How Jay-Z became first hip-hop billionaire

American rapper, songwriter, producer, entrepreneur, and record executive, Jay-Z is now the first hip-hop artist to become a billionaire.

That is no mean feat as it took Shawn Corey Carter a lot of investments. He is involved in almost everything, from art, to real estate, stakes in major companies like Uber, and even liquor.

So how did Jay-Z become the first hip-hop artist to be a billionaire?

According to the new cover story in Forbes, Jay-Z achieved billionaire status through his multiple business ventures both inside and outside of music. This makes Jay-Z one of the few entertainers who have achieved billionaire status and “the first hip-hop artist to do so.”

The article opens by recalling a 2010 meeting between the rapper and billionaire Warren Buffet, from which the octogenarian came away impressed. “Jay is teaching in a lot bigger classroom than I’ll ever teach in,” he said. “For a young person growing up, he’s the guy to learn from.”

Less than 10 years later, the magazine surveys Shawn Carter’s empire — which spans music, a streaming service, liquor, art real estate and stakes in other companies — and determines that it “conservatively totals $1 billion.” It also notes that he built his own brands: the Rocawear clothing line (sold for $204 million in 2007); D’Ussé, a cognac he co-owns with Bacardi; Tidal, the music-streaming service; and his multifaceted Roc Nation music and sports empire.

List of Jay-Z investments and their worth 2019

Below is the list of Jay-Z’s investments  surveyed by Forbes, and their net worth’s at the moment

• Armand de Brignac champagne – $310 million
• Cash & investments, including a stake in Uber worth an estimated $70 million – $220 million
• D’Ussé cognac -$100 million
• Tidal streaming service -$100 million
• Roc Nation -$75 million
• Music catalog -$75 million
• Art collection – $70 million
• Real estate – $50 million

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