World’s richest artist announced and they earn almost twice as much as Taylor Swift

Of course, we’re talking about rapper Jay-Z, who Forbes claimed has a jaw-dropping $2.5 billion (£1.86bn) net worth – almost double T-Swift’s!

Despite not officially releasing a solo LP since 2017’s 4:44, the 55-year-old – whose real name is Shawn Corey Carter – owns his entire music catalogue, with 13 studio albums, two live records, among others, under his belt.

Instead of making his billions by releasing hit after hit, Jay-Z has his fingers in many, many business pies.

These include founding the entertainment company Roc Nation, a subsidiary of Live Nation Entertainment, which he still owns and serves as Chairman.

Roc Nation is a record label, talent agency, and media production firm, with artists like A$AP Rocky, Christina Aguilera and DJ Khaled on its books.

Jay-Z was an early investor in Uber (Monica Schipper/WireImage)

The ‘99 Problems’ icon also started Roc Nation Sports in 2013, a sports agency that manages over $2.6 billion (£1.93bn) in contracts for the likes of NBA guard LaMelo Ball, WNBA’s Skylar Diggins and Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr.

In 2021, Beyoncé‘s husband received a major payday after selling music streaming service Tidal to a financial tech company for $297 million (£221.36m), as per Forbes.

The outlet claimed that the music mogul walked away from the deal with $149 million (£111m) in cash and stock.

But by far his biggest money-making venture is a boozy one.

In 2006, Jay-Z bought 50 percent of luxury champagne company Armand de Brignac, acquiring the remainder of the business eight years later.

Then, LVMH owner Bernard Arnault purchased 50 percent from him in 2021 for a reported $630 million (£469.53m).

There are only a handful of celebs who possess a higher net worth than Jay-Z (Getty Stock Image)

And, after he bought shares in luxury cognac business Du’ssé, Bacardi bought his stake for an eye-watering $750 million (£558.97m) in 2023.

Among other things, Jay-Z was an early investor in Uber, JetSmarter – a startup that allows people to rent private jets – and launched the luxury cannabis brand, Monogram, in 2019.

While he’s listed on Forbes as the best-earning music artist, he isn’t classed as the richest celebrity.

Ahead of him in the table are WWE’s Vincent McMahon, talk show host Oprah Winfrey, basketball icon Michael Jordan, Star Wars creator George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg.