Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ja Rule’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $4 million, Ja Rule is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He rose to immense popularity in the late 1990s, producing several hits that graced the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, such as “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time.” His later years saw a shift in his public image, particularly due to his involvement in the infamous Fyre Festival fraud that led to his business partner, Billy McFarland, being imprisoned.

Fyre Festival

The Fyre Festival, co-organized by Ja Rule, was intended to be a music festival on a private Bahamian island in late April 2017. However, the event devolved into a significant disaster. Attendees, many of whom spent thousands of dollars on tickets, found themselves abandoned on a debris-strewn lot with very little food and only FEMA disaster tents for shelter. Most performers withdrew upon realizing the dire circumstances at the festival, long before attendees arrived. On May 1, 2017, a festival-goer initiated a $100 million class-action lawsuit against Ja Rule and his co-founder, Billy McFarland. Ultimately, in 2019, Ja Rule was found not to have engaged in any wrongdoing concerning the festival.

“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 boastful LA street racer “Edwin.” For the sequel, which became “2 Fast 2 Furious” in 2003, director John Singleton intended to bring Ja Rule back as a lead character, offering him $500,000. Unfortunately, Ja Rule did not follow up and ignored Singleton’s attempts to reach him, even after Singleton tracked him down at a recording studio. Consequently, Singleton contacted Ludacris, who went on to play “Tej Parker.” Ludacris’s character quickly became a fan favorite, and he has reprised the role in SEVEN films of the franchise, accumulating earnings between $20-30 million as a result. Currently, he makes $5-8 million for each appearance in the series.

Early Life

Born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, Ja Rule grew up in the Hollis neighborhood under the care of his parents, Debra and William Atkins. With his grandparents being Jehovah’s Witnesses, he often spent time with them due to his parents’ demanding work schedules, adopting the faith for a while. At age 12, he chose to leave the religion and began engaging in drug sales in Hollis. His small stature often led to frequent altercations at school. Although he did not graduate, Ja Rule obtained his GED in 2012.

Early Career

His music career commenced in 1994 as a member of the group Cash Money Click, shortly after adopting the name “Ja Rule.” The group released several independent tracks, including their debut single “Get Tha Fortune” in 1994. They secured a contract with TVT Records but faced termination from the label, leading to their disbandment after just one year due to Chris Black’s arrest and imprisonment.

Success

Ja Rule’s initial solo feature was on “Time to Build,” a track by Mic Geronimo that also included contributions from Jay-Z and DMX. In 1998, he signed with Def Jam and later that year he appeared on Jay-Z’s single “Can I Get A…”. The release of his debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” came in 1999, which later topped the “Billboard” 200 chart. His subsequent albums, the second and third, achieved 3x Platinum certification and reached #1 on both the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. The fourth album debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot 100 when it launched on November 19, 2002, generating two hit singles. Followed by his fifth and sixth albums in 2003 and 2004, Ja Rule left Def Jam in 2005 after a sixth studio album and a greatest hits album, taking a break until February 2011 when he announced the commencement of his new album, “Pain is Love 2.” It released a year later during his two-year prison term for tax evasion and gun possession, with his release occurring in May 2013.

Upon his release from incarceration, Ja Rule and Gotti founded Murder Inc Records. In 2014, he published a memoir, “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man.” Shortly thereafter, he revealed that his eighth studio album was underway, but its release was postponed indefinitely.

In December 2016, Ja Rule contributed to “The Hamilton Mixtape”, delivering Alexander Hamilton’s verse in the song “Helpless,” featuring Ashanti. In June 2018, Ashanti confirmed that she was collaborating with Ja Rule on a new album.

Among Ja Rule’s most popular singles are “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 such as Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, Ashanti, and R. Kelly. In addition to music, he has also established himself in acting, appearing in films like “The Fast and the Furious” and “Scary Movie 3,” and co-starring with Queen Latifah in “The Cookout” released in 2004.

Business Ventures

In 2004, Ja Rule established his clothing line, ErvinGeoffrey. Two years later, in 2006, he began a liquor company named The Mojito.

In 2021, he collaborated with a team of software engineers to introduce Flipkick, a platform designed for selling physical pieces of art as non-fungible tokens. He allegedly sold a portrait of the Fyre Media logo for $122,000 on this platform.

Personal Life

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

In February 2021, he successfully completed an online course at Harvard Business School and proudly shared the completion certificate on Twitter.

Accolades

Over the years, Ja Rule has received four Grammy nominations and has claimed three Source Awards, one MTV Video Music Award, one World Music Award, one BET Award, one “GQ” Men of the Year Award, one Teen Choice Award, and an NAACP Image Award.

Legal Problems

AfterIn 2003, Rule settled a lawsuit out of court after an incident involving punching a man in Toronto. In 2004, he faced arrest due to possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended license. Following that, in 2007, he was arrested on charges related to gun and drug possession. Ultimately, he spent nearly two years in federal prison for gun-related offenses and tax evasion, having reportedly failed to pay taxes on $3 million of income earned during the years 2004 to 2006.

Feuds

Ja Rule’s feuds include notable clashes with 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. The most well-known feud, which took place in 1999, arose after a video shoot in Queens when 50 Cent allegedly felt slighted by Ja Rule receiving considerable appreciation from the Hollis community. The two faced off in Atlanta, with Ja Rule claiming he struck 50 Cent with a baseball bat. Another incident transpired in New York City, where rapper Black Child, one of the artists under Ja Rule’s Murder Inc, stabbed 50 Cent, necessitating stitches for the latter. In May 2011, both rappers confirmed that their feud had reached an end.