Kanye West has reportedly reclaimed the title of the richest rapper, surpassing JAY-Z with an impressive net worth of $2.77 billion.

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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.

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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. The two, who once worked together on the popular Watch the Throne album, are the only rappers to reach the billion-dollar milestone.

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Earlier reports that Dr. Dre and Diddy had also become billionaires have since been disproven.

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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.

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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, really… And we survived. We survived through the cancellation.”

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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.

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Meanwhile, 50 Cent is aiming for billionaire status. The rapper and businessman claimed last year that he is close to becoming a billionaire, thanks to his successful media and spirits ventures.

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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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