Photo Credit: Jorge Salvador
Following Ye’s removal from the billionaires list in October 2022 after a wave of antisemitic remarks, Forbes highlights the rapper’s once spotlighted wealth, but notes he’s no longer at the top of its billionaire’s list along with Kylie Jenner.
Forbes estimated the Adidas/Yeezy deal to be worth $1.5 billion at the time. Without that deal, Ye’s net worth dropped to $400 million. But even that estimate may not be accurate now as several Kanye West ventures have collapsed like flan following Ye’s antisemitic binge.
The remainder of Ye’s network comes from his real estate, cash holdings, his music catalog, and a 5% stake in Kim Kardashian’s fashion line called Skims. The rapper first made the Forbes rich list in 2020, to which the rapper responded claiming the report was inaccurate. “It’s not a billion. It’s 3.3 billion since no one at Forbes knows how to count,” he said at the time.
Now in 2023, the rapper is limited to a blurb from the past and this harsh one liner which must hurt someone as superficial as Ye: “Without Adidas and others, Ye dropped from the three-comma club.” Ouch.
Rihanna graces the list thanks to her cosmetics company Fenty Beauty and her lingerie brand, Savage X Fenty. The Fenty Beauty brand is a joint venture with luxury goods giant LVMH, which says the Fenty brand’s revenues doubled in 2022. Rihanna’s 30% stake in Savage x Fenty is valued at $3 billion when the fashion outlet was considering an IPO.
While Ye may have dropped off, musician Jimmy Buffet made his debut on the richest celebrities list this year. The Margaritaville mogul built a fortune through his decades of touring and music royalties. A significant chunk of his valuation comes from his global licensing operation, Margaritaville Holdings, which stamps the Buffet brand on beach-themed restaurants, resorts, casinos, and hundreds of other branded products.
Considering Kanye West practically dared Adidas to take his partnership away on an episode of the Drink Champs podcast—be careful what you wish for.