Beyoncé is Worth $500 Million
There’s this one artist who not only entertains us with song and film, but inspires us. She is so highly revered, she has been made a queen. Yes, we’re talking about Beyoncé. She’s the Texas girl who brought it big with Destiny’s Child then went one step (or several steps) beyond to prove to the world she could rock it on her own—be it through her epic music, killer acting gigs, or her business moves.
Amid the glory of her journey, flooded with over the top praise like breaking the glass ceiling for most Grammy wins by a lady in a night, Beyoncé has also managed to redefine “money moves”. The diva has gathered herself a crazy treasure estimated at $500 million as of July 2022. Yep, you read it right! Her crazy moolah comes not just from her music that we so love but also from her business games, money-spinning tours, and smart dollars moves.
| Name | Beyoncé Giselle Knowles |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Director, Record Producer |
| Net Worth | $500 million |
| Birthplace | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Birthday | September 4, 1981 (Virgo) |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Relationship status | Married to Jay-Z |
Princess Bey: Early Career and Breakthrough
At just 9 years old, Beyonce Giselle Knowles had her eyes on the prize. It was then that she assembled her friends to form Girl’s Tyme, the group that would go on to be known the world over as Destiny’s Child. They faced hardship, having crashed out of TV’s Star Search (think an ’80s/’90s version of America’s Got Talent) and had their first record deal canned even before their debut album could hit the shops.
But they kept their heads up, probably motivated by the fact that they were able to land a recording deal at all (no mean feat). That “can do” attitude paid off when, in 1997, they bagged a contract with Columbia Records. Their first album, which featured the foot-tapper “No, No, No Part 2”, was a smash hit. Album No. 2, The Writing’s on the Wall (1999), knocked it out of the park, bagging them two Grammys and over eight million copies sold in the States alone. And let’s not forget their third biggie, Survivor (2001), that topped the Billboard 200 chart.
Chasing the Bucks: Revenues From Primary Career
Amid the success, the group’s leading lady, Beyonce, was carving her solo path in the industry. Using Destiny’s Child’s 2003 break as her launchpad, she made a solo debut with Dangerously in Love. Her first album shot her to the heights of stardom and became one of the year’s top albums. And when Destiny’s Child parted ways in 2005, Bey was more than prepped to rule the world solo.
After that, everything Beyonce touched turned to gold. Her second solo, B’Day (2006), skyrocketed up the charts just like the first. Then came the ground-breaking third solo album, I Am…Sasha Fierce (2008), which got her a jaw-dropping 10 Grammy nods in 2009, winning six—a record at the time.
Queen Bey’s star just kept on rising. Later albums, like the spectacular 4 (2011) and the self-titled Beyoncé (2013), busted the charts wide open and flaunted her creative chops. With every tune song and lyric, Beyonce climbed the ladder of success, broke the rules, and stamped her mark as a game-changing artist of her time.
Every new album she drops seems to beat the last in both rave reviews and dollar signs. For instance, her 2022 Renaissance album made a cool $26 million just from digital sales.
Despite their gargantuan numbers, those album sales are just a small part of the pie. Bey knows to hit the road and rake in the big bucks from tours. Her 2016 “Formation” tour bagged her $256 million—the biggest tour cash draw of the year despite involving the fewest number of shows. Then there was the “On The Run II” tour she shared with hubby Jay-Z, which pulled in more than $250 million—more than double their first tour’s $95 million. Even her early tours like the “Dangerously In Love” tour in 2003 cashed in a decent $3.6 million.
Besides these mega tours, Beyoncé also knows how to make a quick buck from exclusive gigs. For example, in 2023, she performed at the swanky opening of the Atlantis The Royal Grand in Dubai marking her first show in five years. This private, hour-long performance added $24 million to her earnings.
Raking in Riches: Diversified Revenue Streams
Queen Bey’s hustle goes beyond dropping jaws onstage. She’s a worldwide super star, and she’s got a bunch of clever deals, collabs and investments that thicken her wallet.
Take Pepsi, for instance. Back in 2012, Bey nailed a $50-million deal by partnering with them. And let’s not forget her work with Samsung in 2007. She didn’t just feature in their Ultra Music F300 phone ads, she got her own company, Parkwood Entertainment, to work with Sprint and bring out a special edition of the phone loaded with exclusive Bey content.
Bey’s been killing it as a beauty and fashion icon, too. She got on board with L’Oréal when she was just 18. Building on that success, Bey launched her own fragrance line in 2010, raking in $500 million over the last decade.
