Ja Rule Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Ja Rule’s Net Worth: What Is It?

The American rapper, singer, and actor Ja Rule boasts a net worth of $4 million. In the late 1990s, Ja Rule became one of the world’s most renowned rappers, with several hits on the “Billboard” Hot 100 chart, including tracks like “Between Me and You,” “I’m Real,” and “Always on Time.” In subsequent years, he gained notoriety due to his connection with the infamous Fyre Festival fraud that led to his business partner Billy McFarland being imprisoned.

The Fyre Festival

In late April 2017, Ja Rule co-organized a music event called “Fyre Festival,” scheduled to take place on a private island in the Bahamas. However, the event turned into a substantial fiasco. Attendees, many of whom had paid thousands for their tickets, found themselves stranded on a debris-laden gravel lot, with limited food options and only FEMA disaster tents available for shelter. Most of the booked performers had already chosen to withdraw upon learning about the festival’s conditions by the time attendees arrived on the island. On May 1, 2017, a festival attendee filed a class-action lawsuit against Ja Rule and his festival co-founder Billy McFarland for $100 million. By 2019, Ja Rule was found not guilty of any wrongdoing related to the incident.

The Lost Payday from “Fast & Furious”

Ja Rule made a striking cameo in the 2001 movie “The Fast and the Furious,” earning $15,000 for portraying the trash-talking LA street racer “Edwin.” Director John Singleton intended to bring Ja back for the sequel, 2003’s “2 Fast 2 Furious,” and planned to offer him $500,000 to reprise the role. Unfortunately, as Singleton later recounted, Ja Rule ignored his attempts to communicate. Despite Singleton’s efforts to locate Ja at a recording studio to discuss the part, he was once again met with disregard. Consequently, John reached out to Ludacris, who went on to play “Tej Parker.” The character became a fan favorite, appearing in SEVEN installments of the franchise. Ludacris has reportedly made $20-30 million from this role, earning $5-8 million for each film appearance.

Ja Rule’s Early Life

Born Jeffrey Bruce Atkins on February 29, 1976, in Queens, New York, Ja Rule was raised in the Hollis neighborhood by Debra and William Atkins. His grandparents were Jehovah’s Witnesses, and with his parents working extensively, Ja Rule spent considerable time with them and began practicing the religion. He left the faith at the age of 12 and became involved in drug dealing in Hollis. Due to his smaller stature, he frequently found himself in fights at school. Although he did not graduate, he obtained his GED in 2012.

Ja Rule’s Early Career

His career commenced in 1994 as part of the group Cash Money Click. He later adopted the stage name “Ja Rule”shortly after, the group independently created several songs, including their debut single, “Get Tha Fortune,” in 1994. They were signed by TVT Records but were let go from the label, and disbanded after only one year due to the arrest and imprisonment of group member Chris Black.

Success

Ja Rule made his first solo appearance on “Time to Build,” a track by Mic Geronimo featuring Jay-Z and DMX. In 1998, Rule signed with Def Jam and was later featured on Jay-Z’s single “Can I Get A…” that same year. His debut album, “Venni Vetti Vecci,” was released in 1999, eventually reaching #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart. Both his second and third albums achieved 3x Platinum certification and topped the “Billboard” 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop charts. Released on November 19, 2002, his fourth album debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot 100, generating two hit singles. His fifth and sixth albums followed in 2003 and 2004. After releasing a sixth studio album and a greatest hits compilation, Ja Rule ended his contract with Def Jam in 2005 and took a break until February 2011, when he announced he was working on a new album, “Pain is Love 2.” This album was released a year later while he was serving a two-year sentence for tax evasion and gun possession, with his release occurring in May 2013.

Following his time in prison, Ja Rule and Gotti established Murder Inc Records. In 2014, he published a memoir titled “Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man.” Shortly after, he announced his eighth studio album, but its release was postponed indefinitely.

In December 2016, Ja Rule was featured on “The Hamilton Mixtape,” delivering Alexander Hamilton’s verse in “Helpless,” performed by Ashanti. In June 2018, Ashanti confirmed that she and Ja Rule were collaborating on a new album.

Some of Ja Rule’s biggest hits include “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. Additionally, he has established himself as an actor, appearing in films like “The Fast and the Furious,” “Scary Movie 3,” and co-starring with Queen Latifah in “The Cookout” from 2004.

Business Ventures

In 2004, Ja Rule initiated a clothing line named ErvinGeoffrey. Two years later, he established a liquor company called The Mojito.

In 2021, Ja Rule collaborated with a team of software developers to create Flipkick, a platform designed for selling physical artworks as non-fungible tokens. Reportedly, he auctioned a portrait of the Fyre Media logo for $122,000 on this platform.

Personal Life

Ja Rule has been married to Aisha Murray, and they share three children: Britney (b. 1995), Jeffrey (b. 2000), and Jordan (b. 2005).

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

Accolades

Four Grammy nominations have been received by Ja Rule, along with 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

In 2003, after an incident involving punching a man in Toronto, Rule reached a settlement out of court for a subsequent lawsuit. His arrest in 2004 was due to marijuana possession and driving with a suspended license. In 2007, he faced charges for gun and drug possession and ultimately served nearly two years in federal prison for gun and tax evasion charges, having reportedly failed to pay taxes on $3 million of income accrued between 2004 and 2006.

Feuds

Ja Rule has had conflicts with notable figures such as 50 Cent and G-Unit Records, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Shady Records, Aftermath, Foxy Brown, and Lil’ Mo. His feud with 50 Cent, which began in 1999, became highly publicized after a video shoot in Queens where 50 Cent allegedly felt overshadowed by the community’s affection for Ja Rule in Hollis. The two confronted each other in Atlanta, during which Ja Rule claims to have hit 50 Cent with a baseball bat. Another altercation took place in New York City, where rapper Black Child, a member of Ja Rule’s Murder Inc., stabbed 50 Cent, requiring him to get stitches. In May 2011, both rappers confirmed the conclusion of their feud.