Here's How Jay-Z And Beyoncé Spend Their Fortune
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Jay-Z are definitely one of music's most dazzling couples. In Hollywood terms, they've been together for eternity, having tied the knot in 2008. So, how do they manage to withstand the test of time on the A-list? Perhaps the secret to their love is the fact that they took baby steps in the beginning. "We were friends first for a year and a half before we went on any dates," Bey told Oprah Winfrey in 2013 (via People), adding, "That foundation is so important for a relationship." Getting teary-eyed, the starlet gushed, "I would not be the woman I am if I did not go home to that man." We know, our hearts melted, too.
As time passes and the Carter family grows bigger, so does their net worth. In June 2019, Forbes pronounced Jay-Z a billionaire, having amassed his wealth in "liquor, art, real estate ... and stakes in companies like Uber." Meanwhile, a day later, Queen Bey snagged spot No. 51 on Forbes list of "America's Wealthiest Self-Made Women," showcasing her net worth of $400 million. So, how does the couple that's worth $1.4 billion as of 2019 do with all their money? From outrageous gifts for their kids, lavish beauty expenses, to flashy toys to ride around in, here's how Beyoncé and Jay-Z spend their fortune.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé love spoiling Blue Ivy with outrageous gifts
Both Jay-Z and Beyoncé concluded that you can't put a price on love after the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy. Her parents dote on her so much, there have even been talks of the cutie allegedly becoming a true diva already!
Spoiling Blue in the most outrageous ways, the A-list couple decided to start with their gift-giving fiesta on her first birthday, according to The Sun. The mag claimed Blue got an $80,000 diamond-encrusted Barbie, which was customized with "160 of the gems, plus white gold jewelry." Outrageous, no? As a source dished, "Nothing's been too big or expensive for their little princess. They wanted her first birthday to set the tone for the rest of her life ... They work hard for their money and the first thing they want to spend it on is their baby girl."
As their teeny tot grew, it didn't mean her parents doted on her any less. In 2016, Blue accompanied her mom to the VMAs, decked out in some mega fashionable threads. Per The Hollywood Reporter, her dress cost a whopping $10,950, and was made by Mischka Aoki, who the tab revealed "is known" to do haute couture for kids, with some dresses taking up to "300 hours to produce."
The twins benefit handsomely from Jay-Z and Beyoncé's fortune, too
Of course, Jay-Z and Beyoncé's twins, who were born in 2017 are also deserving of the royal treatment that was, up until now, only reserved for Blue Ivy. Even their official debut to the masses was done extravagantly, with Beyoncé's now-iconic Instagram post that, within 30 minutes, garnered 700,000 likes!
In fact, even before Sir and Rumi Carter were out of the womb, their parents made sure they'd be welcomed to the world in style. Per OK!, the couple reportedly coughed up "nearly £65k on matching gold cribs" for their tots, along with a pair of 18-carat gold Dodo Bassinet cots — worth approximately £32,380 each. As a rep for the company dished to the mag, "The Dodo Bassinet Gold Edition is astonishing, magnificent and admirable, as only the finest works of art can be ... The golden glow provided by the most magnificent 18k yellow gold plate shines from every single angle; it is impossible to hide such beauty, for this jewel is made of the very material, from which dreams are made."
If that's not enough, they the Carters also reportedly dished out £68k on a diamond-encrusted, gold dummy — earning it the title of "the world's most expensive pacifier." That's right, that definitely was not a typo. For you American math scholars out there, that shakes out to roughly 238,454.06 U.S. dollars for just 5 baby-related items. Talk about a tough registry to shop for.
Like nearly every fortune, Jay-Z and Beyoncé's includes real estate
When you're Jay-Z and Beyoncé, you make sure that every nest that you reside in gives you an opportunity to be absolutely lavish — and safe. In 2017, the couple paid $88 million for their sprawling LA mansion, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Surprisingly even using a traditional method of financing, the couple actually took out a mortgage, albeit a monster-sized one of $52.8 million. However, purchasing the pad wasn't the sole expense for the A-listers, who, according to building permits obtained by TMZ, began plans to convert the compound into "a fortress" by adding "a new 10-car carport and 2-car garage, complete with living quarters and security guard rooms."
If their secure Bel Air haven isn't enough, there's also their 100-year-old, $26 million Hamptons home. According to Trulia, the 12,000 square foot estate has seven bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms — along with one extra special treat. The previous owner "carefully rotated the original house 90 degrees so the historic triple-height studio room (which faced north) is now a 30-feet high living room looking west over the pond."
Even when the Carters aren't buying properties, you can be sure their rentals will also cost a pretty penny. Per Trulia, the couple also dished out $400,000 a month on an absolutely stunning Malibu rental, with amenities such as a library, gourmet kitchen, wine cellar, full gym, movie theatre, a kid-friendly wading pool, guest home, and tennis courts.
