Beyoncé and Jay-Z's incredible fortunes and lives of luxury

The ultimate Hollywood power couple?

Beyoncé and Jay-Z are a true showbiz force of nature. Since coupling up in the early 2000s, they've built a massive business empire worth billions. Both have dominated the music industry since early in their careers, but they're savvy enough to know money can be made in many different ways.

Read on to discover how they make and spend their fortune and why Beyoncé is currently in trouble with the IRS as her sell-out Renaissance world tour gets underway. All dollar amounts are in US dollars.

Hip-hop's first billionaire

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, was named hip-hop's first billionaire in 2019. The 53-year-old rapper has amassed a solo net worth of $2.5 billion (£2bn), according to Forbes. The Empire State of Mind hitmaker is not only one of the world's most successful artists, but a true entrepreneur. His business interests include fashion, beverages, managing other talent, and owning record labels like Roc Nation. 

Music mogul

It all started to happen for Jay-Z in 1996 when he launched his own record label, called Roc-A-Fella, to release his first studio album, Reasonable Doubt. Since then, he's released 12 more solo albums, totalling 50 million album sales and 75 million single sales worldwide.

Jay-Z's success and wealth are a far cry from his childhood poverty in Brooklyn, where he turned to crime at a young age to support himself. He allegedly even shot his brother in the shoulder when he was just 12 during a row over jewellery. 

Owning his rights

In 2004, Jay-Z negotiated with record label Def Jam to own the rights to his master recordings. In another deal with label EMI, he won his publishing rights. These proved to be smart business decisions as his songs achieve almost a billion streams annually. His music catalogue is valued at $95 million (£77.1m), according to Forbes. But music isn’t the only way the astute rapper makes his money...

Rocawear fashion

Showing entrepreneurial spirit early in his career, Jay-Z started his own fashion brand in 1999. Rocawear sells a variety of street-inspired clothing such as sweaters, T-shirts, and baseball caps. The rights to the company were sold to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million (£104m) in 2007. Jay-Z still retains a stake in the company though. 

Roc Nation days

Following the success of his fashion line, Jay-Z collaborated with concert giant Live Nation in 2008 to create the entertainment company Roc Nation. Roc Nation represents some of the biggest stars in the sports and music industry including Premier League footballers and music stars such as Alicia Keys (pictured) and Rihanna. The company is also responsible for organising the famous Super Bowl halftime show.

Roc Nation was valued at $140 million (£102.6m) in 2021, according to Forbes.

A boozy business

Jay-Z sold half his Armand de Brignac Champagne company to luxury goods giant LVMH in a deal that valued the company at about $640 million (£469m) in 2021. The lavish fizz costs around $300 (£245) per bottle. Jay-Z regularly uses his music to promote the pricey drink.

Armand de Brignac isn’t the businessman's only alcohol venture though – Jay-Z sold the controlling stake in his D’USSÉ Cognac brand to Bacardi for an estimated $750 million (£616.6m) earlier this year. However, the rapper still retains a significant ownership stake in the high-end brand that he founded with liquor giant Bacardi back in 2012. 

Streaming success

In 2015, Jay-Z bought the Scandinavian music streaming service TIDAL for approximately $60 million (£38.5m). It relaunched later the same year with investments from stars including his wife Beyoncé and friend Kayne West. In 2021, payments company Square, which was co-founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, reportedly bought TIDAL for $302 million (£221.3m). 

Savvy investments

Jay-Z has a seriously impressive business portfolio, amounting to $425 million (£311.4m), according to Forbes in 2021. He owns shares in some of the world's best-known companies, such as SpaceX and Uber. In recent times, he's invested in vegan milk company Oatly, along with stars such as Oprah Winfrey and Natalie Portman.

Queen Bey

Now for the other half of this dynamic duo. Beyoncé is the breakout star of 90s girl group Destiny’s Child and one of the best-selling female artists of all time. With a net worth of $450 million (£365.4m), Forbes named Beyoncé one of America's richest self-made women.

Like her husband, Queen Bey has many business ventures outside the music industry that have helped her amass her impressive fortune. 

Top of her game

After Destiny's Child, Beyoncé found success as a solo artist, starting in 2003 with her hit song Crazy In Love, which featured future husband Jay-Z. She's since gone on to sell over 118 million records worldwide. In 2014, Billboard named her the highest-earning Black musician of all time, ahead of the likes of Michael Jackson and Prince. 

