Nas Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Nas’ net worth?

With a net worth estimated at $70 million, Nas is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, entrepreneur, and investor. Born Nasir Jones, he is often recognized as one of the most impactful figures in hip-hop. His music career, which has spanned over thirty years, features both critical acclaim and commercial success. Frequently celebrated as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, Nas’s debut album, “Illmatic” (1994), is notable for its vivid storytelling, intricate lyricism, and groundbreaking production that set a high bar for the genre. The album’s influence is significant, inspiring a generation of artists and contributing to the development of East Coast hip-hop during the 1990s.

Following “Illmatic,” Nas continued to deliver a string of successful albums. He produced notable pieces such as “It Was Written,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, featuring hit songs like “If I Ruled the World.” Over time, Nas has earned respect for his lyrical prowess and his focus on social and political themes. His work often delves into African American culture, urban existence, and personal challenges, establishing him as a prominent voice for his community.

In addition to his music accomplishments, Nas has made significant progress as a venture capitalist. He co-founded QueensBridge Venture Partners, a venture capital firm that invests in tech startups. His foray into the technology sector has led to several successful investments in various companies, including a key early stake in Dropbox, a cloud storage service. His firm has also funded other thriving startups, such as Lyft, a ride-sharing platform, Robinhood, the stock trading service, Coinbase, Ring, and Pluto TV.

Early Life

Born on September 14, 1973, in Brooklyn, Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones hails from a diverse background; his father, Olu Dara, is a jazz and blues musician from Mississippi, while his mother, Fannie Ann, is from North Carolina and employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Nas has a brother, Jabari, known in the music world as Jungle, who is part of the hip-hop group the Bravehearts. Nas began playing the trumpet at age four and discovered rap—a newly emerging genre—at nine. After his parents divorced in 1985, he left school after completing eighth grade.

Music Career

In 1991, Nas gained exposure by featuring on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque.” In mid-1992, he secured a record deal with Columbia Records, facilitated by his then-manager MC Serch. His solo debut came with the single “Halftime,” part of the soundtrack for the film Zebrahead, also produced by MC Serch. Nas’s exceptional rhyming talent quickly drew attention within the hip-hop scene.

His debut album, Illmatic, was launched in 1994, producing several notable singles such as “It Ain’t Hard to Tell,” “One Love,” and “The World Is Yours.” The Source named Illmatic the best album of 1994. Nas’s second album, It Was Written, arrived in 1996, featuring successful singles like “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)” (featuring Lauryn Hill) and “Street Dreams.” It Was Written also marked the debut of The Firm, a supergroup consisting of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega.

The Firm signed with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and began producing their debut album. During the recording process, Cormega was let go, and Nature stepped in as the new member. Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ, and Nature presented The Firm: The Album in 1997, receiving mixed reviews. Although it achieved platinum status, the album underperformed, leading to The Firm’s disbandment.

Nas went on to release nine additional albums, including those from 1999 such as I Am… and others.

Nastradamus, Stillmatic from 2001, God’s Son from 2002, Street’s Disciple from 2004, Hip Hop Is Dead from 2006, the Untitled album from 2008, Life is Good from 2012, and Nasir from 2018. He has received nominations for 15 Grammy Awards and six MTV Music Video Awards, in addition to being nominated for 10 BET Awards, of which he won two.

In November 2016, a collaboration between Nas, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and others produced the song “Wrote My Way Out,” featured on The Hamilton Mixtape. Nas earned his first Grammy with his 12th release, King’s Disease, winning Best Rap Album at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. He subsequently released King’s Disease II in 2021, the same year he presented his 14th studio album, Magic. The following year, he collaborated again with producer Hit-Boy for King’s Disease III, marking his fourth consecutive album with him.

Venture Capitalist

Throughout the years, Nas has shown a strong interest in and understanding of emerging technological innovations. He is a co-founder of the Venture Capital firm QueensBridge Venture Partners.

Over time, QueensBridge has invested in numerous companies, many of which have greatly increased in value. The firm often invests between $100,000 and $500,000. Each month, it receives over 100 pitches from new companies seeking investment.

Some of the most successful investments by QueensBridge include Dropbox, Lyft, SeatGeek, General Assembly, Robinhood, Casper, Pill Pack, Pluto TV, Coinbase, and Genius.

QueensBridge had a minor equity stake in Ring, which Amazon acquired for $1.1 billion in 2018. From this acquisition, QueensBridge made $40 million from its holdings in Ring and Pill Pack.

Moreover, in 2019, Viacom acquired Pluto TV for $340 million.

In 2013, QueensBridge participated in Coinbase’s Series B funding round, which garnered $25 million at a $143 million valuation. When Coinbase went public in April 2021, it had a market capitalization of $60 billion, making QueensBridge’s investment worth between $35 million and $100 million. By November 2021, the market capitalization of Coinbase reached $90 billion. It is hoped that Nas sold his Coinbase shares at some point, as the company’s valuation fell to around $9 billion in the following year. Although it did eventually recover, it didn’t quite reach the $90 billion mark, but it still represented a significant increase over the original Series B purchase price.

In addition, Nas is a partner in the Sweet Chick restaurant, which specializes in chicken and waffles. The first location, established by John Seymour in 2013, sparked Nas’s desire to be involved in a southern restaurant infused with hip-hop culture. Sweet Chick now operates several locations throughout New York, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens, along with a site in Los Angeles and another in London.

Personal Life

Destiny, Nas’s daughter, was born on June 15, 1994. Her mother is Carmen Bryan, who was engaged to Nas at the time. Carmen later confessed to having an affair with Jay-Z, Nas’s rival and adversary.

Nas

Mary J. Blige and Nicki Minaj were briefly dated by Nas.

In 2002, Nas lost his mother Fannie Ann.

After dating for two years, Nas wed singer Kelis in Atlanta in 2005. However, in April 2009, while seven months pregnant, Kelis initiated divorce proceedings, citing irreconcilable differences. Nas’s son, Knight, was born on July 21, 2009. Their divorce was finalized on May 21, 2010. In 2018, Kelis accused Nas of physical and mental abuse during their marriage. Conversely, Nas publicly accused Kelis of “very hostile behavior and verbal abuse” along with “physical violent attacks.” The relationship between the ex-couple remains strained. Kelis, who has remarried and welcomed a second son, contested Nas’s allegations that she is preventing him from seeing Knight.

In June 2020, Nas and his ex Carmen Bryan came together to commemorate their daughter Destiny’s 26th birthday, showcasing familial unity.

IRS Issues

In September 2009, a federal tax lien for over $2.5 million was filed against Nas by the Internal Revenue Service due to unpaid taxes going back to 2006. By early 2011, his tax liabilities had escalated to more than $6.4 million. In 2012, it was reported that the IRS had filed documents to begin garnishing part of Nas’s earnings until he paid off his outstanding tax bill.

Earnings Highlights

When Jay-Z brought Nas on board in January 2006, the contract outlined that Nas would receive around $3,000,000, which included a recording budget for his first two albums with Def Jam.

Nas earned $35 million between September 2017 and September 2018, and $19 million from September 2018 to September 2019.

Real Estate

In early 2002, Nas acquired a property in McDonough, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, for $659,000. The 3,592-square-foot residence, built in 1999, features two bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom, and a swimming pool.

In mid-2007, together with his then-wife Kelis, Nas bought a Los Angeles home for $1.6 million. This 3,207-square-foot property, constructed in 1947, includes four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

In November 2021, Nas invested $3.5 million in a 10-acre property located in Calabasas, California.