Meet world’s richest musician, whose main income comes from other businesses, his net worth is Rs...

Jay-Z, the famous American rapper is known worldwide for not only his music, songwriting and more but also for being a successful entrepreneur. Shawn Corey Carter aka Jay-Z is the most financially successful hip-hop artist and entrepreneur in America. 

However, his fame does not only come from his being the biggest rapper and his varied roles in American music industry, but his business ventures also constitute a big part of his earnings.  

Ricardo, an X user, recently shared insights from Jay-Z's financial background. In his post, Ricardo revealed that even though Jay-Z is the world’s richest musician who won 25 Grammy Awards, his earnings from music constitute only 3% of his entire net worth of USD 2.5 billion. He earns the rest of the 97% from his remarkable business expertise.  

This is Jay-Z.

The richest musician of all time, worth $2.5 billion.

But despite 25 Grammys, his music makes up just 3% of his wealth.

The other 97%? Built through BRILLIANT business skills even Warren Buffett admires...

If you want financial freedom, study his playbook: pic.twitter.com/oVD3MT23rL

— Riccardo (@Ric_RTP) February 22, 2025

Praising Jay-Z's financial freedom, Ricardo wrote, “If you want financial freedom, study his playbook,” urging people to learn from his career journey.  

Who is Jay-Z? 

Jay-Z is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, record executive, actor, and entrepreneur. His real name is Shawn Corey Carter and he is famously known by his stage name Jay-Z. His mother raised him and his three siblings when their father abandoned the family.  

His interest in music was from a very early age when he used to practiced drum beats on the kitchen table and wake his entire family in the middle of the night.  

In a series of threads, Ricardo shared Jay-Z's entire career journey. 

Jay-Z's career journey 

The musician giant’s rise to fame is both extraordinary and inspirational. His mother raised him in Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, a difficult place to live in. He initially earned by selling CDs from his car when he was very young. He did not complete his schooling nor graduate and left education to pursue a career in music.  

He started his career in the 1980s as rapper and DJ and struggled hard initially but could not make it big as famous record labels often rejected him. However, in 1995 he started his own record label, Roc-A-Fella Records, which he co-founded with his two friends. He received fame from his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. This became the source of his financial freedom.  

Roc-A-Fella records thrived, drawing talents like Memphis Bleek and Kanye West. However, Jay-Z's ambitions extended beyond music. In 1999, he ventured into fashion with the launch of Rocawear, which quickly gained widespread popularity. By 2007, he sold the brand for $204 million, while maintaining a stake in its continued growth. 

From Rocawear he went ahead in more luxury brands like D’Usse cognac and Armand de Brignac champagne. Additionally, Jay-Z established Roc Nation, a multifaceted entertainment company, and acquired the music streaming platform Tidal.  

Impressed by his journey, Berkshire Hathway CEO Warren Buffet said, “Jay-Z is teaching in a much bigger classroom than I will ever teach in,” expressing the great impact of his business strategy.   

Ricardo further shared Jay-Z's key to success and advised, “Your personal brand is the most valuable asset. Build it.” He ended his post by sharing valuable life lessons: believe in yourself, take ownership of your work, be accountable, expand strategically, leverage partnerships, and master the art of financial management.