Beyonce has also been bossing it in the business world. In 2022, she made a significant investment in Lemon Perfect, a low-sugar lemon water brand. She went in early on companies like WTRMLN WTR in 2016 and SideStep, a company specializing in fun merch, back in 2015.
But when it comes to her ventures, Bey’s not just putting her money in someone else’s business, she’s also made a name for herself in the fashion world. Her own line, Ivy Park, has made great strides since it was launched in 2014. Her collab for the 2019 and 2020 collections with Adidas was such a hit, products were flying off the shelves.
And about the aforementioned Parkwood Entertainment? Beyonce masterminded this all-in-one entertainment company, which looks after her music production, films, and TV specials. It’s her creative playground and another major income source.
Beyonce’s Pricey Possessions and Philanthropic Pursuits
Let’s talk about digs. Bey and her hubby, Jay-Z, have a real estate portfolio that’s as hot as their albums. They’ve snapped up a swanky $26-million pad in East Hampton, and an $88-million palace in Bel-Air that boasts not one, but four swimming pools and a basketball court. Just when you thought they were done, they purchased a private Bahamian island for $4 million (kinda sounds like a bargain to us). 2023 was a record year—they splashed out a record-breaking $200 million on a home in Malibu. And let’s not forget their property at the ultra-fancy Indian Creek Island in Miami.
The Carters not only conquer concert stages, but highways too. Their garage is a real car candy-store that features a 2005 Ferrari F430 Spider, a 2010 Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport, a 2004 Maybach Exelero, and a 1993 Lexus GS300, among others. And when the open road is not enough, they jet off in their very own Bombardier Challenger 850, a sweet Father’s Day gift from Bey to Jay back in 2012.
But Bey’s not just about the bling. Through her charity, BeyGOOD (since 2013), she’s been throwing life-lines all over the world, providing education, job training, and more. Add building homes for people in need and supporting rehab centers into the mix, and it’s not an exaggeration to say Bey’s doing her part to make the world better.
For #GivingTuesday take the challenge to something new, GIVING YOU! Yes your best you as we finish the year strong! Be KIND, Be GENEROUS, #BeyGOOD ❤️ pic.twitter.com/w77ggOqHnz
— BeyGOOD (@BeyGood) November 29, 2022
Behind the Curtains: Beyoncé’s Personal Life
Queen B was born on September 4, 1981. She comes from quite an eclectic family tree. Her father, Mathew Knowles, is African-American, while her mom, Tina Knowles-Lawson, is a mix of Louisiana Creole that’s primarily African and French. Both heavily influenced who Beyoncé has become. Also, her little sister, Solange Knowles, has made a name for herself in the music scene, too.
Her love life involves one man: rap king Jay-Z. They first bumped into each other when Beyoncé was just 18 and sparked their romance after a year. Since then, they’ve set an inspiring example of how love and success can thrive together. They had a super low-key wedding on April 4, 2008, and are still going strong.
The cherry on top of their love story? Their three super cute kids. Their firstborn, Blue Ivy, arrived in 2012 and fast became the youngest star to be featured on a Billboard chart, thanks to Jay’s song “Glory”. Then in 2017, Beyoncé and Jay-Z doubled their joy with the arrival of twins, Rumi and Sir.
Major Milestones and Controversies: Beyoncé Under the Spotlight
Bey courted controversy early in her solo career with the song “XO” from her 2013 self-titled album. For the track she used an audio clip from NASA’s own Steve Nesbitt in which he talks about the “major malfunction” that caused the devastating Challenger space shuttle explosion in 1986. Seven astronauts lost their lives. NASA wasn’t pleased and called her out publicly for being disrespectful to those astronauts’ memory. In response, Beyoncé clarified that she meant it as a tribute to those who perished.
Legal drama also made its way into Queen B’s life. In 2017, the late New Orleans rapper Messy Mya’s estate dropped a copyright infringement lawsuit on her. They claimed she used Mya’s voice on the song “Formation” and neither gave credit nor cash, and consequently sought $20 million in damages! The courts, however, dismissed the claims.
2022 brought more legal issues for Beyoncé when she tried to trademark her daughter’s name, ‘Blue Ivy Carter’. Veronica Morales, the owner of events-planning firm Blue Ivy Company, thought the names were too close for comfort and challenged Beyoncé. After claims of fraud and probably some legal headaches, Beyoncé came out on top, getting the trademark in 2020.
