Rick Rubin’s Net Worth is $320 Million
In the ’80s, you would find tight jeans, even tighter hair, and the birth of a sound that would eventually take over the world: hip hop. And in the heart of all this musical rebellion is Rick Rubin. Before he hit the big time, Rubin was your average New York University student with a not-so-average hobby. He was cranking out party anthems right from his dorm room, sculpting the sound that would become the blueprint for Def Jam Records. And so goes the tale of how one of music’s legendary record labels came to be.
Rubin was born Frederick Jay Rubin back in 1963 in Long Island. He was a rocker at heart, jamming to heavy metal and punk rock tunes. But it was the raw energy and expressive vibe of hip hop that had Rubin hanging up his air guitar to join the mixtape movement. From pumping beats in local clubs in the underground scene, to storming onto global music charts, Rubin’s touch of genius was felt everywhere. And how did it pay off? He’s sitting on $320 million.
So, who exactly is this Rick Rubin guy and how did he exchange raw beats for loads of crisp bills, placing him among the industry’s heavy hitters? And more importantly, how did a regular kid from Long Island turn the turntable into a golden goose? As we take a peek into the life and times of Rick Rubin, we’ll discover the secret behind his success and how his one-of-a-kind approach to music turned into a big fat paycheck.
| Name | Frederick Jay Rubin |
| Profession | American record producer |
| Net Worth | $320 Million |
| Birthplace | Long Island, New York, USA |
| Birthday | March 10, 1963 |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 6 ft. (182 cm) |
| Relationship status | Married (to Mourielle Hurtado Herrera) |
From Dorm Room Dreams to Platinum Beats: Rick Rubin’s Prodigious Rise
Rick Rubin’s journey to being one of music’s most influential producers begins on the streets of Long Island, the same streets where Rubin kicked around as a kid back in the day. Being a kid during those last days of punk rock in New York really rubbed off on him. Often, you’d find him hanging out in Manhattan in the thick of it, totally immersed in the buzz of punk pioneers, the Ramones.
When he wasn’t caught up in the punk scene, he was blasting heavy metal from his record player. Later, upon entering New York University, he traded those metal albums for the electro beats of rap music. It was here, in the midst of his college hustle, that he really found his groove in the rap scene. By 1983, he was mixing tracks and produced his first single, “It’s Yours,” by T La Rock and Jazzy Jay. This wasn’t just a personal win for Rubin; it rocked the local club scene and inspired Rubin to start his own label: Def Jam Records.
However, creating what would become a legendary label was no solo act. Enter Russell Simmons, a big-time player in the hip-hop scene, who joined forces with Rubin after hearing “It’s Yours.” The duo quickly started making waves, their first major hit coming from none other than teenage sensation LL Cool J and his jam “I Need a Beat.” This track sold like hotcakes, just over 100,000 copies in fact, demonstrating just how much pull the Def Jam label had.
Turntables and Treasures: The Fruits of Rick Rubin’s Primary Career
As Def Jam’s fame spiked, the bigwigs in the music industry, who had once slept on the rap genre, started paying attention. Before long, the label’s roster swelled with major names like the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and Run D.M.C. This caused annual album sales to skyrocket to over 300,000 in 1985 alone. Rubin and Simmons then went pro with a contract from Columbia Records. Just like that, Def Jam transitioned from a low-key label to a mainstream hitmaker. They were set to pick and produce just four acts each year, and got $600K for it.
Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons w/ Def Jam's heavy hitters in 1986: Run DMC, Beastie Boys, and Slayer pic.twitter.com/nY4rDnLBw9
— Sturgeon's Law (@Sturgeons_Law) September 26, 2021
Years later, Rubin was making serious dough from producing music for all kinds of A-listers like Eminem, Metallica, and the Dixie Chicks. His production gigs were a major part of his income. Plus, he wasn’t just sticking to one genre – he was dipping his toes into all kinds of tunes: rock, country, pop, and let’s not forget about his role in developing hip hop and thrash metal.
