50 Cent Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is 50 Cent’s net worth?

50 Cent is an entrepreneur, actor, producer, and rapper from America, boasting a net worth of $40 million. Achieving prominence in the early 2000s, he rose to international fame with his debut album “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which went platinum several times and featured hits such as “In Da Club.” His other albums, like “The Massacre,” also achieved notable success. With a distinctive blend of catchy hooks and aggressive lyrics, 50 Cent has sold millions of albums globally. Beyond music, his business ventures have been impressive, particularly his investment in Vitamin Water, which yielded substantial returns when the company was purchased by Coca-Cola. Moreover, he successfully transitioned into film and television as both an actor and producer, with his semi-autobiographical series “Power” achieving significant acclaim, leading to multiple spin-offs.

Throughout his career, 50 Cent has garnered between $200-$300 million from various sources, including record sales, touring, and partnerships with brands. Sadly, his lavish spending, particularly on real estate, luxury cars, and lawsuits, resulted in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in July 2015. More details on this situation will follow later in this article. Before the bankruptcy, his wealth peaked at over $100 million.

Early Life

Born Curtis James Jackson III on July 6, 1975, in Queens, New York City, 50 Cent was raised in the South Jamaica area by his mother, Sabrina, a drug dealer. Tragically, his mother passed away when he was only eight years old, leading to his upbringing by his grandmother. By age 12, he had begun selling narcotics after school, and in the 10th grade, he was arrested while trying to bring guns and drug money into his high school through metal detectors. In 1994, he was caught selling cocaine to an undercover police officer, followed by another arrest when a police raid revealed heroin, crack cocaine, and a gun in his home. He spent six months in a boot camp and subsequently earned his GED.

Early Career and Shooting

Jackson’s popularity surged with the release of his underground rap single “How To Rob.” In May 2000, just as he was preparing to unveil “Thug Love,” a collaboration with Destiny’s Child, he was shot and taken to the hospital after an attack outside his grandmother’s house in Queens. An alleged assailant, Darryl Baum (who served as Mike Tyson’s bodyguard), fired nine shots, injuring 50 Cent in several parts of his body, including his hand, arm, hip, both legs, chest, and left cheek. The attacker was killed three weeks later. 50 Cent spent 13 days in the hospital, where he secured a publishing deal with Columbia Records, only to be dropped after attempting to publish “Ghetto Qu’ran.” Subsequently, he faced blacklisting from the US recording industry and relocated to Canada to produce mixtapes to build his audience. In 2002, he released the mixtape “Guess Who’s Back?”.

Rise to Fame

In 2002, Eminem discovered Jackson, impressed by “Guess Who’s Back?” and invited him to Los Angeles to meet Dr. Dre. 50 Cent signed a $1 million recording contract and released “No Mercy, No Fear.” A track from Eminem’s film “8 Mile” featured a song by 50 Cent. His debut album, “Get Rich or Die Trying,” launched him to remarkable fame in 2003, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard charts and selling nearly a million copies within the first four days. The single “In Da Club” notably set a record for radio plays within a week after release. Shortly afterward, Interscope bestowed upon 50 his own label, G-Unit Records. His next album, “The Massacre,” was launched in March 2005, achieving wild success with 1.14 million copies sold in its initial four days and securing the number-one position on the Billboard charts for six consecutive weeks. His third album, “Curtis,” hit the shelves in 2007, debuting at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, while his fourth album, “Before I Self Destruct,” was released in November 2009. Disputes with his label postponed his fifth album, “Street King Immortal,” until November 2012. So far, his studio albums have collectively sold over 21 million copies.

Other Pursuits

In the brief period he has spent in the spotlight, 50 Cent established G-Unit Records, launched a clothing line under the same name, and acted alongside industry giants such as Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. Additionally, he created a boxing promotion company called The Money Team in 2012.

Bankruptcy Filing

On July 13, 2015, the Wall Street Journal revealed that 50 Cent had sought Chapter 11 personal bankruptcy protection. The filing occurred in the US bankruptcy court located in Hartford, Connecticut, as he was a resident of that state at the time.

At the moment of filing, 50 Cent was residing in Mike Tyson’s former mansion at 50 Poplar Hill Dr, Farmington, CT 06032. His reported assets were valued within the scope of

He stated having debts ranging between $10 million and $50 million.

The filing occurred just days after a jury mandated 50 to pay Rick Ross’ ex-girlfriend, Lavonia Leviston, a $5 million judgment for the deliberate release of a sex tape featuring her. This judgment comprised $2.5 million for unauthorized use of her image and an additional $2.5 million for emotional distress. Furthermore, the judge in that specific case instructed Mr. Jackson to submit proof of his income and assets to allow the jury to assess additional punitive damages.

