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Born on June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Kanye West, who now likes to be referred to as Ye, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and fashion designer.
The 45-year-old’s album sales and multi-award-winning music career has seen him be regarded as one of the greatest musicians of his generation, and one of the most influential hip hop artists and producers, a status that proved to be particularly problematic following his recent antisemitic statements.
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What is Kanye West’s net worth in 2022?
As of 2022, Kanye West’s net worth is $400 million, according to Forbes. This is a tremendous drop from his previous net worth of $1.5 billion, following the demise of his deal with Adidas.
How did Kanye West lose all of his wealth?
Despite his highly celebrated career, his recent antisemitic comments - including one in which he declared he would go ‘death con 3 on Jewish people’ - has seen the rapper lose significant respect as an artist and as an influential figure in both the fashion and music worlds.
West has sold 160 million records, and won 22 Grammy Awards out of his 75 nominations, the joint tenth-most of all time, and tied with Jay-Z for the most Grammy awards of any rapper.
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As well as his Grammy wins, West has also received the Billboard Artist Achievement Award, a joint-record three Brit Awards for Best International Male Solo Artist and the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
He has also had six of his albums included on Rolling Stone's 2020 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, as well as being named one of the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time by the Magazine in 2015.
TIME Magazine also named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2005 and 2015.
Even despite the significant fall in his net worth, West is still among the world’s wealthiest musicians, with the remainder of his fortune coming from real estate, cash, his music catalog and a 5 per cent stake in ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s shapewear company, Skims.
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He acknowledged the weight of his own influence, telling the world in an interview with Drink Champs podcast that he can 'say antisemitic s**t and Adidas cannot drop me’.
Adidas ultimately decided to end the almost 10 year Yeezy deal; a a decision that saw the company lose an estimated 4 to 8 per cent in sales.
"Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. Ye’s recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness," the company wrote in a press release.
"After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with Ye immediately, end production of Yeezy branded products and stop all payments to Ye and his companies. Adidas will stop the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect."
Topics: Kanye West, News, Music
Emma Xerri