Jay-Z biography, net worth, age, Beyonce, kids, real name, young, height 2025

Biography of Jay Z

We've all heard stories of people born into poverty who achieved extraordinary success. But Jay-Z's story stands out as truly remarkable.

Childhood

Jay-Z's story starts in Brooklyn, in the Marcy Projects on Marcy Avenue. Sean Corey Carter (the rapper's real name) was born on December 4, 1969, to Gloria Carter and Adnis Reeves.

Growing up with two sisters and a brother, he played basketball, rode his bike, and discovered a love for reading and writing poetry. At school, the future superstar was a solid student, and teachers remember he could think on his feet, answering questions even when he hadn't done the homework.

The family had a huge vinyl collection - his parents were music lovers, and through the early '80s, they lived modestly but comfortably. But after Sean's uncle was robbed and stabbed, his father Adnis turned to drugs and eventually abandoned the family, leaving Gloria to raise the kids on her own.

Sean was just 5 years old and felt deeply betrayed by his father's abandonment. His mother worked multiple jobs, taking whatever she could get. Sean worked at a local grocery store after school, making barely anything. He says the family never went hungry - his mother kept the bills paid and food on the table. But poverty hit home when he realized his sneakers were falling apart and his thrift store clothes reeked of disinfectant.

After finishing school, Sean enrolled at George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, where he crossed paths with future rap legends The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. He recorded his first freestyles on a cheap boombox his mother bought him - she was his biggest supporter from day one.

Jay could've easily become a full-time dealer, but he didn't let the streets claim him. After dropping out of college, Sean spent months in Trenton, New Jersey, dealing drugs. Gloria knew exactly what her son was up to but never confronted him directly, instead showing her worry about where his life was heading. Sean knew he had to get out, understanding that staying in the crack game meant prison or death. He walked away from dealing. As Jay-Z would later say, music saved his life.

First Steps

In the early '90s, Sean returned home from another trip to Trenton and never went back. He started rapping, honing his rhymes, and writing lyrics that reflected his street experiences, dissatisfaction with "Reaganomics," and social inequality. When he had enough material, Sean began looking for a producer.

In the early '90s Jay Z started a new life

After making the rounds to countless record labels, he came to two harsh realizations. First, nobody was really interested in working with him, and second, even if he managed to land a deal, the terms would be terrible. Faced with this reality, Sean took matters into his own hands. In 1995, he teamed up with his Brooklyn friends Kareem Burke and Damon Dash to create Roc-a-Fella Records—a label that would eventually become an empire.

Sean, who was already calling himself Jay Z, released his first album at the end of 1996. The name came about almost by accident: a rapper friend named Jazz noticed Sean's unique blend of delivery and lyrical prowess. They briefly collaborated as Jazz and Jazzy, but when they went their separate ways, Jazzy evolved first into Jay-Z, then simply Jay Z.

"Reasonable Doubt" featured contributions from his old friend Christopher—better known as The Notorious B.I.G.—and earned critical acclaim, eventually going platinum and landing on countless "greatest albums" lists.

From 1997 onward, the nearly thirty-year-old rapper maintained a relentless pace, dropping an album every year. While his sophomore effort left him wanting more, his third album blew past even his wildest expectations. The "Vol.2: Hard Knock Life" tour catapulted Jay to superstar status, cementing his position as the third most important rapper behind Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G.

Career Blossom

"Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" moved over five million copies, with tracks from the album dominating every radio station. By 1998, Jay had become hip-hop's biggest star, though critics suggested that Tupac's 1996 death and The Notorious B.I.G.'s 1997 murder cleared his path to the top. These claims deeply bothered Jay—he'd respected Tupac and been tight with Christopher for years. Just like in his youth, music became his escape. Between 1997 and 2002, Jay dropped more hits than anyone else, cementing his status as a music icon.

Armed with sharp business instincts, Jay launched his own brand in 2002. In just the first year, Rocawear clothing and accessories pulled in over $200 million, while Roc-a-Fella Records ran at full throttle, becoming the biggest record label and production powerhouse around.

In 2002, Jay Z launched his own clothing and accessories brand

In 2003, Jay dropped "Crazy in Love" with Beyoncé Knowles, then shocked the world by announcing he was retiring from music. But he stayed away for just three years, making a triumphant comeback in 2006 with "Kingdom Come," which quickly went platinum.

Beyoncé - Crazy In Love ft. JAY Z

After dropping three more albums, launching a network of sports clubs, and diving into bold investment ventures, Jay recorded his most honest and beautiful album in 2017—"4:44"—which outdid everything he'd done before. Jay proved once again that he's first and foremost a brilliant musician—the top rapper—but he's done trying to prove anything to anyone. "4:44" won a Grammy for Album of the Year.