Eminem & Rick Rubin pic.twitter.com/TzicM94PUI
— Eminem Pictures (@hourlyslimshady) October 22, 2022
However, Rubin didn’t just stick to production, he shook up the record label scene, too. After ditching Def Jam, he founded Def American Recordings, later renamed American Recordings. And the dollar signs kept rolling in with his signing and developing of major bands like Danzig and Slayer.
Ventures Beyond Vinyl: Rick Rubin’s Income Diversification
Rick Rubin isn’t just spinning records and crafting catchy beats. This music industry legend has made some savvy business moves, too. Check out the sweet (literally) investment he made in Magic Spoon, a hip cereal startup, back in 2019. Rubin dropped $5.5 million in their Seed Round, showing that he certainly knows how to pick winners in the business world, not just the Billboard charts.
Pulling away from the mixing desk, Rubin has tried his hand at writing, dropping a book in 2023 titled The Creative Act: A Way of Being. Not only did this leafy venture add some more decimal points to his bank account, it’s also hooked fans and aspiring musicians up with insider insight into Rubin’s approach to creativity and art.
Rubin has also made moves in the boardroom. He sat pretty as co-president of Columbia Records from 2007 to 2012, boosting his influence and earnings in the process. On top of all this, Rubin’s always been one with an old-school eye for the future; he’s had some game-changing ideas about the music industry, like suggesting a music subscription model long before it was established in the mainstream.
The Good Life and Good Vibes with Rick Rubin
Legendary music producer Rick Rubin can easily show his wealth, especially in his real estate portfolio. At times, he lounges in a clean-cut pad in Malibu, California, where he’s also set up shop with his renowned Shangri-la Studios. Major icons like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton have laid down tracks in this very spot.
Of course, Rubin’s fat account shows off in his garage, too. He’s got a sweet BMW 3-Series Convertible worth $59,800, an Audi A7 with an $88,900 price tag, and a Range Rover adding another cool $135,670 to his collection of ride-on luxuries.
Rubin, though, isn’t just about collecting flashy objects; he’s also giving back. In 2014, he connected with the David Lynch Foundation, a charity bringing transcendental meditation programs to adults and young people who need some extra support in life. Such was his impact on the organization and its cause that it honored Rick with the Lifetime of Harmony Award.
Behind the Beats: The Personal Life of Rick Rubin
What about the man behind the beats? Frederick Jay Rubin was born on March 10, 1963, to mom Linda, a housewife, and dad Michael, a shoe wholesaler. Rick was their one and only. His childhood was spent in a Jewish home in Long Beach, New York, where his passion for music began due to the city’s electric culture.
Keeping the gossips at bay, Rick’s a pro at keeping his love life low-key. The lucky lady? Former actress and model Mourielle Hurtado Herrera, who swapped her red-carpet life to get her hands dirty farming. Rick and Mourielle are totally inseparable and share a ton of common interests. They welcomed their son into the world in February 2017, and right now, they’re all residing in their Malibu oasis in California.
Who is @RickRubin's Wife?#MourielleHurtadoHerrera, who used to be an actress and model but is now a farmer, is married to Rubin. #Ra is their son or daughter.#relationship #married #LatestNews #fedregsadvisorhttps://t.co/kxi16MtZkL pic.twitter.com/eS4xcRFdeu
— Fedregs advisor (@fedregs) October 25, 2022
Crossing Borders: A Tryst with Quarantine Laws and Conflict Resolution
No one is immune to scandal—something Rick discovered the hard way when he bent the COVID-19 rules in Hawaii in September 2020.
While visiting the beautiful island of Kauai, Rick got caught taking a stroll on Anini Beach, right by his digs in Princeville. The catch? He was supposed to be under a two-week quarantine since he was an off-island visitor. What started with a seemingly harmless beach stroll ended up in court, with a hearing scheduled for Feb. 9, 2021. Rick took it on the chin, pleading no contest to the charges of disorderly conduct and paying the $1,000 fine.
