ECONOMY & WORK
MONEY 101
NEWS
PERSONAL FINANCE
NET WORTH
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use DMCA Opt-out of personalized ads
© Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Market Realist is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.
MARKETREALIST.COM / NEWS

How 50 Cent's Success In Music Helped Him Eventually Make $10 Million a Movie

The Grammy-winning rapper didn't break into the world of showbiz overnight. "I paid myself to learn how to participate in those projects," he says.
UPDATED JAN 22, 2024
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jamie McCarthy
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Jamie McCarthy

After over two decades in the music industry, American rapper 50 Cent has learned a thing or two about success. The Grammy-winning rapper didn't break into the world of showbiz overnight. In an interview with Vulture, he said how his earlier success as a musician helped him break into Hollywood.

"One of the unwritten laws of power is to appear not to need anything," he said. "Because everybody will do you a favor when you don’t need it."



 

Curtis James Jackson III, popular as 50 Cent, met with movie producer Avi Lerner when he was already a millionaire, all thanks to his rap career. 

Jackson said that as he was "in a financial place I didn’t need one thing from him", and Lerner was able to talk openly with him about the business.

"Because I was interested in what he had developed as a business, he was excited by my interest," he said. "He offered probably more than the average person."

Jackson said that those conversations allowed him to "understand Hollywood".

He soon started his own production company Cheetah Vision, which has amassed $200 million in financing from people.  

The films have low budgets that really permitted him to only focus on gaining experience. He said, "I got paid almost $10 million on each one of those films. So I paid myself to learn how to participate in those projects."

Getty Images | Marcus Ingram
Getty Images | Marcus Ingram

50 Cent is a celebrated American rapper, actor, and entrepreneur. He was born in the borough of Queens, New York City, and raised in its South Jamaica neighborhood by his mother, who was a drug dealer. She died in a fire when he was only 8. After his mother's passing, he was raised by his grandparents. 

Jackson began rapping in a friend's basement, where he used turntables to record over instrumentals. In 1996, a friend introduced him to Jam Master Jay who then taught him to count bars, write choruses and structure songs. In 2002, Eminem heard Jackson's Guess Who's Back? and invited him to fly to Los Angeles and introduced him to Dr. Dre, Eminem's mentor.

50 Cent then went on to release his own debut album, " Get Rich or Die Tryin".

50 Cent is known for his smart investments, mansions, supercars, and more. He once made news for purchasing Mike Tyson's old mansion which featured 21 bedrooms, a gym, a casino, and a nightclub for a whopping $4.1 million. His huge collection of cars features Lamborghini, Ferrari, and Rolly Royce among others. He also owns a custom Versace-wrapped Lamborghini Aventador, the one that Snoop Dogg liked very much.

What Is 50 Cent's Net Worth?

Getty Images | Steven Ferdman
Getty Images | Steven Ferdman

As of June 2023, 50 Cent's net worth is estimated to be $40 million, as per Wealthy Gorilla. He earned more than $250 million in his career from chart-topping albums to singles and also his business ventures. 

50 Cents has his record label, G Unit Records. He also launched a G-Unit clothing company, as well as a boxing promotion company The Money Team in 2012.

He has also stepped into the world of movies and appeared with superstars Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino. Another deal that made him more money than many of his albums was a small stake in Vitamin Water that was later acquired by CocaCola. The rapper made an impressive, $100-$150 million.

However, his fortunes dropped due to his extravagant lifestyle, with the star even submitting a bankruptcy filing in July 2015.

MORE ON MARKET REALIST
It was clear that the host was expecting much more from the player, as the question had potential.
13 hours ago
An expert believes that raising the minimum wages has been a crucial boost for underpaid workers.
14 hours ago
Costco keeps its aisle labels vague intentionally to make the shoppers wander around and explore products.
15 hours ago
While rate cuts may eventually bring relief, other factors may push costs upwards.
15 hours ago
A Politico poll conducted last month found Americans were struggling with spending constraints.
19 hours ago
The shopper who was buying coats to donate to the homeless was met with incredible generosity.
1 day ago
The Democratic senators argued that no living/sitting president should have their likeness on a coin.
1 day ago
The contestant had a slim chance after getting only two out of five guesses right.
2 days ago
The payments will be funded by the tariff revenue and reach farmers early next year.
2 days ago
Sweeney's team blatantly broke a rule and the host had to let it go multiple times.
3 days ago
Dimon reiterated a nuanced and overall upbeat view about the effect of artificial intelligence on the economy.
3 days ago
The guest who worked closely with the author said the collection was sentimental to her.
7 days ago
As per a recent study, nearly half of the millionaires think they need better financial planning.
7 days ago
Partnering with Wing, Walmart has expanded its service to yet another metro, this time in Georgia.
7 days ago
Economists, John Campbell and Tarun Ramadorai told CBS that Americans are unprepared for retirement.
Dec 3, 2025
Supporters of the Trump administration are not happy with the retailer's latest move.
Dec 3, 2025
The advocacy group, Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, addressed the letter to CEO Andy Jassy.
Dec 3, 2025
The player, Noah Kraski solved the final puzzle with just two clues on the board.
Dec 3, 2025