Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the richest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z with an impressive net worth of $2.77 billion. This comes from Eton Venture Services, a business valuation firm, which credits West's financial comeback to his music assets and full ownership of the Yeezy brand.

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On Thursday, 23 January, the music and fashion icon shared the news via an Instagram post, writing, “LAA LA LA LA,” in what appeared to be a celebratory jab at his critics. If the reported numbers are correct, Kanye West’s net worth has surpassed JAY-Z’s, who is currently valued at $2.5 billion according to Forbes.

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The two, who once worked together on the popular Watch the Throne album, are the only rappers to reach the billion-dollar milestone. Earlier reports that Dr. Dre and Diddy had also become billionaires have since been disproven. Kanye’s return to billionaire status follows a challenging period. In 2022, his wealth dropped significantly after Adidas ended their profitable partnership with him due to his controversial antisemitic remarks.

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Before the split, Forbes had estimated the partnership added $1.5 billion to his fortune, which was then around $2 billion. Afterward, his net worth fell to an estimated $400 million. West later opened up about the financial strain he endured following the partnership’s collapse. Speaking to TMZ in 2024, he admitted, “I’m gonna be honest with y’all: I was two months from going bankrupt,

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really… And we survived. We survived through the cancellation.” Despite facing challenges, Kanye kept ownership of the Yeezy brand and now runs it independently. The brand's recent success, including making millions in sales from a single clothing release, has been key to his financial recovery. Meanwhile, 50 Cent is aiming for billionaire status.

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The rapper and businessman claimed last year that he is close to becoming a billionaire, thanks to his successful media and spirits ventures. The split between Kanye and Adidas was costly for the German company, which estimated a loss of about $246 million in 2022 due to the separation. However, it allowed Kanye to fully take charge of Yeezy, which has since shown strong growth and profitability.

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