Tours and performances

In 2016, Beyonce's Formation world tour grossed $250 million (£168.5m). She also headlined music festival Coachella in 2018, making history as the first Black woman to do so. Her estimated paycheque for the performance was $3 million (£2.2m). Her iconic Coachella performance was released on Netflix as part of a three-project deal estimated to be worth a total of $60 million (£44.4m).

Her current Renaissance world tour is expected to net her over $2 billion (£1.9bn) in ticket sales alone, according to Forbes.

Perfume empire

Like many other celebrities, Beyoncé has launched her own perfume. Since 2010 she's used her star power to sell around $400 million (£324.7m) worth of her signature fragrance, Heat. Beyoncé has also endorsed several other luxury perfume brands including Giorgio Armani and Tommy Hilfiger. But perfume is just a small part of her endorsement and collaboration portfolio. 

Brand deals

Global brands practically line up to utilise Beyoncé's selling power. In 2012 she signed a $50 million (£32.3m) brand deal with Pepsi. She’s also worked with other big names such as L’Oréal, American Express, and Nintendo. 

Fashion forward

Beyoncé is the first African American woman to fully own her own sportswear brand. Ivy Park was launched in partnership with Topshop in 2016 and then relaunched with Adidas in 2019.

However, Adidas ended its partnership with Beyoncé this year after sales of Ivy Park fell by more than 50% to just $40 million (£32.9m) in 2022. This is far below the $250 million (£205.7 million) sales figure projected by Adidas. It's a huge financial blow to Beyoncé, who earned $20 million (£16.5m) in annual compensation from the lucrative partnership.

Star of the screen

Multi-talented Beyoncé has also found success on the screen. She reportedly earned $12.5 million (£7.3m) for her role in the 2006 movie Dreamgirls, plus a further $1 million (£581k) for her work on the soundtrack. In 2019 Beyoncé voiced Nala in Disney’s The Lion King remake, raking in a cool $25 million (£19.5m) for her efforts. And remember her as Foxxy Cleopatra in Austin Powers in Goldmember? Classic. 

Power couple

By 2018, Beyoncé and Jay-Z decided to combine their mammoth star power with the On The Run II stadium tour. The North American and European legs consisted of 48 live shows and grossed a total of $250 million (£185m). Both artists performed their biggest solo hits as well as duets. The unstoppable power couple have 88 Grammy nods each, and are tied for the most nominated artists in Grammy history.

Tiffany campaign

Jay-Z and Beyoncé starred together in a campaign for luxury jewellery brand Tiffany in 2021. Beyoncé donned the infamous 128.54-carat Tiffany Yellow Diamond for the campaign (pictured). Just four other women have worn the priceless gemstone since its 1877 discovery: Audrey Hepburn, Lady Gaga, Gal Gadot, and 20th-century socialite Mrs. E. Sheldon Whitehouse, with Beyoncé becoming the first ever Black woman to wear it.

However, the move sparked controversy, and Beyoncé was accused of sporting a 'blood diamond' as the stone was discovered in the notorious Kimberley mine in South Africa, renowned for its mistreatment of Black workers.

Smart investments

Last year, the business-savvy starlet invested money in flavoured water brand Lemon Perfect. The health-conscious company uses zero sugar and no artificial flavours or colouring in its products, which are packed full of Vitamin C.

"I don’t typically enjoy drinks without added sugar, but Lemon Perfect is delicious," Beyoncé said in a statement on the Lemon Perfect website. "It was an easy decision to invest in something that not only tastes great and is healthy but also, and most importantly, allows choosing a healthier lifestyle to be affordable and accessible to everyone."

Private concert payday

In January, Beyoncé performed at the grand opening of the opulent Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, receiving an eye-watering $24 million (£19.5m) payday for her hour-long private concert (pictured). The average cost of a room at the swanky new resort is a cool $1,000 (£812) per night, though the most luxurious go for an incredible $100,000 (£81.2k), with the superstar reportedly opting to stay in one of the top-end suites during her visit.

However, Beyoncé has faced a backlash for her Dubai performance, with some fans calling the star "hypocritical". Her latest album Renaissance paid homage to LGBTQ+ culture, but same-sex relationships are illegal in the United Arab Emirates and punishable by imprisonment or even death. 

Grammy success

Beyoncé made history in February as the artist with the most Grammy wins after scoring her 32nd Grammy Award at the 2023 ceremony. The pop diva took home four awards overall, including that for best dance/electronic album for latest album Renaissance.

