardashian's brand Skims. Most of his money was made through the music and fashion industry.

Having sold over 160 million albums worldwide (and still counting) he is one of the most prominent artists in the history of hip-hop. Currently, he is working quite extensively on his brand YEEZY, and it is coming out to be fruitful.

Kanye West’s net worth in 2023 was estimated to be a whopping $2 billion, which is factually represented in Ye's own words "I used to be a billionaire, that's a thousand millionaires." In the actual case, he was worth almost 2000 millionaires at his peak and one of the richest artists of all time.

Kanye's yearly earnings from 2012 to 2022

As of 2022, Kanye had earned an approximate amount of $737 million, excluding taxes.

His net worth took a big hit when Adidas decided to end the partnership with YEEZY in October 2022 over 'dangerous' antisemitic remarks. The loss of the partnership knocked Ye off of the billionaire status as the deal accounted for almost $1.5 billion of his net worth.

But first, a little backstory.

Kanye West’s Family Business

Talking about Kanye West’s early life, he was born on June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia. His parents divorced when he was just three years old, and he started living with his mother in Chicago. West was from a middle-class environment and he attended Polaris School for Individual Education in suburban Oak Lawn, Illinois after living for a considerable time in Chicago.

At the age of 10, he moved to China with his mother, who was an English professor. It was in third grade when West started rapping and began making musical compositions in the seventh grade! which he later sold it off to other artists. After graduating from high school, West received a scholarship to study at Chicago’s American Academy of Art in 1997.

But shortly after he transferred to Chicago State University to study English. Like any other artist, he later dropped out of the course to pursue his musical career. His mother was associated with the same university and did not like the decision, but later as time passed, she accepted it.

Kanye West's Relationship and Marriage

Talking about relationships, Kanye had many women in his life, after coming to the limelight it was first reported that he dated designer Alexis Phifer in 2002. After that, he dated celebrities like Amber Rose and Julia Fox, before finally marrying Kim Kardashian in 2014. It was one of the most hyped yet private ceremonies in the industry. However, things took an ugly turn as everything did not go well between the couple, and they both settled for divorce in the year 2022.

In January 2023, it was reported that Kanye is dating Bianca Censori, who used to work for West’s Yeezy brand. The coupled tied knot on 20th December 2022, under a month Ye separated with Kim. The confirmation came with "confidential marriage documents" got released, as per the report by DailyMail.

Does Kanye West have children?

West and Kardashian have four children together namely, North West, Saint West, Chicago West, and Psalm West. Currently both stars are co-parenting the kids with an joint physical and legal custody of all four children. Kim Kardashian is the primary caregiver as she wants the kids to be protected.

But how he came from Chi-Town to Write Rhymes?

What is Kanye West’s claim to fame?

"Crazy, Bipolar, Antisemite, And I'm still the King"

a verse from his song "King"

Kanye's rise to fame is a fascinating tale. Today, Kanye West is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and well-known entrepreneur who has 21 Grammys under his belt and 3 albums in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Now was Kanye the most overlooked? Yes sir

Her mother Donda West, was one of the key figures that helped and supported Kanye honing his musical talents. She helped 13-year-old Kanye to record his first song called "Green Eggs and Ham" in basement studio, where the microphone was hanging from the ceiling by a wire hanger.

His first big break came when he sold a beat to a Gravity (a chicago based rapper) for $8,000. Later he sold another beat to Jermaine Dupri for the "Life in 1462" track. Ye got the major limelight when he got signed to Rock-A-Fella record label for his music production abilities in 2002. He produced several classic hits there like Izzo (H.O.V.A) for Jay-Z's,"The Blueprint" album.

However, producing hits for other people was not fulfilling for his inner artist, he wanted to create his own stuff, he wanted rap. Kanye was overlooked big time since he did not came from the streets, and considering hip hop is a street art people thought he had nothing to say about the struggles.

Little did they know, Ye really was a thoughtful artist and has unique perception about his surroundings and his which needed to be heard. And! he met with an accident that broke his jaw and nearly took his life. However as the saying goes "Whatever happens, it's for good", the accident acted like substance that he can use to express himself.

"I'm going to rap about this accident. I'm going to use a song and change the direction. I'm going conscious with my music."

Conversation between Kanye and No I.D. at the hospital

The first song he recorded was "Through the Wire," speaking his soul through his crooked jaw, which was literally held together with wires.

Kanye had serious confidence in himself, "I swear, this right here, history in making, man." He knew he was going to be massive in his fist song. After few years Kanye debuted his first album "The College Dropout," which collectively talked about doing things in their own way, and what came after that is called history.

Critics jumped over the album, because of its combination of melodic hip-hop style, mixed with clever wordplay topped with insight, humor, faith, and struggles of this mundane world.

Now is Kanye the most overbooked? Yes sir

Following his debut album, Kanye released his second album in 2005 called "Late Registration" which made it's debut ranking number one on Billboard 200 chart, selling 860,000 copies in the first week alone.

