Kanye West was once a billionaire and one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation. He has sold over 160 million records and won 22 Grammy Awards out of the overall 97 nominations. His latest albums Donda (2021) and Donda 2 (2022) received mixed reactions and commercial success.
Kanye is also a genius designer and fashion icon. His famous brand Yeezy offered high-end sneakers, pants, slides, shirts, jackets, tracks pants, socks, lingerie, and women’s shoes. He initially collaborated with Nike until 2013 when their partnership ended.
Kanye reached out to Adidas who agreed to work with him. Under their partnership, the rapper retained 100% ownership of his brand while having full creative control over the products released.
His brand grew to massive success as he revealed Adidas Yeezy generated $1.3 billion in annual revenue by 2019. This brand sooner gave him his billionaire status.
Kanye is a Billionaire
Forbes published that Kanye reached the billionaire’s club in 2020. He however complained to the Forbes editorial team that he was worth 3.3 billion at that time. The majority of his assets were from his partnership with Adidas with his Yeezy brand.
The rapper owns a couple of land, properties, his music catalog, other business ventures, and a 5% stake in Kim Kardashian’s company Skims.
By 2022, Forbes had listed Kanye to be worth over $2 billion even though he claimed to be over worth $6 billion.
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Kanye is No longer A Billionaire
As of November 2022, Kanye was no longer a billionaire. His net worth dropped to $400 million after Adidas dropped him and terminated their contract over the antisemitic comments he made.
Ye appeared on the Drink Champs podcast where he claimed he “can say antisemitic s—- and Adidas cannot drop me”. He had also earlier twisted on his Twitter that; “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE,” which made his account locked.
He also went on to Instagram saying antisemitic remarks which made Instagram suspend him from the platform. What added fuel to fire is when he wore a shirt with the phrase “White Lives Matter” at his Yeezy Paris Fashion Week show. He also featured black models wearing the shirt.
What made most people disappointed with the rapper is that the phrase was adopted by white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in response to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Celebrities such as Jaden Smith, Diddy, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Boosie called him out and condemned his actions.
People began bashing him online which forced thousand of companies he had been working with to cut ties with him. Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, published an op-ed in the Financial Times urging Kanye’s business partners to cut ties with him.
Part of his article read;
“West is not just any person — he is a pop culture icon with millions of fans around the world. Hatred and anti-Semitism should have no place in our society, no matter how much money is at stake…..Those who continue to do business with West are giving his misguided hate an audience. There should be no tolerance anywhere for West’s anti-Semitism.”
Kanye’s Troubles Begin
Balenciaga announced that they cut ties with him and canceled all future plans they had with him on October 21. A documentary about the rapper was also canceled. MRC revealed that they will not proceed with distributing of the film as they ” cannot support any content that amplifies his platform.”
Other people and companies that cut ties with him include CAA (Creative Artists Agency), GAP, Foot Locker, Def Jam, TJ Maxx, and Anna Wintour of Vogue among others.
Adidas had announced that they had put their partnership with Ye under review but after pressure from the public, the shoe company announced they terminated their partnership with Kanye.
Part of the press release by Adidas was;
“Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful, and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect, and fairness.
“After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products, and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.”
After all, he was wrong about Adidas not dropping him. His worth staggered to millions as the Adidas Yeezy brand accounted for $1.5 billion of his worth.
Kanye West Net Worth 2024
After being dropped by Adidas, Kanye is now worth $400 million. His assets include his cash, music catalog, properties and land, and other business ventures.