Ja Rule’s net worth is an estimated $4 million. He was one of the most famous American rappers in the ‘90s with multiple hits, including Ain’t It Funny, I’m Real, and Between Me and You.
Ja Rule wasn’t always a millionaire, though. He created his own path to success as a rapper. His persistence also helped him become an actor, contributing significantly to his current net worth. Below, we talk about how Ja Rule started from a humble background and became one of America’s most popular rappers and a millionaire.
What is Ja Rule’s Net Worth?
Ja Rule is a millionaire with an estimated net worth of $4 million.
| Ja Rule’s Net Worth | $4 million |
| Salary | $116 thousand+ per year |
| Real Name | Jeffery Bruce Atkins |
| Date of Birth | February 29, 1976 |
| Age | 46 Years |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 1.75m (5’ 6’’) |
| Place of Birth | Queens, New York, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rapper, Actor |
Ja Rule’s Early Life
Ja Rule (Jeffery Bruce Atkins) was born in Queens, New York, on February 29, 1976, to Debra and William Atkins. Debra was a healthcare worker, while Williams was a baker. His parents spent most of their time working, so Ja spent most of his childhood with his grandparents. But at age 12, Ja started selling drugs in Hollis.
Ja had a tough time at school because of his small size. He fought with kids at his school often because they teased him. Ja didn’t perform well academically — he didn’t graduate, but he completed his GED in 2012.
Ja Rule’s Career
Ja Rule started rapping with the hip-hop group Cash Money Click in 1994. Soon after, he selected Ja Rule as his stage name because one of his friends used to call him that. However, Cash Money Click didn’t last very long. The group parted ways after Chris Black’s arrest.
The American rapper’s solo debut album Venni Vetti Vecci was released in 1999. Over the next six years, Ja frequently appeared in the top 20 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart with hit singles. Here are some of Ja’s biggest hits and most popular albums:
- Time to Build
- Holla Holla
- Can I Get A…
- Always on Time
- Wonderful
- Livin’ It Up
- Mesmerize
- Put It On Me
- Clap Back
Venni Vetti Vecci was one of Ja’s earliest successes. The debut album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart soon after its release in 1999. He released three more albums over the next three years, two of which were certified 3x Platinum and hit #1 on both the Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts and Billboard 200.
Ja Rule’s contract with Def Jam ended in 2005. Ja Rule went on a hiatus right after. He started working on his next album, Pain is Love 2, in 2011.
However, by the time the album was released, Ja Rule was in prison, serving a two-year sentence for tax evasion and gun possession. After Ja Rule came out of jail in 2013, he partnered with Yo Gotti to launch Murder Inc. Records.
Ja Rule has also appeared in some of the best movies, including The Fast and the Furious, Scary Movie 3, and The Cookout.
Ja Rule Awards
Ja Rule has been nominated for four Grammys and won the following awards during his career:
- Source Awards (2001, 2003, 2004)
- MOBO Awards (2002)
- MTV Video Music Award (2002)
- World Music Award (2002)
- BET Award (2002)
- GQ Men of the Year Award (2002)
- Teen Choice Award (2002)
- NAACP Image Award (2002)
Ja Rule Legal Trouble
Ja Rule has been arrested multiple times. One of the first times he faced legal trouble after gaining fame was in 2003, when he punched a man in Toronto.
He settled the lawsuit out of court, but the next year, he was arrested for marijuana possession.
His biggest legal trouble was being arrested for evading taxes on $3 million worth of income and possessing a gun in 2007. He spent two years in prison for these charges.
Ja Rule has also had feuds with others in the music industry, including 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Lil’ Mo.
In fact, Ja Rule once claimed he hit 50 Cent with a baseball bat when they came face to face in Atlanta. Black Child, one of Ja Rule’s Muder Inc artists, stabbed 50 Cent in New York.
However, Ja Rule’s feuds and legal troubles weren’t as serious as the “Fyre Festival” fiasco. The rapper organized a “Fyre Festival” music event with Billy McFarland. The event was supposed to take place in April 2017 in the Bahamas.
However, the event was a massive failure. People who had paid thousands for a ticket found themselves in a lot full of garbage and barely enough food. One of the attendees filed a $100 million class-action lawsuit against Ja and Billy. Ja was later dismissed from the lawsuit, though.
Ja Rule’s Income Sources
Ja Rule made most of his wealth from his rapping career. However, he has acted in several movies, contributing significantly to his current net worth. He appeared in movies like Turn it Up, Half Past Dead, Back in the Day, The Cookout, and The Fast and the Furious.
The rapper also has an entrepreneurial mindset. At the peak of his career in 2004, Ja Rule launched ErvinGeoffrey, an urban clothing brand, and The Mojito, a liquor company, in 2006. Ja Rule has also earned well from his partnerships with major brands.
Ja Rule’s Personal Life
Ja Rule married Aisha Murray in 2001 and has three children: Britney, Jeffery Jr., and Jordan. Ja was raised by Jehovah’s Witnesses, but he identifies as a Christian. Aisha and Ja were even baptized in 2013.
Takeaway
Ja Rule didn’t come from a wealthy family. Even when he was successful, he dealt with major setbacks like lawsuits and imprisonment. But that didn’t stop him from launching his own clothing brand and liquor company. In fact, he continued to improve his rapping and acting skills and earned roles in big-ticket movies.
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