Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ice Cube’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $160 million, Ice Cube stands out as an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur. Transitioning from one of the pioneers of West Coast gangsta rap, he has now become a powerful figure in Hollywood. Gaining fame and success initially as part of NWA, Ice Cube launched a highly successful solo career, also writing, producing, and acting in several films.

His rise to fame started as one of the main songwriters for the influential hip-hop group N.W.A. The group’s albums, known for their incisive and controversial lyrics, played a pivotal role in bringing gangsta rap into the limelight, significantly impacting the hip-hop genre.

After departing from N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube forged a solo career that solidified his position as a key player in hip-hop. His debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” released in 1990, achieved commercial success and stirred controversy due to its social and political insights. Subsequent albums like “Death Certificate” and “The Predator” further delved into topics of social justice, racial inequality, and urban struggles.

Ice Cube also made a successful leap into acting, debuting in John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991, where he delivered a compelling performance that led to more acting roles. He starred in and co-wrote the cult classic comedy “Friday” (1995). His film career has involved various genres, from action (“xXx: State of the Union”) to family comedy (“Are We There Yet?”) and drama (“Barbershop”).

As a producer and writer, Ice Cube has made notable contributions too. He has produced many of the films he appeared in, and his production company, Cube Vision, has been responsible for several successful film and television projects.

Early Life

O’Shea Jackson, known as Ice Cube, was born on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles. He is the son of Doris, a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a groundskeeper at UCLA. Ice Cube has an older brother, and his half-sister was tragically murdered when he was only 12 years old. Growing up on Van Wick Street in Los Angeles, he began writing rap and hip-hop music by the time he turned 14. The name Ice Cube was given to him by his older brother, who jokingly threatened to throw him into a freezer and turn him into an ice cube.

He attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. Selling his first song to future N.W.A. member Eazy-E at 16 marked a significant point in his early years. After completing high school, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona in the fall of 1987, where he studied architectural drafting and earned his diploma within a year. Following this, Ice Cube returned to Los Angeles to dedicate himself to a rap career.

Early Career

Ice Cube teamed up with his friend Sir Jinx to form the group C.I.A., performing at parties hosted by Dr. Dre around Los Angeles. In 1987, the group released a track, “My Posse,” produced by Dr. Dre. Ice Cube introduced the lyrics of a rap he wrote called “Boyz-n-the-Hood” to Eazy-E, who initially disliked the lyrics.

In the end, Eazy-E recorded the track for N.W.A.’s debut album, “N.W.A. and the Posse,” which featured artists like Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube. The rhymes for Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, as well as half of the lyrics for N.W.A.’s groundbreaking 1988 album, “Straight Outta Compton,” were written by Ice Cube. Despite his significant contributions, Ice Cube received only $32,000 in compensation. His departure from N.W.A. followed unresolved disputes regarding his pay and formal contracts with the group.

Solo Career

Released in May 1990, Ice Cube’s first solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” achieved immediate success, capitalizing on the rap genre’s burgeoning popularity. He also launched the EP “Kill at Will” that same year, marking it as the first hip-hop EP to attain Platinum status. In 1991, Ice Cube ventured into acting, portraying Doughboy in John Singleton’s crime drama “Boyz n the Hood.” His acclaimed performance garnered widespread critical recognition.

His second album, “Death Certificate,” arrived in 1991, meeting with mixed reviews that sparked controversy among audiences and critics. Ice Cube expanded his fanbase by performing at Lollapalooza in 1992. “The Predator,” his third album, debuted in November 1992, claiming the #1 spot on both pop and R&B charts, an unprecedented feat. The album received critical acclaim and remains his most commercially successful work, with over three million copies sold in the U.S.

The following year, Ice Cube experienced a decline in his rap audience. Critically, his fourth album, “Lethal Injection,” did not fare well. Subsequently, he took a musical hiatus, only releasing his fifth album (“War & Peace Vol. 1”) in 1998. In 2000, he joined an ensemble of artists including Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog for the “Up in Smoke Tour,” and after a six-year gap, he launched another album, “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” charts. Continuing his solo journey, Ice Cube released his ninth album, “I Am the West,” on September 28, 2010. Throughout the 2010s, he engaged in collaborations on various projects, even crossing into non-hip-hop territories by working with Trent Reznor and David Bowie on select tracks. His tenth solo album, “Everythang’s Corrupt,” was unveiled in 2018, following several years of gradually released singles.

Acting Career

Ice Cube made his film acting debut in “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991, afterwards appearing in several films in the following years. In 1995, he starred in “Friday” – a film that…

Released to both critical and commercial acclaim, the film that starred, was penned, and produced by Ice Cube gave rise to several sequels, titled “Friday.”

In “Anaconda,” he took on a starring role in 1997. A year later, he not only starred but also directed, produced, and wrote “The Players Club.”

Other notable films featuring Ice Cube include “Are We There Yet” along with its sequel, “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street,” “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” as well as “Fist Fight.” His involvement in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton” as a producer is also noteworthy, where his son O’Shea Jr. depicted him.

In October 2021, news surfaced about Ice Cube opting out of a comedy film production titled “Oh Hell No,” after he chose not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, a requirement due to filming taking place in Hawaii. This decision cost him a salary of $9 million.

Other Ventures

In 1996, Ice Cube collaborated with Mack 10 and WC to form Westside Connection, releasing two albums together.

Solo by Cube, a clothing line launched by Ice Cube, offers hooded sweatshirts equipped with built-in headphones. Additionally, in 2011, he became the face of Coors Light beer. On January 11, 2017, he introduced his new initiative, Big3, a professional basketball league featuring former NBA stars, which commenced its inaugural season in June 2017.

Recently, in 2023, it was announced that Ice Cube partnered with Jesse Collins to create a docuseries on the Big3 sports league, aimed at showcasing the league’s success and its aspirations to become a leading entity in the world of sports.

Personal Life

On April 26, 1992, Ice Cube wed Kimberly Woodruff, with whom he has five children: O’Shea Jr. (born 1991), Darrell (born 1992), Karima (born 1994), Deja (born 1994), and Shareef (born 1995). Additionally, he has a granddaughter named Jordan.

During an interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s “Fresh Air” in January 2005, Ice Cube was asked if he permitted his children to listen to his music. He replied, “What’s worked for me is instilling in my kids a level of self-respect and helping them to understand the content of not just music but the violence found on the evening news.” When asked about his advice to his children regarding profanity, he stated that he explains there are suitable times to use any language but emphasizes respect by advising against using certain words around adults.

Real Estate

In May 2016, Ice Cube acquired a home for $7.25 million in Marina Del Rey, California, purchasing it from Jean-Claude Van Damme, who had acquired the property in 2012 for $6 million while it was still a new spec mansion. Ice Cube and his wife also own a large mansion in Encino, California, which they purchased for $2.36 million in June 1996. This residence boasts seven bedrooms, set on a 1.11-acre lot, within a nearly 8,000-square-foot main house that features a pool, spa, and full-size basketball court.