Jay-Z

From Marcy Projects to Billionaire Status

entertainment business
Jay-Z

Net Worth

$2.5B

Born

December 4, 1969 (age 56)

Country

United States

Occupation

Rapper, Entrepreneur, Record Executive

Gender

male

Generation

Gen X

Marital Status

married

Children

3

Single Parent Household

Yes

Education

High School

Industries

entertainment, business

Wealth Category

billionaire

Wealth Origin

self-made

First-Gen Wealth

Yes

Overcame

  • • Grew up in Marcy Projects, one of Brooklyn's toughest housing projects
  • • Father abandoned family when he was 11
  • • Sold crack cocaine as a teenager to survive
  • • Shot his own brother at age 12 over stolen jewelry

Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur. He is regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists in history and has become one of the wealthiest musicians in the world through his business ventures.

Career Timeline

1969

Born Shawn Corey Carter in Brooklyn, New York

1982 Age 12
Setback

Shot his older brother Eric over stolen jewelry; Eric survived

1988 Age 18
Turning Point

Met mentor Jaz-O and began pursuing rap seriously

1995 Age 25
Turning Point

Co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records after being rejected by every major label

1996 Age 26
Achievement

Released debut album 'Reasonable Doubt' - now considered a hip-hop classic

2004 Age 34
Achievement

Became president of Def Jam Recordings

2008 Age 38
Milestone

Married Beyoncé in private ceremony

2008 Age 38
Achievement

Founded Roc Nation entertainment company

2015 Age 45
Achievement

Launched Tidal streaming service (sold to Block for $297M in 2021)

2019 Age 49
Milestone

Became hip-hop's first billionaire

Notable Quotes

"I'm not a businessman; I'm a business, man."

"You can want success all you want, but to get it, you can't falter. You can't slip. You can't sleep. One eye open, for real, and forever."

— Interview, 2013

"Success is like a high-rise; I'm on the top floor. But I'm not in the penthouse yet."

"We measure success by how many people we were able to help along the way."