Birdman Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Birdman Net Worth (Money & Salary)
March 18, 2025
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actively searching for artists to join their newly established label. The label’s first signing was a rapper called Kilo G, whose horrorcore album “The Sleepwalker” released in 1992 marked Cash Money’s inaugural project. As Birdman and Slim sought out new talent, Birdman eventually persuaded his friend DJ Mannie Fresh to become the in-house producer for Cash Money.

By the mid-1990s, Cash Money evolved into one of the most prominent independent record labels in the Southern music scene. In 1995, Birdman met Dwayne Carter, a local rapper just 12 years old. Birdman signed Carter to Cash Money, who is better known as Lil’ Wayne.

Despite achieving regional success, Cash Money encountered numerous challenges. For instance, several artists—including Kilo G, Pimp Daddy, and Yella—were tragically murdered in the 1990s. In their pursuit of greater success, Birdman and Slim brought Turk and Juvenile on board, forming a new group they named Hot Boys, which later included Lil Wayne and B.G. This initiative proved to be pivotal for Cash Money.

Between 1994 and 1997, Cash Money Records, through relentless effort and talent, signed many more artists. Even more remarkably, they managed to sell albums ranging from 25,000 to 50,000 copies without any distribution or promotional agreements with major labels. The debut album of the Hot Boys sold 300,000 copies within its first two months.

Universal Records Deal

In 1998, multiple record companies were vying for a partnership or acquisition with Cash Money Records.

The timing was ideal, as Sony and Universal Music were engaged in fierce competition for market share. Ultimately, Cash Money opted for a $30 million contract with Universal Music Group, which provided Ronald and Birdman with $3 million upfront and guaranteed $1.5 million per album. Boldly, Cash Money negotiated a deal through Universal that allowed them to maintain ownership of their masters, a privilege even The Beatles never achieved! This meant rather than receiving minimal royalties per record sold, the company earned a significant portion of the profits for each unit sold.

In return, Universal received a straightforward 7% fee for distributing Cash Money albums and singles without any ownership stakes in the label. However, with the later success of artists like Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake, Universal would astonishingly grow to more than double the size of its two closest competitors combined.

The total worth of the Universal contract reached $30 million.

More Success

That same year, Birdman ventured into rapping, teaming up with DJ Mannie Fresh to form the group Big Tymers. Their debut album, How Ya Luv That?, was released in 1998, followed by I Got That Work and Hood Rich. B.G. and Juvenile exited Cash Money during this period, prompting Birdman to focus on his solo career. In November 2002, Birdman launched his major-label debut, simply titled Birdman, which reached #24 on the Billboard 200.

In 2004, Lil’ Wayne released the album Tha Carter, achieving both critical and commercial acclaim, solidifying his status as Cash Money’s top artist. Birdman followed with his second album Fast Money in 2005, which debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200. The collaborative project Like Father, Like Son with Lil Wayne was released on Halloween 2006, peaking at number three on the Billboard 200. In 2005, Birdman put out “5 Star Stunna,” followed by his fourth studio album “Priceless” in 2009, which debuted at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Notably, Cash Money Records stands as the most commercially successful label in the history of hip-hop, with sales surpassing 50 million records. At its zenith, Cash Money Records generated $100 million annually.

In early 2010, Birdman ventured into the oil and energy sector with his brother, launching “Bronald Oil.” The name “Bronald” is

A blend of his name, Bryan, and that of his brother, Ronald, formed the basis for a venture aimed at exploring and developing oil resources in both the U.S. Gulf Coast and Oklahoma’s Osage County. However, it remains uncertain whether this endeavor yielded success or managed to locate any oil.

Legal Issues

In November 2007, Birdman was arrested in Tennessee for having nearly a pound of marijuana in his possession.

In 2009, a lawsuit for copyright infringement was filed against Birdman, Lil Wayne, and Cash Money Records by Thomas Marasciullo, who alleged that his voice was utilized without authorization. In 2006, both rappers had asked him to record “Italian-styled spoken word recordings.” It is claimed that the lyrics from these recordings were incorporated into tracks from Birdman’s album 5 * Stunna and their collaborative album Like Father, Like Son.