A different judge had previously ordered 50 to pay $17.5 million in damages about a year earlier due to a trademark infringement case involving a former associate in a headphone business. When factoring in this judgment, he faced potential legal judgments amounting to $22.5 million before calculating any punitive damages from the sex tape case.

His bankruptcy filing appeared to be a strategic decision for three primary reasons:

• #1) To stop the judgment creditor (Lavonia Leviston) from interfering with his business activities and to prevent liens on his properties.
• #2) To compel the creditor into negotiations aimed at reducing the $5 million judgment.
• #3) To inhibit the jury in the sex tape case from awarding Ms. Leviston any further punitive damages.

He later elaborated:

“When you’re achieving success, you become a target. I don’t want to be a bullseye. I don’t want anyone using me as a target for significant claims and going through all that hassle. I’m taking steps any prudent businessperson would in this situation.“

Following his statement, his lawyer added:

“The filing allows Mr. Jackson to maintain his engagement with diverse business ventures and continue his career as an entertainer while systematically reorganizing his financial situation.”

Vitamin Water Deal

50 Cent made his most astute financial move by securing a minority stake in Vitamin Water, acting as their celebrity spokesperson and endorsing the “Formula 50” beverage.

In 2007, Coca-Cola acquired Glacéau, the producer of Vitamin Water, for $4.1 billion. It is widely believed that 50 Cent earned approximately ten times more from the Vitamin Water sale than he had made from his music career up until that time.

Initially, reports suggested his equity stake in Vitamin Water was 10%, potentially leading to a pre-tax gain of $410 million. However, this figure was largely refuted by investment bankers familiar with the arrangement, who later hinted that 50’s stake was more likely around 2.5%. This would imply that 50 Cent earned between $100-$150 million from the sale (before taxes).

Earnings By Year

2007: $32 million

2008: $150 million

2009: $20 million

2010: $8 million

2011: $6 million

2012: $7 million

2013: $7 million

2014: $8 million

2015: $4 million

2016: $6 million

2017: $5 million

2018: $4 million

2019: $4 million

Total: $261 million

Effen Vodka Deal

Reports from July 2017 indicated (though not confirmed) that 50 had divested his minority stake in Effen Vodka for $60 million. 50 Cent took to Instagram to acknowledge the occurrence of the deal but did not affirm the $60 million figure, a number initially mentioned by DJ Envy on The Breakfast Club radio show. Envy reported the figure without providing any verification or sources. While it’s possible the figure originated from 50 himself, which could lend it credence, it may also be an exaggeration. We await further official confirmation, so this amount has not been included in 50’s net worth stated above.

Starz Deal

In October 2018, 50 Cent entered into a four-year overall deal with Starz, the cable channel for his drama series “Power.” This agreement, encompassing a three-series commitment, might ultimately be valued at $150 million if all benchmarks are met.

Personal Life

50 Cent has a son named Marquise Jackson, born in October 1996, with his former girlfriend Shaniqua Tompkins. Tompkins once sued Jackson for $50 million, but the case was dismissed. They have engaged in numerous social media disputes.

In 2005, after rapper Kanye West criticized President George W. Bush for the sluggish response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster, 50 expressed support for Bush. Later, he endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 and Hillary Clinton in 2016. Despite the themes found in many of his tracks, Jackson abstains from both drugs and alcohol.

In May 2016, following a walkthrough at Cincinnati International Airport, Jackson confronted a janitor, hurling insults when he suspected the worker was under the influence. The janitor was later revealed to be a teenager with autism and hearing impairment. The incident went viral, leading the teenager’s parents to consider legal action against 50 Cent, which ultimately concluded with a settlement involving a $100,000 donation from 50 Cent to Autism Speaks along with an apology.

Connecticut Mansion

In 2003, 50 Cent acquired a 17-acre estate in Connecticut featuring a massive 50,000-square-foot residence that boasts 37 bathrooms, 21 bedrooms, a gym, a casino, and a nightclub. Previously, the property belonged to boxer Mike Tyson. At the time of purchase, Tyson was navigating through a divorce and had also declared bankruptcy. A court ordered Tyson to transfer the mansion to his ex-wife, Monica Turner, who sold it to 50 Cent for $4.1 million, subsequently investing an additional $6 million in various upgrades, including a private movie theater, an infinity pool, and a helicopter pad.

During his bankruptcy proceedings in 2015, it was noted through 50’s lawyers that the property incurred standard monthly maintenance and financing costs nearing $72,000, with utility bills alone amounting to $18,000.

Initially, 50 attempted to sell the mansion in 2007 for $18.5 million but found no buyers. Despite ongoing efforts since then, he had no success. Eventually, he reduced the asking price to $4.995 million in September 2018, yet again received no interest. Finally, in April 2019, he sold the mansion for $2.9 million, reflecting an 84% drop from his original offer and a $1.2 million loss relative to his purchase price.