The world’s richest musician worth £2bn – more than Taylor Swift and Beyonce combined…

Rapper-turned-mogul Jay-Z was declared hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, with a net worth of £2 billion.

His music career began in 1996 when he launched his Roc-A-Fella label, releasing his first studio album, Reasonable Doubt, later that year. He’s since sold over 125 million records worldwide and won 24 Grammy awards.

Jay-Z’s business interests range from his Roc Nation entertainment company, a fashion line, and two luxe drink brands. His portfolio includes stakes in some of the world’s biggest companies, including Uber and SpaceX.

This is more than Taylor Swift and Beyonce combined, which totals £1.9 billion. Taylor Swift is estimated to be worth £1.3 billion while Beyonce stands at around £650 million.

Taylor Swift is in second place, becoming the first musician to attain billionaire status solely through her songs and performances.

She’s accumulated around £473 million from royalties and touring and has a music catalogue valued at another £483 million, while her real estate portfolio is worth an estimated £99 million.

Her recently wrapped Eras Tour is now the highest-earning in history with an estimated £1.7 billion gross. Forbes estimates Swift’s net worth is now £1.3 billion.

Coming after Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Paul McCartney, and Madonna, in tenth place is Beyonce. The breakout star of 90s girl group Destiny’s Child, she has sold over 200 million records and in 2023, broke the record for the most Grammy wins ever with 32.