Most of the album's tracks speak directly to Jay's inner circle—his kids and wife—including a moving song about his childhood and the streets that raised him.

Rihanna - Umbrella (Orange Version) ft. JAY-Z

"Living in The Shadow" captures Jay's thoughts about his mother Gloria, who came out in 2016, revealing she'd been a lesbian her whole life and had struggled with accepting her sexuality.

JAY-Z - Smile ft. Gloria Carter

"Adnis" is the album's most heartbreaking track—a raw, emotional piece about Adnis Reeves that serves as a belated confession, an apology, and all the words of love and gratitude Jay never got to say to his father while he was alive.

By 2018, Jay-Z's net worth hit an estimated $900 million, putting him ahead of P. Diddy's $825 million. This wealth wasn't just built on music—his stake in Armand de Brignac (Ace of Spades champagne) was worth $310 million, plus his investments in D'Ussé, a cognac brand he created with Bacardi.

In June 2018, he and his wife – as the duo The Carters – released the album "Everything is Love." The surprise drop happened during their joint "On The Run II" tour.

Jay Z and Beyoncé on their 'Everything Is Love' joint tour

The album got deeply personal – the couple opened up about their relationship, family, and working through their struggles. Tracks like "Apeshit" and "Nice" stood out, where Jay-Z proved his signature flow and razor-sharp lyricism were still going strong.

The Carters – Apeshit

Later in 2018, the power couple traveled to South Africa for a tribute concert honoring Nelson Mandela.

In 2019, Forbes officially declared Jay-Z a billionaire, valuing his net worth at $1 billion. Here's how his fortune broke down: $310 million in Armand de Brignac, $220 million in cash and investments, $100 million in D'Ussé, $100 million in Tidal, $75 million in Roc Nation, $75 million in music albums, and $70 million in art collection.

2021 brought a game-changing deal for Jay-Z's empire: he sold 50% of Armand de Brignac to luxury conglomerate LVMH. Forbes pegged the deal at roughly $640 million. In the same year, Jay-Z sold his stake in the streaming service TIDAL to Jack Dorsey's Square (now Block) for an impressive $297 million, while staying on the board to keep his hand in the company's direction.

Following his 2018 collab album with Beyoncé, Jay-Z mostly popped up as a guest on other artists' tracks. In 2021, he participated in several notable collaborations. Jay-Z jumped on Drake's song "Love All" – two rap legends diving deep into trust and betrayal.

Drake - Love All

He also recorded a verse for Kanye West's track "Jail" from the album "Donda," a major moment considering their past beef. In 2022, he could be heard on DJ Khaled's album "God Did." In his verse, Jay-Z reflected on his rise to the top, guiding the next generation, and giving back to the community.

DJ Khaled – God Did

During this period, Jay-Z was also actively involved in social projects. Through his company Roc Nation, he worked on criminal justice system reform and supported various educational initiatives. In 2020, he founded the TEAM ROC fund, focused on social justice and offering legal help to those who need it most.

Jay-Z's Personal Life

Beyoncé and Jay-Z's story began in the late 1990s when Beyoncé was 18. They first met in 1999 at the MTV Spring Break festival in Cancun, Mexico, but the spark between them truly ignited in 2000. They spent about a year and a half talking on the phone for hours, building a friendship and gradually getting to know each other.

Their first musical collaboration occurred in 2002 with the release of the track "'03 Bonnie & Clyde." It was a significant moment—Jay-Z invited rising star Beyoncé, still part of Destiny's Child, to record a duet. The chemistry between them was evident not only in the music but also in the music video for the song.

JAY-Z - '03 Bonnie & Clyde ft. Beyoncé Knowles

Another hit followed in 2003, "Crazy in Love," which became one of the most successful singles of the year and solidified their status as a couple in the public eye. Still, they kept their relationship private for a long time. In interviews from that time, both often dodged direct questions about their personal lives.

On April 4, 2008, they had a secret wedding in Jay-Z's penthouse in New York City. The ceremony was very private, with only 40 guests. Here's an interesting detail: instead of traditional wedding rings, both got tattoos of the Roman numeral "IV"—a number with special significance for them: Beyoncé was born on September 4, Jay-Z on December 4, and they married on April 4. Beyoncé's engagement ring from Lorraine Schwartz reportedly cost over $5 million.

In 2011, during her performance at the MTV Video Music Awards, Beyoncé announced her first pregnancy by dramatically revealing her baby bump at the end of her performance. Their first daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, was born on January 7, 2012.