His third album Graduation was released in 2007 featuring artists like Lil Wayne, Mos Def, and T-Pain. The album also made its debut on the top of Billboard 200 list, also broke the record of the fastest selling album in U.S. with 957,000 units sold in just a week.

Kanye's music changed after the Graduation, since her mother died of heart attack two months after the release. However the trajectory of his music career kept rising.

Every other album after this point such as the, 808s & Heartbreak (2008), My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), Watch The Throne (with Jay-Z in 2011), up until Vultures 1 (2024) has been a success. The back to back hit albums made Kanye rich, however it was his other money related ventures and endorsements that significantly contributed to his wealth.

How big is Kanye West’s car collection?

It's safe to say that Kanye West possesses one of the most extraordinary car collections among celebrities, valued at $7 million. We have mentioned of his exceptional cars mentioned below:

• Mercedes-Benz SLR Mclaren: One magnificent yet extraordinary car was built when Mercedes-Benz came together to work on a project. One of the special cars owned by Kanye, the SLR McLaren is powered by a naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 that churns out 617 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque.
• Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss: Kanye also got his hands on the Mercedes-Benz SLR Stirling Moss Roadster which was extremely rare and cost over $1,070,000! Only 75 units of these were made worldwide Kanye was extremely lucky to get his hands on one.
• Lamborghini Aventador: Kanye owns a Lamborghini Aventador which costs over $387,000 and was gifted by Kim on his 35th birthday. Powered by the screaming V12, the Aventador pushes out 691 hp and 509 lb-ft of peak torque!
• Custom Lamborghini Urus: Another Lamborghini in Kanye’s lineup of vehicles is the Urus, but it is no regular Urus since this one is a custom-made one for Kanye, and it has cream-colored matte wrap, and self-designed alloy wheels by Kanye. Power comes through a 4.0L Twin-turbocharged V8.
• Aston Martin DBS: Kanye West also owns a gorgeous-looking DBS powered by a 5.9L, naturally aspirated V12 and produces over 510 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, through a 6-speed manual! The car cost Kanye around $268,660 and has a claimed top speed of 191 MPH.

These are some of the gems from Kanye's extravagant car collection. We have a dedicated article that covers all of his insane rides. However this is not the only thing Ye spent Benjamins on.

How many houses does Kanye West own?

Kanye's current real estate portfolio is worth around $100 million.

While making the massive fortune, Kanye spent a significant amount on luxurious mansion across several cities.

• Kanye's Childhood Chicago Home: Kanye bought back the home where he spent his childhood. The 1,600 sq-ft abode that he reportedly purchase for $225,000 in the summer of 2021. He later got the place restored like the way it was when he use to live there.
• Kanye's first home in the Hollywood Hills: After the grand success of “Slow Jamz” in 2003, Kanye decided to invest money in his first home purchase. The rooms of the beautiful house had ocean and city views from every room. It was a 4,200-square-foot four-bedroom house.
• The contemporary New York City apartment: Another apartment owned by West is in the neighborhood of the New Your City in a place called SoHo. The house was designed by architect Claudio Silvestrin. He bought the first apartment in 2004 and then bought the second one two years later. In 2019, this property was later sold out for $4.7 million.
• West's sleek Miami pad: When Kim came to Miami, her first priority was to spend time with her then-boyfriend, Kanye as she told her family in her famous TV show. Understanding this, the caring boyfriend Kanye surprised Kim with a Miami condo that cost nearly $ 14 million. The house was a 4,730 square-feet four-bedroom, five-bathroom house! However, Kim did not like the spontaneous multi-million dollar Faena House purchase, which led to a final decision to sell it off.
• Kanye's first house project with ex-wife Kim Kardashian: When Kim and Kanye coupled up in 2013, they invested almost close to $9 million for a Bel Air residence with a Mediterranean-style 9,000-square-foot home that had six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a gorgeous swimming pool, and whatnot. Later they sold this house at $17.8 million to Silicon Valley philanthropist Marina Acton.
• Massive Hidden Hills Home: In September 2021 Kanye paid a massive $57.3 million for a beachfront house in Malibu. Designed by Tadao Andom, the finished across 4,000 sq-ft, however the Donda singer never moved in.
• Ranches and other properties: There are several other properties under Kanye's portfolio such as a 320 acre estate in Calabasas that he bought for $16 million, a 6,700 acre ranch in Wyoming for $16 million, a 1,400-acre land called the The Monster Lake Ranch for $14 million. He also owns a commercial property in Cody, Wyoming worth $2 million.

Kanye used a replica of his childhood home at the live listening party of Donda (his album) at Chicago Soldier field. The 900 sq ft replica went for an auction by The Levy Recovery Group.

