Who is Nas, and what drives his wealth in and outside hip-hop?
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, famously known as Nas, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and entrepreneur. He is widely known for his 1994 debut album, Illmatic, which ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums. Nas has immersed himself in the business world, which is reflected in his fortune. Today, his net worth is estimated at $200 million.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Nas Jones debuted his musical career in 1991.
- He has produced numerous hits, including I Can, Hate Me Now, One Mic, and The World Is Yours.
- The rapper has released 42 albums and sold over 35 million albums worldwide.
- As of 2026, Nas' net worth is estimated at $200 million.
Profile summary
Real name | Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones |
Nickname | Nas |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 14 September 1973 |
Age | 52 years (as of April 2026) |
Zodiac sign | Virgo |
Place of birth | Brooklyn, New York, USA |
Current residence | Calabasas, Los Angeles, California, USA |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height | 5'9" (176 cm) |
Weight | 178 lb (81 kg) |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Dark Brown |
Mother | Fannie Ann |
Father | Olu Dara |
Siblings | 1 |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-spouse | Kelis Rogers |
Children | 2 |
Profession | Rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur |
Who is Nas?
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, commonly known as Nas, is a rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He is known for releasing many hit songs, including I Can, Hate Me Now, One Mic, and The World Is Yours.
How much is Nas worth in 2026?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Nas' net worth is $200 million. Other sources like Bitget value him between $350 million and $800 million. The rapper has made a fortune from his long music career.
Apart from music, he has also made money as a venture capitalist. He co-founded QueensBridge Venture Partners (QBVP), whose primary goal is to invest in technology startups. Nas has successful investments in companies like Dropbox, Lyft, Robinhood, Coinbase, Ring and Pluto TV.
Source: Original
Is Nas a billionaire?
No, the rap legend is not a billionaire but a multimillionaire. According to Forbes, his company, QueensBridge Venture Partners, sold its investment in Ring, a doorbell company, to Amazon for $1.1 billion in 2018. Nas allegedly received $25 million from the deal.
Nas' age and background
The record producer is 52 years old as of April 2026. Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones was born on 14 September 1973, and his Zodiac sign is Virgo.
The American rapper was born in Brooklyn, New York, United States. He is an American of African-American ethnicity. His father, Charles Jones III, is professionally known as Olu Dara, while his mother is Fannie Ann.
Olu Dara is a jazz and blues musician from Mississippi, and his mother was a US Postal Service worker from North Carolina. Nas' parents divorced in 1985, and his mother passed away in 2002 after battling cancer.
Nas' family relocated to the Queensbridge housing project in the Long Island City community area in Queens. He grew up alongside his brother Jabari Fret, professionally known as Jungle. He is a rapper and a member of the hip-hop group Bravehearts.
Source: Getty Images
Career
Nas is a rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and entrepreneur. As a teenager, he became interested in music and went by Kid Wave before adopting the stage name Nasty Nas. His neighbour, Willie "Ill Will" Graham, played hip-hop music, significantly contributing to his love for music.
Nas' breakthrough debut album, Illmatic, dropped in 1994. He has since released numerous albums, including It Was Written, God's Son, Nastradamus, and Untitled.
Between 2001 and 2005, the rapper was involved in a highly publicised feud with fellow American rapper Jay-Z. He recorded a diss track titled Ether. In January 2006, he got signed to Def Jam, a label owned by Jay Z, ending their four-year beef.
Nas has released hit singles like Stillmatic Freestyle, Undying Love, and Made You Look. The rapper was also a member of the hip-hop group The Firm, which released one album.
Are Jay-Z and Nas still friends?
Jay-Z and Nas are friends. The two did not get along earlier in their careers, but they eventually mended fences and are considered good friends. Today, Jay-Z is among the richest musicians in the world.
Acting
As an actor, Nas played Sincere in the 1998 film Belly and as himself in the 2016 Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. He has written soundtracks for movies like Overlord and Blood Diamond.
Source: Getty Images
Entrepreneurship
Nas is also a businessman and entrepreneur. He has invested in various business ventures, such as Proven, Mass Appeal Magazine, and ViralGains. The American entrepreneur has partnered with Hennessy and worked on their campaign, Wild Rabbit.
He has also partnered with Koru, a job placement startup that funds college graduates. The rapper is the co-owner of LANDR and joined the New York City soul food restaurant Sweet Chick in 2015.
What is the Nas $5 billion deal?
Rapper Nas recently partnered with Resorts World New York City on a $5 billion expansion plan for an entertainment house in Queens. Nas' deal is set to get a "state-of-the-art entertainment and gaming destination in Southeast Queens", his hometown.
After signing the deal, Nas said:
This is an ambitious project that will give new opportunities to the hard-working families who call Queens home, attract top-tier talent, and build up the next generation of leaders. Clearly, with this project, the world is ours.
Source: Getty Images
Who is Nas' wife?
The hip-hop star does not have a wife. However, he was previously married to American singer Kelis. The two tied the knot on 8 January 2005 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, after being engaged for two years.
Kelis is a singer best known for the tracks Milkshake and Bossy. She has sold over six million albums worldwide and was nominated for two Grammy Awards. Kelis' net worth is $2 million.
Kelis and Nas' son, Knight Jones, was born on 21 July 2009. The rapper announced his son's birth at a gig in Queens, New York, against Kelis's wishes.
The couple's marriage did not last long, and they divorced on 21 May 2021, citing irreconcilable differences. Kelis accused the rapper of being abusive mentally and physically.
On 6 September 2018, Nas replied to the accusations, alleging that Kelis was slandering his name in readiness for their son's custody battle. He accused her of abusing his daughter, Destiny, from a previous relationship. Talking about the matter, Nas said:
I do not beat women. I did not beat up my ex-wife.
Is Jay-Z richer than Nas?
Rapper Jay-Z is significantly richer than rapper Nas. As of 2026, Jay-Z's net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion. His fortune is built on diverse business ventures, including his entertainment company Roc Nation, investments in technology, spirits (Ace of Spades), and a music catalogue.
FAQs
- Who is Nas? He is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor and entrepreneur.
- Where is Nas from? He was born in Brooklyn, New York, but grew up in Queens, New York, United States.
- How much is Nas worth? The American rapper is alleged to be worth $200 million as of 2026.
- How many Grammys does Nas have? The rapper won one Grammy Award in 2021 for his album King's Disease. However, he has been nominated 16 times.
- How many children does Nas have? He has two children, a daughter and a son.
- Who does Nas have a daughter by? The American record producer has a daughter named Destiny with Carmen Bryan. She was born on 15 June 1994.
- Who is Nasir Jones married to? He is not married as of 2026. However, he married R&B singer Kelis in 2005 but went their separate ways in 2010.
Nas' net worth shows his dedication to entertainment and entrepreneurship. He has been in the music industry for over thirty years, excelling as a rapper, record producer, and actor. Away from music, the father of two has invested in various business ventures and resides in Calabasas, California, United States.
Legit.ng published an article about Jennifer Hudson's net worth. Hudson is an American singer, actress, and TV personality who rose to stardom in 2004 as a finalist in the American reality TV show American Idol.
Jennifer Hudson was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States. She began singing at a young age in her church choir. Some of her hit songs include Isn't Love, No One Gonna Love You, and Here I Am.
Source: Legit.ng
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