Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What Is Ice Cube’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $160 million, Ice Cube is an American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur. Transitioning from one of the pioneers of West Coast gangsta rap to becoming one of Hollywood’s most influential figures, he gained initial fame and wealth as a member of N.W.A. Following this, Ice Cube launched a successful solo career, during which he wrote, produced, and starred in several films.

His rise to fame began with the innovative hip-hop group N.W.A., where he was a key songwriter. The albums of N.W.A. featured incisive and provocative lyrics that significantly contributed to the rise of gangsta rap and greatly shaped the hip-hop industry.

After his departure from N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube began a solo career that solidified his reputation as one of hip-hop’s most significant figures. His debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” released in 1990, achieved commercial success and garnered both critical acclaim and controversy for its insights into social and political issues. Ice Cube’s later albums, like “Death Certificate” and “The Predator,” continued to address topics such as social justice, racial inequality, and urban struggles.

In parallel with his music career, Ice Cube successfully ventured into acting. His debut feature film appearance was in John Singleton’s 1991 film “Boyz n the Hood,” where his impactful performance led to more acting roles. He starred in and contributed to the script for the 1995 comedy film “Friday,” which became a cult classic. His filmography includes various genres, such as action (“xXx: State of the Union”), family comedy (“Are We There Yet?”), and drama (“Barbershop”).

Ice Cube’s contributions as a producer and writer have been notably impactful as well. He produced many of the films in which he acted, and his production company, Cube Vision, has been involved in several successful film and television ventures.

Early Life

Born O’Shea Jackson on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles, Ice Cube is the son of Doris, a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, who worked as a groundskeeper at UCLA. He has an older brother, and his half-sister was sadly murdered when Ice Cube was merely 12 years old. Growing up on Van Wick Street in Los Angeles, he began crafting rap and hip-hop music at the age of 14. The name Ice Cube was gifted to him by his brother, who jokingly threatened to put him in the freezer until he became an ice cube.

He attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. At 16, he sold his first song to a future N.W.A. member, Eazy-E. After completing high school, he enrolled in the Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona in the fall of 1987, where he studied architectural drafting and achieved his diploma within a year. Ice Cube then moved back to Los Angeles to chase a career in rap.

Early Career

Teaming up with his friend Sir Jinx, Ice Cube formed the group C.I.A. They performed at various parties around L.A. that were organized by Dr. Dre. In 1987, Ice Cube and C.I.A. released a track called “My Posse,” which was also produced by Dr. Dre. After this, he presented the lyrics for a rap he had written, “Boyz-n-the-Hood,” to Eazy-E, who initially disliked the lyrics.

However, the song was eventually recorded by Eazy-E for “N.W.A. and the Posse,” the debut album of N.W.A., which featured 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 the groundbreaking album “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988, were penned by Ice Cube. Despite his significant contributions, he received only $32,000. Following unresolved disputes regarding his pay and official contracts with the group, Ice Cube departed from N.W.A.

Solo Career

Released in May 1990, Ice Cube’s debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” achieved instant success, capitalizing on the rap genre’s booming popularity at the time. The same year saw the launch of his EP “Kill at Will,” which became the first hip-hop EP to achieve Platinum status. In 1991, he ventured into acting, taking on the role of Doughboy in John Singleton’s crime drama “Boyz n the Hood,” garnering accolades for his performance from critics.

His second album, “Death Certificate,” dropped in 1991 and sparked controversy, splitting both audiences and critics. In 1992, he performed at Lollapalooza, broadening his fanbase significantly. November 1992 marked the release of “The Predator,” his third album, which made history by debuting at #1 on both the pop and R&B charts. The album received positive reviews from critics and is still recognized as his most successful commercial release, having sold over three million copies in the U.S.

The following year, Ice Cube saw a decline in his rap audience. His fourth album, “Lethal Injection,” faced negative criticism. Subsequently, he took a break from music, delaying the release of his fifth album (“War & Peace Vol. 1”) until 1998. In 2000, he joined the “Up in Smoke Tour” alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog, and waited six more years to release “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” charts. His ninth solo album, “I Am the West,” was released on September 28, 2010. Throughout the 2010s, Ice Cube collaborated on various projects, stepping outside the hip-hop realm to work with artists like Trent Reznor and David Bowie. In 2018, he released “Everythang’s Corrupt,” his tenth solo album, following years of gradually releasing singles.

Acting Career

Ice Cube made his film acting debut in 1991 with “Boyz n the Hood.” Over the next few years, he appeared in several films. The year 1995 saw the release of “Friday,” a movie that showcased his talents…

The film “Friday,” which Ice Cube starred in, wrote, and produced, achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success. Following its success, several sequels were produced.

In 1997, Ice Cube appeared in the film “Anaconda.” The following year, he took on multiple roles as director, producer, writer, and actor in “The Players Club.”

Among Ice Cube’s other films are “Are We There Yet” and its sequel, “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street,” “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” and “Fist Fight.” He also served as a producer for the N.W.A biopic “Straight Outta Compton” released in 2015, where his son, O’Shea Jr., portrayed him.

In October 2021, it was announced that Ice Cube chose to withdraw from a comedic film project titled “Oh Hell No,” opting out after declining to receive a COVID-19 vaccine— a requirement for the production shooting in Hawaii. By leaving the film, Cube forfeited a salary of $9 million.

Other Ventures

In 1996, Ice Cube collaborated with Mack 10 and WC to form Westside Connection, leading to the release of two albums together.

Ice Cube launched a clothing line named Solo by Cube, featuring hooded sweatshirts equipped with built-in headphones. Additionally, in 2011, he became the official spokesperson for Coors Light beer. On January 11, 2017, Ice Cube introduced his new venture, Big3, a professional basketball league comprising former NBA stars. The inaugural season commenced in June 2017.

In 2023, it was disclosed that Ice Cube collaborated with Jesse Collins to create a new docuseries for the Big3 league under Jesse Collins Entertainment, aimed at highlighting the league’s success and its pathway to becoming one of the largest globally.

Personal Life

On April 26, 1992, Ice Cube united in marriage with Kimberly Woodruff. Together, they have five children: O’Shea Jr. (born 1991), Darrell (born 1992), Karima (born 1994), Deja (born 1994), and Shareef (born 1995). Additionally, Ice Cube is a grandfather to a girl named Jordan.

During an interview with Terry Gross in January 2005 on NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Ice Cube was asked if he allowed 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 posed with a question about how he addresses profanity with his children, he explained that he teaches them there are suitable occasions for using varied language but emphasized the importance of refraining from using certain words in adults’ presence out of respect.

Real Estate

In May 2016, Ice Cube purchased a residence in Marina Del Rey, California, for $7.25 million. This property was acquired from Jean-Claude Van Damme, who had previously bought the home in 2012 for $6 million, as a brand-new speculative mansion. Ice Cube and his wife also own an expansive mansion in Encino, California, which was bought in June 1996 for $2.36 million. This residence sits on a 1.11-acre lot and features seven bedrooms within a nearly 8,000-square-foot main house, complemented by a pool, spa, and a full-size basketball court.