Kanye West

June 8, 1977

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Chicago, Illinois, USA

$2 Billion (2022), $400 Million (2023)

Perhaps one of the most notable celebrities in contemporary culture, Kanye West is a producer, rapper, songwriter, record executive and fashion influencer who rose to prominence after producing Jay Z’s influential album The Blueprint in 2001.

After suffering a major car accident in 2002, West turned to rapping as a manner with which to recover; amassing in the release of College Dropout (in 2004) and Late Registration (2005) that kickstarted his career as a rapping sensation and led to many more critically acclaimed albums over the years.

Kanye has never been shy of controversy either, including comments about American politics and live interruptions at awards ceremonies.

It is safe to say that Kanye West’s entrepreneurial, political and creative legacy is distinctive, stating him as legendary within multiple industries.

West was born in Atlanta but raised in a middle-class household in South Shore, Chicago with his mother after his parents divorced at the age of 3.

His mother Donda was an English professor at Chicago State University, and his father Ray was an award-winning photojournalist-turned-pastor.

West studied at a Chicago suburb school and lived in China with his mother for a year at the age of 10 as part of a university exchange program she taught. After returning to Chicago, West became interested in the South Side hip-hop scene, which became a fundamental influence in his early musical career.

West was married to reality star and business entrepreneur Kim Kardashian.

Most were convinced it was a publicity stunt when they started dating in 2012, until they shocked the world with their marriage in Italy in 2014.

Kardashian gave birth to their first daughter in 2013 and their first son in 2015, followed by two children via surrogacy pregnancy in 2018 and 2019.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian separated in 2021, with the divorce case continuing through 2022.

Now he is married to Bianca Censori.

After separating from Kim Kardashian in 2021, Kanye West dated Julia Fox, Chaney Jones, and Juliana Nalu.

Now, his new wife is Bianca Censori.

The rapper and record producer has released over 138 singles, 4 promo singles and has similarly charted with 65 other songs as features.

West has sold over 100 million digital downloads worldwide, and 32.7 million albums.

By 2016, he achieved the tenth most top-40 hit records by a male artist in Billboard’s near-70 year history that amassed a total of forty visits to the top-40 charts as a lead and a featured artist.

adidas YEEZY was a business collaboration between adidas and Kanye West. Ye owns YEEZY but YEEZY sneakers and clothes were made by adidas.

The first YEEZY sneaker was released in February 2015.

YEEZY sneakers sell out in minutes online and on release dates in-store and online. Sometimes, They’re resold by up to $1,000 by collectors online.

YEEZY shoes have garnered a lot of public attention within the sneaker industry and by various fashion outlets, with many stating that the success is a testament to Kanye West’s marketing skills as a public figure.

In 2022, Kanye split YEEZY from adidas and, after his anti-Semitic comments, adidas stopped making YEEZY.

adidas, GAP, Off-White, Talib Kweli, Rihanna, Daft Punk, Paul McCartney, Jay Z, Kid Cudi, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj

Kanye has not confirmed official plans to tour again but as one of the world's most successful rappers of all time, it is unlikely that he will be packing in music all together.