In January 2015, Lil Wayne initiated a $51 million lawsuit against Birdman, alleging refusal to release his album “The Carter V.” According to documents submitted by Lil Wayne, mismanagement by Birdman and Cash Money regarding Young Money resulted in unpaid debts. Subsequently, in July, prosecutors alleged a conspiracy involving Birdman and Young Thug to murder Lil Wayne, connected to a shooting that occurred in April. On July 16, Birdman responded by filing a $50 million lawsuit against Jay Z’s Tidal streaming service regarding Lil Wayne’s “Free Weezy Album,” claiming that the rights were exclusively owned by Cash Money Records.

Personal Life

Birdman experienced significant personal losses when his mother passed away from illness in 1975. His step-brother Eldrick Wise was murdered in 1991 under circumstances that remain unsolved, and in 1996, his father died in a car accident. Tragically, one of Birdman’s younger sisters, Tamara, also lost her life in a car accident in 2006.

Birdman comes from a large family with ten brothers and twelve sisters.

He has two biological children: Bryan Jr. (born 1997) and Bria (born 1998). In May 2016, he began a relationship with singer Toni Braxton, and they got engaged in 2018 but later called off the engagement in January 2019. Despite this, they confirmed that they were still a couple in April 2019.

At the height of his career, Birdman proclaimed that he purchased 100 new cars every six months, donating the “old” cars to friends and family. He is often spotted wearing jewelry worth several million dollars, which includes a striking 15-carat black diamond ring, matching earrings, and a $500,000 grill on his teeth.

During Hurricane Katrina, Birdman faced substantial losses, losing 20 houses and 50 cars, including two Maybachs and four Ferraris.

Earnings Highlights

By the age of 22, Birdman had already accumulated a net worth of $40 million.

Birdman Career Earnings By Year
Year	Amount
2007	$12,000,000
2008	$10,000,000
2009	$9,000,000
2010	$10,000,000
2011	$15,000,000
2012	$20,000,000
2013	$21,000,000
2014	$24,000,000
2015	$18,000,000
2016	$18,000,000
2017	$20,000,000
2018	$20,000,000
2019	$20,000,000
Total:	$217,000,000

Birdman

Several current and former artists have initiated lawsuits against him for not fulfilling royalty payments.

Real Estate

During his peak, Birdman possessed a $30 million condominium in Miami, alongside at least two other Miami properties (one being a recording studio) and a grand mansion in New Orleans. Today, his real estate portfolio is considerably reduced.

Birdman’s main residence for many years was a substantial mansion situated on Palm Island in Miami, which boasts a fascinating history. In 2006, hip hop producer Scott Storch purchased it for $10.5 million, only to lose it to foreclosure a few years later after squandering what had once been a $70 million fortune. In 2010, entrepreneur Russell Weiner, having amassed a multi-billion dollar fortune as the founder of Rockstar energy drinks, acquired the house from a bank for $6.7 million after its foreclosure. Just two years later, he sold it to Birdman for $14.5 million.

In January 2018, Birdman faced an eviction threat from a bank regarding the 20,000-square-foot waterfront mansion. In response, he immediately attempted to sell the property for a lofty $20 million but found no buyers. He then reduced the asking price to $16.9 million, followed by $15 million, before ultimately accepting $10.9 million in November 2019.

In December 2021, a homeowner in Los Angeles took legal action against Birdman, claiming $114,000 in overdue rent concerning a Bel-Air mansion. Legal documents stated that Birdman had allegedly agreed to pay $33,000 monthly in rent for the property but had ceased payments at some point.

Birdman Quotes on Money

“The only time I’ve ever been broke in my life is when I was born.” – Birdman

“I was born broke, but after that, we woke up and realized we could get some money.” – Birdman

“I lost 20 houses, 50 cars, and memories.” – Birdman reflecting on the impact of Hurricane Katrina

“Put some respek on my name!” – Birdman