Donda's Death and Birth of Controversy

We cannot deny the fact that Donda made a significant influence on Kanye West. He basically lived his whole life with her, and she supported, whatever Kanye wanted to achieve. She was the force behind Kanye, and you can imagine their love as he launched a whole album with her name.

Checkout his documentary, Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy, to witness the relation up close.

While Kanye was enjoying the success of his third album Graduation when he received a devastating news. On November 10, 2007, Donda was pronounced dead at Cedars Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital, Lost Angeles, California. The incident left a devastating imprint on Kanye's mind and started a new chapter in his life.

Repercussions and Downfall

Loss of his mother significantly affected the mental health of the star and his actions caused a lot of backlash. He has been at the center of numerous controversies after that, however there are some that gained a major audience.

One of the most famous incident happened at 2009 VMA awards, when he jumped on the stage to interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video, and suggested that Beyoncé should have won instead. This incident sparked widespread criticism and even led Barak Obama calling Kanye a "Jackass."

Following that Kanye made several other controversial actions, such as Support for Donald Trump, his controversial comments about slavery, suggesting that it was a "choice" for enslaved Africans, and later leading to his antisemitic views. These controversies led to his "cancellation" and social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter banned him.

However the biggest setback happened when his endorsements started cutting ties with the 'Heartless' hitmaker.

What brands has Kanye West endorsed?

Throughout his career, Kanye West has endorsed a lot of brands, irrespective of shoes, apparel, perfumes, and exclusive clothing lines, Kanye has been a face of all, his one of the most lucrative deals was with Adidas. Valued at almost $1.5 billion, this separation wiped almost 75 percent of his net worth.

Following the issue others brands such as CAA, Balenciaga, and GAP also cut ties with Kanye for his unpredictable behavior, further hitting his wealth. That said, Kanye is working is actively working on his impulsiveness and hate speech. He is bouncing back, and the wait for him to get his money right is over. We hope!

Kanye's stepping towards the right direction.

Unconventional Supremacy

Kanye West is known for his unpopular opinion and unfiltered voice. Keeping up to the reputation he recently did a Super Bowl commercial which made a lot of noise around the globe.

Forbes called his approach a ‘masterstroke’ as the metrics on the return on investment turned to be a significant financial success. Kanye booked Super Bowl commercial slot for $7 million and according to him “Since we spent all our money on the commercial spot, we actually didn’t spent any money on the actual commercial.” He shot the commercial on an iPhone while travelling to promote yeezy.com.

Wondering what it led to, this unpopular way of promotion helped Kanye to come under a spotlight and generated an insane 284,357 orders in less than 24 hours. The total amount of the orders made made him $19.3 million dollars in sales, and became a perfect example of authenticity over superficial polish. We don’t have the numbers on how much Kanye actually made from the whole thing, however the genius approach is appreciated by many.

What are Kanye West’s charitable contributions?

Kanye West has been hugely involved in Charitable foundations throughout his career. He believes in giving away smiles to the community and that shows in his various contributions to society. 

He actively supports various organizations, such as the Common Ground Foundation, Food Bank For New York City, Doctors Without Borders, Stand Up To Cancer, and many more.

In addition to that Kanye has also made some significant donations notably, in 2016, he donated $1 million to improve mental health care in Chicago. In 2018 he made a donation of $500,000 as a relief support for the victims of major wildfires in California. Furthermore, in 2020 he donated $2 million to support the family of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.

What’s Next for Kanye West?

Kanye is currently focusing on his own set of apparel which we know by the name of Yeezy, and apart from that he also wishes to run for the position of US president in 2024. He also changed his name to “Ye” from Kanye West and he has plans to make his own mini-city by the name of “Yecosystem”. Kanye recently released the first iteration of the "Vultures", which is going to be a three album series.

Related Celebrities

Kanye is a famous person and he has associated with several celebrities over the years. In between a life filled with money, fame, and controversies, Kanye shares a strong bond with Future and Justin LaBoy. He expressed his friendship through an Instagram story saying “When you a Christian dad that will do anything to protect your kids but Justin LaBoy and Future your best friends,” in all caps.

Coodie and Chike are some of the closest people that have witnessed Kanye up close since the very beginning. Clearance "Coodie" Simmons and Chike Ozah directed and shot Kanye's documentary "Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy" available on Netflix. All three were side-by-side since Chi-town hustling days to the global stage. There relation is not as prominent as before but they only share good intentions for each other.

Kanye West, Mr. President

Kanye got significant media attention, when he made the announcement to run for the President of the United States in 2020 for the first time. According to Wikipedia, he again made a similar announcement in November 2022 for the presidency in the 2024 election, however there is no course of action towards this direction since then.

Along with these statements, Kanye has openly supported the candidates along the years. In 2012 and 2018 he supported Barack Obama, In 2016 he supported Hillary Clinton, in 2020 he openly supported Donald Trump, and currently supporting Francis Saurez for 2024. This shows that if Ye is not running for president he is actively supporting the next best person according to him.