Their marriage faced its biggest test when Jay-Z's infidelity came to light. In 2014, the infamous incident occurred in the elevator of the Standard Hotel after the Met Gala: Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's sister, attacked Jay-Z. The incident sparked rumors about marital problems that would soon be confirmed.

In 2016, Beyoncé released the album "Lemonade," a musical narrative about betrayal and reconciliation. In the song "Sorry," she hinted at the mistress's identity with the line "He better call Becky with the good hair," sending fans on a quest to uncover the mysterious "Becky." Speculation pointed to designer Rachel Roy or singer Rita Ora, though no official confirmation or denial followed.

Jay-Z later admitted to his infidelity on the album "4:44" (2017), where he openly discussed his mistakes and expressed remorse. That same year, he shared in a New York Times interview about the difficult period in their marriage and how therapy helped him and Beyoncé overcome the crisis. He explained that his infidelity was linked to emotional barriers formed during his childhood.

In the summer of 2017, the couple welcomed twins Rumi and Sir Carter. The birth was complicated—Beyoncé later revealed in the documentary "Homecoming" that she developed preeclampsia, and one of the twins experienced multiple heart irregularities, requiring an emergency C-section.

The couple carefully chose their children's names. Rumi was named after Jay-Z's favorite poet, and Sir's name came naturally—Jay-Z said in an interview that when they first saw their son, he "just looked like a sir."

Blue Ivy, their eldest daughter, has proven to be a caring big sister. In interviews, Jay-Z proudly shared how she helps her parents with the twins. Blue Ivy has also become a public figure—she occasionally appears with her parents on red carpets and, at 9 years old, won her first Grammy for her contribution to the "Brown Skin Girl" music video.

After the twins' birth, the couple spent more time at their Bel-Air estate, purchased for $88 million. The home has everything needed for comfortable family living, including playgrounds and a pool.

Work-wise, both parents coordinate their schedules so someone is always available to stay with the kids. When Beyoncé was preparing for her historic Coachella performance in 2018, Jay-Z took on most of the parenting duties.

Despite their busy schedules, the couple works to maintain family traditions. They regularly travel as a family, frequently attend basketball games, and try to bring their kids along during tours. In 2023, during the Renaissance tour, Blue Ivy sang on stage with her mom, while Jay-Z watched with the twins from the audience.

Jay-Z Now

In early 2024, media reports emerged that Beyoncé and Jay-Z distanced themselves from P. Diddy, whom they had been friends with for many years, amid an investigation initiated against him (the producer was accused, among other things, of multiple sex crimes).

According to reports, the couple allegedly cut ties with P. Diddy even before the situation became public. Sources noted that Jay-Z, who previously had close business and personal ties with Diddy, stopped attending his events.

Conspiracy theories began circulating online, claiming that P. Diddy, Jay-Z, and Beyoncé were allegedly involved in the deaths of famous artists like Michael Jackson, Aaliyah, and Lisa "Left Eye," thus eliminating competitors on their way to the top of the music industry.

In an interview with singer Jaguar Wright on Piers Morgan's show, statements were made accusing Jay-Z and Beyoncé of being "monsters" with numerous "victims." After this, the Carters' lawyers demanded the removal of these statements from the broadcast.

In December 2024, a civil lawsuit was filed against Jay-Z, accusing him of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. According to the lawsuit, the incident happened at an after-party following the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. The plaintiff, who remained anonymous, claimed she felt dizzy after consuming a drink and was raped by Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs, in the presence of an unnamed female celebrity.

Jay-Z categorically denied these accusations, calling them an attempt at blackmail, and urged a criminal complaint to be filed if the allegations were valid. He expressed concern about the impact of these statements on his family, especially on Beyoncé and their children.

Jay-Z: latest news and articles

Beyoncé and Jay-Z fan: King of the United Kingdom Charles III has published a playlist of his favorite songs

10 Mar 2025

Mary Lamb

One of the coolest couples of our time is Jay Z and his beautiful wife Beyoncé. And what energy comes from them at concerts... Delight!

2021-04-23 11:48:05
Wanda Paul

«Crazy in love» is one of the most legendary compositions of the singer together with Beyoncé. I also love his collaboration with Rihanna «Umbrella».

2021-04-07 23:56:11
Stephanie Sims

I just love Jay-Z`s tracks! I listen every day with pleasure.

2021-03-30 11:29:30
Leo Adkins

Indeed, the amazing success story of Jay Z. That`s what talent, courage and tenacity mean!

2021-03-28 23:53:05
Jason Kelly

Craving for beauty, saved this young at that time guy Sean from the fate of becoming a drug dealer. Respect to his mom who encouraged her passion for music.

2021-03-14 20:37:59

Photos: Jay-Z