Why not ball out in the skies, too?
Considering the Carter-Knowles clan travels extensively between homes and vacation spots, it only makes sense that they'd lock down some comfortable flying arrangements. According to The CW44 Tampa Bay, for Hova's first Father's Day back in 2012, Beyoncé bought him a $40 million Bombardier Challenger 850 private jet — complete with "a living room, kitchen, bedroom, and two bathrooms." If that wasn't enough, the site also revealed that the "fuel cost of an average flight is $25,000 plus the cost of hiring a pilot." Yikes!
Jay-Z has clearly taken a liking to aviation, and this isn't the first time his interests have been shared with the world. Per CNBC, along with "Saudi Arabian royalty," the rapper is a key investor in an app called JetSmarter, which is essentially Uber for the skies. "Positioned as a 'hybrid' to lower costs for existing private flyers, while providing greater convenience for new users, the platform allows members to both schedule flights and book empty seats on existing private jet routes."
While Jay-Z most likely won't be using the service thanks to his wife's generous gift, he's certainly looking to share his wealth with those wishing to lead his sort of lifestyle, as well.
Did Jay-Z and Beyoncé purchase a converted church?
If buying regular properties wasn't enough, the Jay-Z and Beyoncéalso find different ways to get creative with their real estate spending. According to Curbed, there was a rumor making the rounds in 2015 that the high-profile couple bought a "10,000-square-foot Spanish baroque Garden District residence" in New Orleans.
So, what makes it so special? According to the pad listing on Movoto, the property was originally a Presbyterian church built in 1927, then the home to Ballet Hysell, a dance academy. In 2000, it finally got converted into a residence with three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms — as well as three one-bedroom apartments. The listing notes you could combine all the apartments into one massive mansion. If you're Bey and Jigga, why not?
Although the purchase wasn't officially confirmed (despite Curbed tracing documentation back to "Beyoncé's management company"), we would have loved to see photos of the happy family inside the swanky estate. As Dance Magazine wrote in an April 1998 cover story about the once-full ballet school, "The massive old Spanish baroque structure the color of Bermuda coral, tucked away in the Garden District on a short side street called Harmony, was once a church. The building is somehow symbolic of Hysell himself." We don't know about you, but we have a feeling the musical A-list duo would definitely feel inspired in such fab living quarters.
Jay-Z bought a private island for his 'mermaid' bride
"I'm always happy when I'm surrounded by water. I think I was a mermaid," Beyoncé mused back in 2011 during a tell-all documentary titled Year of 4 for MTV (via Essence). "The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective ... it humbles you and makes you feel almost like you've been baptized. I feel born again when I get out of the ocean."
Jay-Z apparently took some pointers from the doc, since he bought his wifey a private island in the Bahamas for over $2 million in 2013. "Jay's been looking for a private island for the family," a source revealed to The Sun. "He's getting it partly to mark their fifth wedding anniversary but also, with Bey back in the spotlight, it's getting impossible for them to do normal things such as go to the beach with Blue. A private island means they'll be able to have quality time with minimum staff and security."
The tab dished that the island is "a short flight from Miami, has patchy phone reception and no satellite TV." That being said, when you're in the spotlight as much as the Carter-Knowles brood, perhaps going totally off-grid is the way to go?
Beyoncé and Jay-Z adore spending time in Paris
There's no denying Jay-Z and Beyoncé are huge fans of Paris. So much so, in fact, the duo single-handedly helped The Louvre break their visitor record in 2018. Wonder just how the A-list couple achieved such a feat? They shot their "APES**T" music video there, of course. A testament to just how much the A-list couple makes, they rented out the entire museum to shoot the vid, complete with including works such as the Mona Lisa, The Consecration of Emperor Napoleon, and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine.
According to The Guardian, "The 10.2 million people who came to the museum in 2018 marked a 25% rise in visitors, beating the previous record of 9.7 million visitors in 2012." Pretty cool if you ask us.
Another flex for the superstar duo? Whenever they fly into the city of romance, they stay in the priciest hotel available. Per People, their go-to spot is "a two-story penthouse suite at the Hotel Le Meurice overlooking the Tuileries Garden." Available for a jaw-dropping $20,000 a night, the suite is complete with "a private kitchen, a glass-enclosed dining room, and an enormous private open-air terrace." Not too shabby.
It cost a fortune to drive like Jay-Z and Beyoncé
Cars are a total indulgence on which both Beyoncé and Jay-Z love spending their hard-earned dollars. Per the New York Post (via Irish Examiner), the "99 Problems" rapper bought his lady a vintage 1959 Rolls-Royce convertible for her 25th birthday in 2006. Reportedly paying a sweet $1 million, the gift was definitely fit for the Queen that Bey is.
The starlet returned the favor a few years later, buying her hubby a $2 million Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport for his 41st birthday. As reported by Fox News in 2010, the whip was the world's fastest road car at the time, capable of a top speed of 253 mph and achieving "0-60 in 2.5 seconds."
