Fat Joe Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Fat Joe’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $4 million, Fat Joe is a rapper and producer hailing from New York. He rose to fame in the early 90s through the D.I.T.C Crew before launching a successful solo career. Later, he founded his own music label, Terror Squad. Throughout his career, Fat Joe has worked with notable artists in the music industry and has ventured into acting, appearing in various films and hosting the Coca Vision podcast.

Fat Joe gained fame in the early 1990s as part of the hip-hop collective D.I.T.C. (Diggin’ In The Crates). He released his debut album, “Represent,” in 1993, which included the hit single “Flow Joe,” topping the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. This early achievement marked the beginning of a long and impactful career.

Notably, Fat Joe is renowned for his collaborations, producing numerous chart-topping singles. In 2001, he launched the platinum-certified album “Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.),” featuring the hit “What’s Luv?” alongside Ashanti and Ja Rule. Other notable collaborations include “Lean Back” with Remy Ma, a track that gained immense popularity and received numerous award nominations.

Transitioning into acting, he appeared in films like “Scary Movie 3” and “Happy Feet,” diversifying his career further. Additionally, Fat Joe has engaged in various business ventures, including owning a sneaker store in New York City and hosting a podcast where he interviews artists and celebrities.

Early Life

Joseph Antonio Cartagena, known as Fat Joe, was born on August 19th, 1970, in the South Bronx of New York City. He has Cuban and Puerto Rican roots. Growing up in a challenging and impoverished environment, Cartagena was inclined towards a life of crime from a young age. He characterized himself as a “bully” in school and often resorted to theft to assist his family. However, it was his brother who introduced him to his greatest passion: Hip-Hop music.

Career

In 1992, he adopted the stage name “Fat Joe da Gangster” and became a member of the Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C). During this phase, he seized opportunities to collaborate with various artists, forming key networking connections to help establish his record label. Initially signed to Relativity Records, he was set to release his debut album in 1993.

Represent, his first solo album, featured the hit “Flow Joe,” which reached the top of the Rap Charts, marking a triumphant start to his music journey. He followed it up in 1995 with Jealous One’s Envy, which included the successful track “Envy,” solidifying his place in the industry. A pivotal moment occurred when he met LL Cool J in a recording studio, leading to an opportunity to record the track “I Shot Ya” and appear in the music video.

During this era, Fat Joe began collaborating with Big Pun, whom he discovered himself. In 1998, he worked with artists such as Nas, Diddy, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on his third album, Don Cartegena. The title track became a significant hit along with “Bet Ya Man Can’t Triz.” This album also marked the introduction of his new collective, Terror Squad, which included Big Pun, Cuban Link, Prospect, and others. Terror Squad subsequently became the name of Fat Joe’s record label, under which he promoted several artists.

For his fourth album, Jealous Ones Still Envy, Fat Joe continued to work alongside well-known musicians. Produced by Irv Gotti, the album included collaborations with artists like Ashanti, Ja Rule, and Ludacris. While “We Thuggin'” was a significant hit, it didn’t manage to match the impact of “What’s Luv.” This track, arguably Fat Joe’s most successful song, featured Ashanti and Ja Rule, and has since become one of the iconic tracks of the early 00s. Such success set a benchmark for Fat Joe that he wouldn’t surpass with any subsequent albums, including 2002’s Loyalty. Eventually, Jealous Ones Still Envy reached platinum status.

50 Cent Feud

In 2004, Terror Squad launched their final album, True Story. This album included the hit song “Lean Back,” featuring Remy Ma, which dominated the charts for three weeks, marking one of Fat Joe’s significant successes. The year 2005 saw the beginning of Fat Joe’s notorious feud with 50 Cent, stemming from 50 Cent’s criticism of Fat Joe’s partnership with Ja Rule. Fat Joe responded with a diss track in his sixth album, All or Nothing, which also included collaborations with R. Kelly, Eminem, and Remy Ma.

The conflict with 50 Cent escalated when Fat Joe publicly accused him of cowardice and lacking street credibility. A significant moment occurred during the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards when Fat Joe insulted 50 Cent on stage, leading to an outburst from 50 Cent, who stormed onto the stage yelling obscenities. The award show quickly shifted to a commercial break.

Fat Joe’s seventh album, Me, Myself & I, included a collaboration with Lil Wayne that resulted in the Grammy-nominated single “Make It Rain.” The rivalry with 50 Cent persisted as Fat Joe released The Elephant in the Room, only for 50 Cent to belittle the album, claiming his mixtape outperformed it and asserting that he had “ended” Fat Joe’s career.

In the following years, Fat Joe maintained collaborations with various artists, putting out albums like J.O.S.E. 2 and The Darkside Vol. 1. After securing a new record deal with E1 Music, Fat Joe announced plans to release two more Darkside mixtapes followed by his retirement. Over the years, he continued to generate music through collaborations with artists such as Cool and Dre, Ludacris, ASAP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, and French Montana.

Legal Issues

Throughout his career, Fat Joe has faced numerous legal troubles. He has been charged with assault on at least two occasions and was called to testify in two separate murder trials involving his bodyguard. In another murder case, Fat Joe was present in a vehicle with two men who were shot, which led to him being summoned as a witness.

In 2012, he entered a guilty plea for tax evasion, having failed to pay taxes on $3 million of income earned between 2007 and 2010. This resulted in a four-month prison sentence.

Personal Life

Married to Lorena Cartagena, Fat Joe is a father of three children. He has resided in both Miami and Tenafly, New Jersey.

Although Fat Joe has shed 88 pounds over time, he mentioned that changing his stage name wouldn’t be a beneficial marketing decision.

In 2022, he purchased a customized Rolls Royce Cullinan for $450,000.

Real Estate

In the year 2000, Joe acquired an acre of land in Plantation, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale for $115,000. Subsequently, he constructed a 5,300-square-foot residence at the cost of $1.2 million. He put the house up for sale in 2010 for $2 million, which was later bought by Instagram personality Malú Trevejo. Following that, she relisted it at $3.25 million.