NEW YORK -- Jay-Z has become the world's first rapper billionaire, according to Forbes.
The 49-year-old media mogul, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is one of only a handful of entertainers to reach that mark -- and the only hip-hop artist to do so.
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Though Jay-Z's music career boasts 14 No. 1 Albums on the Billboard 200 Chart, 22 Grammy awards, and 1 billion streams annually, his music catalog only accounts for approximately $75 million on his earnings.
The superstar's empire also encompasses liquor, art, real estate, which includes:
-- $310 million in Armand de Brignac champagne and $100 million in D'Ussé, his signature cognac
-- $220 million in cash and investments, including a reported $70 million stake in Uber
-- $100 million in the streaming service Tidal
-- $75 million in Roc Nation, a wide-ranging entertainment company
-- $50 million in lavish properties in Bel Air, East Hampton, and Tribeca
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What makes this milestone even more remarkable, Forbes points out, is the rapper's humble upbringings. He grew up in Brooklyn's notorious Marcy housing projects and was a drug dealer before launching his music career in the mid-90s.
His wife, mega star Beyoncé, is worth an estimated $355 million herself, bringing their combined wealth to $1.35 billion.
AP
Honoree Jay-Z speaks onstage at the 2018 Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018, in New York. (Photo by Michael Zorn/Invision/AP)