While Jay-Z grows older with a need for speed, Bey's doing the opposite — trading in the convertibles and sportscars for something more practical. Per the Daily Mail, in 2011, Beyoncé swapped in the Maybach she drove for a $1 million Mercedes van. Not a regular van, of course — she requested "hand-stitched Italian leather seats be installed in cream with chestnut lining." If that's not enough, the van was also decked out with a full bathroom that includes a shower, sink, and even a toilet.
Jay-Z's 'Kobe Bryant of barbers'
If you want to maintain your status as music's power couple, you have to ensure you look fresh at all times. Cue Johnny Cake, Jay-Z's personal barber.
Not just your average barber, Johnny Castellanos, known as Johnny Cake, or even better, the "Kobe Bryant of barbers" has to be available 24/7 whenever Hova rings. As noted by northjersey.com, Johnny Cake started cutting Jay-Z's hair when he was 18 years old, and to this day still flies to wherever the "4:44" rapper is to keep things looking good. "I always had it in my mind that I need to be the coolest barber out there, and that's how I'm going to attract other customers who are high-profile," Johnny Cake told the site. "I'm with [Jay-Z], so I can't act like a groupie or be super excited." A pretty sweet gig, if you ask us.
It's not just Jay-Z's hair that he gets to cut, too. Johnny Cake's hands have graced the heads of Tyler the Creator, Kanye West, and Pimp C, to name a few. Yet, in an interview with Complex, the barber still sounded remarkably down-to-earth. "It's dope that people are willing to pay for my expenses and my daily rate to fly me out for a haircut. It's crazy ... It's a blessing and still to this day I'm very humbled when I get those calls."
Beyoncé's eyelashes alone cost a small fortune
Beyoncé and Jay-Z are so incredibly rich, it's nearly impossible to fathom what they may deem as "normal" spending habits. The VH1 show, The Fabulous Life of chronicles just this, discussing the lifestyles of the A-list elite. One episode of the series profiled the Carter-Knowles, giving us a sneak peek into some of the couple's most outlandish expenses.
According to the show (via Hello! Magazine), Queen Bey allegedly rocks $60-a-day mink eyelashes. It may not appear to be a lot of money, except for the fact that she doesn't re-use them. If she wears a fresh pair daily, her little habit comes out to $21,000 a year!
So, what makes mink lashes so sought-after instead of regular, synthetic ones? San Francisco lash expert, Michelle Nicole spoke to Racked, explaining the pricy trend. "Mink lashes are really superior in the sense that they have this really fluffy, natural look. Even regular extensions applied lash by lash can have a strip-esque look, because they're made by machines," she explained. "The mink ones, because they're made of hair, take on their own natural look. There's basically no way for anyone to tell they're not real."
Jay-Z and Beyoncé are busy being drunk in love
When Queen Bey released her self-titled Beyoncé album in 2013, fans were quick to notice the feminist turn she took in her songwriting. Celebrating femininity and her own sexuality, the record was remarkably well-received, marking another milestone for the R&B pop queen.
Just a few weeks after the release of her album, Bey and Mr. Carter turned heads when they were spotted walking out of an adult shop on Boxing Day! As detailed by Radar Online, the couple reportedly went on a $6,000 spree — solely on adult toys! "They didn't buy anything tacky or too extreme. It was all top-of-the-line stuff," dished a source to the tab, before adding, "Some of it was even gold-plated!"
Perhaps the Carters were feeling inspired, considering they were partying it up on Christmas Eve just a few days prior, with the DJ even blaring B's new song, "Drunk In Love."
Beyoncé and Jay-Z share their fortune with their pals, too
Jay-Z and Beyoncé sure know how to party in style, and why wouldn't they? As their empire grows, the couple spares no expense when it comes to fun with their close friends. According to People, in 2011 when Jay-Z had his Watch The Throne release party at Miami's Fontainebleau, he reportedly dropped $250,000 solely on champagne, leaving a $50,000 tip, too!
It doesn't even have to be a special occasion for the A-list pair to have a wild night out, either. Per The Mirror, the duo partied one night at Atlanta's Club Reign, spending "$100,000 on booze for VIP guests," which included gold-bottled Ace of Spades champers and bottles of D'usse.
At the end of the day, no matter where Jay and Bey go, they ensure they'll be seen. Naturally, this includes the Carters enjoying meals at Le Cirque, one of New York's most prestigious restaurants. According to Business Insider, guests at the top tier spot also include "members of The Rolling Stones, former US presidents, and even the pope." As Judy Taubman, once a Big Apple socialite told Vanity Fair of the restaurant, "That was the place, where you used to see everyone you knew. And when there was somebody you didn't know, everybody wanted to know." Just like that, it appears that Jay-Z and Beyoncé are helping keep the trendy hot spot alive to this day.