The collaboration with Adidas and the rapper’s Yeezy brand was worth approximately $1.5 billion, Forbes estimates. Without the deal, West’s net worth has decreased to $400 million.
That value comes “from real estate, cash, his music archive, and a 5 percent investment in ex-wife Kim Kardashian’s shapewear brand, Skims,” Forbes said on Tuesday, October 25.
West, 45, thought his net worth was devalued by the publication. When he initially made the billionaires list in 2020, with an estimated $1 billion wealth, he texted the outlet that he was worth $3.3 billion. The Atlanta native also sent paperwork earlier this year saying his Adidas deal alone was worth $4.3 billion, however Forbes only assessed his net worth to be roughly $2 billion after evaluating information from other insiders and interviewing industry experts.
Kardashian, 42, and West divorced in February 2021 when the SKKN by Kim founder filed for divorce. They share four children, North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3. A judge declared them legally single in March as they continue to work on the legalities of their divorce.
In addition to West having a slice of Skims, Kardashian has a piece of Yeezy. She revealed in 2018 that she turned down an offer for $1 million to promote a company that is famous for copying off Yeezy designs, and her then-husband thanked her with a business agreement.
“He happened to be recording out of town and I got an envelope sent to the door. I open the mail and it is a million-dollar check and a note saying, ‘Thank you for always supporting me and not posting,'” Kardashian claimed at the time on the “Pretty Big Deal” podcast. “In the rest of the envelope, it was a contract to be an owner of Yeezy, to get my percentage.”
Kardashian did not cite West’s statements explicitly but spoke out against anti-Semitism on Monday, October 24. “Hate speech is never OK or excusable,” the Kardashians star tweeted. “I stand united with the Jewish community and call on the awful violence and ugly language towards them to come to an immediate end.”
Adidas is the latest brand to reject the “Power” rapper as he continues to justify his anti-Semitic rants.
“Adidas does not accept anti-Semitism and any other form of hate speech. Ye’s recent words and actions have been reprehensible, bigoted and dangerous, and they contravene the firm’s values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness,” the company stated in a statement on Tuesday. “After a thorough examination, the firm has taken the decision to terminate the agreement with Ye immediately, discontinue production of Yeezy branded products and suspend all payments to Ye and his enterprises. Adidas will terminate the Adidas Yeezy business with immediate effect.”
The artist originally made headlines on October 8 after tweeting, “I’m a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I’m heading death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE. The odd thing is I truly can’t be Anti Semitic since black people are actually Jew also You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball everyone whoever opposes your agenda.”
He came on Piers Morgan Uncensored to apologise on October 19. “I will say I’m sorry for the folks who I harmed with the ‘death con’ [comments],” West remarked but added that he “absolutely” did not regret the words.
Balenciaga and Hollywood agency CAA (Creative Artists Agency) also broke ties with West after his repeated anti-Semitic rants.
