Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ja Rule’s Net Worth?

Ja Rule, an American rapper, singer, and actor, boasts a net worth of $4 million. In the late 1990s, he rose to prominence as one of the most popular rappers globally. His hit singles, such as “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time,” topped the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart. However, in later years, Ja Rule gained notoriety due to his involvement in the infamous Fyre Festival scam, which led to his business partner, Billy McFarland, serving time in prison.

Fyre Festival

In late April 2017, Ja Rule co-organized a music festival called “Fyre Festival,” intended to be held on a private island in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, the event was catastrophic. Attendees who spent thousands on tickets found themselves stranded on a debris-strewn gravel lot, with limited food options and only FEMA disaster tents provided for shelter. By the time many attendees arrived, most scheduled performers had withdrawn after learning about the dire conditions. On May 1st, 2017, a festival-goer filed a class-action lawsuit for $100 million against Ja Rule and his co-founder Billy McFarland. However, in 2019, Ja Rule was found not guilty of any misconduct related to the situation.

“Fast & Furious” Lost Payday

Ja Rule made a notable cameo in the 2001 movie “The Fast and the Furious,” earning $15,000 for his role as the cocky LA street racer “Edwin.” For the sequel, “2 Fast 2 Furious,” director John Singleton sought to bring Ja back as a main character and planned to offer him $500,000 for the role. Unfortunately, Ja Rule didn’t respond to his calls, as Singleton would later reveal. The director even went to the extent of locating Ja at a recording studio to discuss the role, but was again met with refusal. Consequently, Singleton reached out to Ludacris, who went on to become a fan favorite as “Tej Parker.” Ludacris has appeared in SEVEN installments of the franchise and has earned between $20-30 million from this role to date, making $5-8 million with each new film appearance.

Early Life

Born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, Ja Rule grew up in Hollis under the care of his parents, Debra and William Atkins. His grandparents, Jehovah’s Witnesses, played a significant role in his upbringing, especially since his parents worked long hours. Ja Rule spent much time with them and initially practiced their faith, although he eventually left the religion at the age of 12 to start selling drugs in Hollis. His small stature led to numerous school fights. Though he didn’t graduate, he obtained his GED in 2012.

Early Career

Ja Rule’s journey began in 1994 when he joined the group Cash Money Click, adopting the stage name “Ja Rule” shortly thereafter. The group released several songs independently, including their debut single “Get Tha Fortune” that same year. They secured a contract with TVT Records, but after just one year, the group disbanded due to member Chris Black’s arrest and imprisonment.

Success

Ja Rule’s initial solo feature was on Mic Geronimo’s track “Time to Build,” which also included Jay-Z and DMX. In 1998, Rule secured a contract with Def Jam and later that year appeared on Jay-Z’s single “Can I Get A…”. His debut album, titled “Venni Vetti Vecci,” was launched in 1999, achieving the #1 position on the “Billboard” 200 chart. Both his second and third albums reached 3x Platinum status and claimed the top spot on the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The release of his fourth album on November 19, 2002, saw it debut at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 and generate two successful singles. His fifth and sixth albums followed in 2003 and 2004. Following his sixth studio album and a compilation of greatest hits, Ja Rule exited his contract with Def Jam in 2005 and went on a hiatus until February 2011. In that month, he announced the commencement of a new project, “Pain is Love 2,” which came out a year later while he was serving a two-year sentence for tax evasion and possession of a firearm. He was released in May 2013.

Upon his release, Ja Rule, along with Gotti, established Murder Inc Records. In 2014, he published a memoir titled “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man.” He soon announced the development of his eighth studio album, although it has been delayed indefinitely.

In December 2016, Ja Rule contributed to “The Hamilton Mixtape” by rapping Alexander Hamilton’s verse in “Helpless,” which featured Ashanti. Ashanti revealed in June 2018 that a collaboration for a new album with Ja Rule was in the works.

Some of Ja Rule’s most popular songs encompass “Holla Holla,” “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real (Murder Remix),” “Ain’t It Funny,” “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize,” and “Wonderful.” He has collaborated with artists like Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, Ashanti, and R. Kelly. Moreover, he is a well-established actor, featuring in films like “The Fast and the Furious” and “Scary Movie 3,” as well as co-starring with Queen Latifah in the 2004 film “The Cookout.”

Business Ventures

In 2004, Ja Rule launched his own clothing brand named ErvinGeoffrey. Then, in 2006, he introduced a liquor brand known as The Mojito.

In 2021, Ja Rule joined forces with a group of software engineers to establish Flipkick, a platform designed for selling physical artworks as non-fungible tokens. On this platform, he reportedly auctioned a portrait of the Fyre Media logo for a notable price of $122,000.

Personal Life

Ja Rule is in matrimony with Aisha Murray, and together they have three children: Britney (born in 1995), Jeffrey (born in 2000), and Jordan (born in 2005).

In February 2021, he completed an online course at Harvard Business School and publicly shared his certificate of completion on Twitter.

Accolades

Ja Rule has received nominations for four Grammys and has secured three Source Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, a World Music Award, a BET Award, a “GQ” Men of the Year Award, a Teen Choice Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

Legal Problems

FollowingIn 2003, a lawsuit was settled out of court after Rule punched a man in Toronto. He faced arrest in 2004 for driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana. Then in 2007, he was arrested on charges related to gun and drug possession. Ultimately, he served nearly two years in federal prison due to gun charges and tax evasion, as he allegedly failed to pay taxes on $3 million in income earned between 2004 and 2006.

Feuds

Ja Rule’s feuds include notable disputes with 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. The most well-known conflict occurred in 1999, following a video shoot in Queens, where 50 Cent apparently objected to Ja Rule receiving significant recognition from the community in Hollis. An encounter took place in Atlanta where Ja Rule claims he hit 50 Cent with a baseball bat. Another incident unfolded in New York City, resulting in rapper Black Child, one of Ja Rule’s Murder Inc artists, stabbing 50 Cent, which required stitches for 50 Cent. By May 2011, both rappers confirmed the conclusion of their feud.