Beyoncé's record-breaking victory means that she defeated Hungarian-British conductor George Solti, whose record of 31 Grammys had stood for more than 20 years. 

Tax troubles

Despite a massive fortune at her fingertips, the IRS recently issued Beyoncé with a notice of deficiency, alleging that she owed almost $2.7 million (£2.2m) in unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2019. However, Beyoncé has filed a petition disputing the claim and has requested a trial over the matter in Los Angeles.

Her legal team has argued that a minimum of $868,766 (£691k) should be written off, as it was given as a tax-exempt charity donation. While the star has yet to comment on the matter, her lawyer, Michael C. Cohen said, "We are working with the IRS and anticipate that the matter will be resolved shortly."

Property portfolio

Beyoncé and Jay-Z own numerous luxury properties including a Bel Air mansion worth $88 million (£71.4m) and a Hamptons home valued at $26 million (£21.1m). According to Business Insider, the pair also purchased a converted New Orleans church (pictured) for $2.6 million (£2.1m). 

In 2013, Jay-Z bought a private island in the Bahamas for $4 million (£2.5m). He and Beyoncé often go there for family vacations with their children Blue Ivy (11) and twins Rumi and Sir (five). 

Luxury getaways

Jay-Z and Beyoncé often vacation in Paris, staying in a penthouse at Hotel Le Meurice that costs $20,000 (£16.2k) per night. They also enjoy trips aboard the Galactica Star superyacht (pictured). The yacht is worth $73 million (£59m), and access is super-exclusive – you must know the owner personally. 

Meanwhile, the couple's Bombardier Challenger 850 private jet can carry 16 passengers and comes complete with a living room, kitchen, several bathrooms and master bedroom. 

Toy collection

In common with many billionaires, Jay-Z and Beyoncé own a fleet of expensive cars including a Maybach Exelero, a Bugatti Veyron, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, and a custom-designed Mercedes.

One super-special car

In 2021, the couple reportedly splashed out on a seriously expensive car. Rolls-Royce unveiled its one-of-a-kind Boat Tail, which boasts a $28 million (£20.5m) price tag. The fact that the luxury vehicle has a "Blue Ivy" leather interior and a fridge holding Armand de Brignac luxury vintage champagne fuelled speculation that it was built for the couple.

Works of art

Jay-Z also owns an art collection worth $70 million (£56.8m), according to Forbes. His impressive pieces are by renowned artists such as Damien Hirst, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and David Hammons. Jay-Z refers to his lavish art collection in his song Picasso Baby. 

Splash the cash

Beyoncé also likes to spend and reportedly splashes out on staff, including a live-in chef and a dietitian. She also has an enviable collection of designer clothes, shoes, and handbags. On a European vacation in 2018, her wardrobe alone was said to have cost $25,000 (£18.5k). 

Beyoncé's bling

Beyoncé loves to splash her cash on flashy bling. In fact, during her aforementioned private concert at Dubai's Atlantis The Royal hotel, she wore several pieces of extravagant jewellery by luxury designer Lorraine Schwartz, valued at a jaw-dropping $7.5 million (£6.2m).

The star’s controversial performance included three wardrobe changes, and throughout the night she donned a pair of 100-carat emerald earrings surrounded by 60 carats of dazzling white diamonds; a 30-carat diamond ring; 50-carat pear-shaped diamond earrings; and finally, a pair of diamond pyramid earrings (pictured) that totalled more than 60 carats.

Family first

The couple spends a large chunk of their fortune on their children. Beyoncé gifted her eldest daughter an $80,000 (£51.6k) diamond-encrusted Barbie doll for her birthday. Beyoncé and Jay-Z also splurged on matching gold cribs for the twins costing $75,000 (£60.9k).

All three children are often spotted wearing costly designer clothes, and Blue Ivy was even pictured wearing a $5,000 (£4k) dress by popular fashion designer Mischka Aoki.

Charity work

Bling aside, Beyoncé and Jay-Z also donate a lot of money to charity. Beyoncé donated $100,000 (£71k) to historically Black colleges, and her charity BeyGOOD, which tackles gender inequality and provides natural disaster relief, pledged $6 million (£4.7m) in support of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jay-Z founded his own charity, the Shawn Carter Foundation, with his mother Gloria. The organisation raised $6 million (£4.7m) in aid of disadvantaged students in 2019. 

Now take a look at some more celebrities making a fortune from their business interests