Fat Joe Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Fat Joe’s Net Worth?

With a net worth of $4 million, Fat Joe, a rapper and producer originally from New York, has made a name for himself in the music industry. He first gained recognition in the early 90s as part of the D.I.T.C Crew before embarking on a successful solo journey. Later, he founded his own music label, Terror Squad. Throughout his career, Fat Joe has collaborated with numerous prominent figures in music. In addition to his musical endeavors, he has acted in various films and hosts the Coca Vision podcast.

Emerging in the early 1990s as a member of the hip-hop group D.I.T.C. (Diggin’ In The Crates), Fat Joe made a strong debut with his first album, “Represent,” in 1993. The album included the hit “Flow Joe,” which reached the top of the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. This early achievement laid a solid foundation for his enduring career.

Fat Joe is widely recognized for his successful collaborations with other musicians, leading to many chart-topping singles. In 2001, he released the platinum-certified album “Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.),” featuring the popular track “What’s Luv?” with artists Ashanti and Ja Rule. Following this, he continued to garner success with singles such as “Lean Back” alongside Remy Ma, which became a cultural phenomenon and received several award nominations.

In addition to his music career, Fat Joe ventured into acting, landing roles in films such as “Scary Movie 3” and “Happy Feet,” showcasing his versatility. He has also engaged in various business ventures, including a sneaker store in New York City and a podcast where he interviews fellow artists and celebrities.

Early Life

Born Joseph Antonio Cartagena on August 19th, 1970, in the South Bronx of New York City, Fat Joe is of Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage. Growing up in a challenging and impoverished environment, he was led toward a life of crime at a young age. Referred to as a “bully” during his schooling years, he often resorted to stealing to help his family. His brother introduced him to his lifelong passion: Hip-Hop music.

Career

In 1992, under the name “Fat Joe da Gangster,” he became part of the Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C). This involvement allowed him to collaborate with various artists, establishing essential networking connections that would prove valuable when he launched his record label. Fat Joe was initially signed to Relativity Records, and by 1993, he was prepared to release his debut album.

Represent became Fat Joe’s first solo project, featuring the hit “Flow Joe.” The song topped the Rap Charts, marking a powerful start to his music career. Following this success, he released his second album, Jealous One’s Envy, in 1995. The song “Envy” performed admirably on the charts, reinforcing his rising popularity. His career took another leap when he encountered LL Cool J at the recording studio, leading to an invitation to record the track “I Shot Ya,” for which he also appeared in the music video.

During this pivotal time, Fat Joe began collaborating with Big Pun, whom he discovered. In 1998, he worked with notable artists such as Nas, Diddy, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on his third album, Don Cartegena. The title track gained significant popularity, along with “Bet Ya Man Can’t Triz.” This album also marked the introduction of his new group, Terror Squad, which included Big Pun, Cuban Link, Prospect, and others. Terror Squad would also become the name of Fat Joe’s record label, under which he promoted various artists.

For his fourth album, Jealous Ones Still Envy, Fat Joe continued working with renowned musicians. Irv Gotti produced the album, which featured collaborations with Ashanti, Ja Rule, and Ludacris. A notable track from the album, “We Thuggin’,” gained significant popularity, yet it was “What’s Luv” that truly eclipsed it. Considered Fat Joe’s most successful song ever, this track, featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule, has become a timeless classic from the early 00s. This success set a benchmark for Fat Joe that no subsequent album, not even 2002’s Loyalty, could surpass. Ultimately, Jealous Ones Still Envy received platinum certification.

50 Cent Feud

In 2004, the last album from Terror Squad, True Story, was released. The album included the hit single “Lean Back,” in collaboration with Remy Ma, which dominated the charts for three weeks, marking one of Fat Joe’s peak successes. The following year, Fat Joe initiated his notorious rivalry with 50 Cent, sparked by 50 Cent’s criticisms of Fat Joe’s partnership with Ja Rule. In response, Fat Joe released a diss track on his sixth album, All or Nothing, featuring artists like R. Kelly, Eminem, and Remy Ma.

The feud between Fat Joe and 50 Cent intensified, with Fat Joe publicly denouncing 50 Cent for his perceived cowardice and lack of street credibility. Tensions escalated during the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards when Fat Joe insulted 50 Cent on stage, prompting an angry response from the latter, who stormed onto the stage shouting expletives. The award show quickly cut to commercials.

Following this feud, Fat Joe teamed up with Lil Wayne for his seventh album, Me, Myself & I, which featured the Grammy-nominated hit “Make It Rain.” During this time, the rivalry with 50 Cent persisted. After Fat Joe released The Elephant in the Room, 50 Cent ridiculed the album, claiming his mixtape outperformed it in sales and asserted he had “ended” Fat Joe’s career.

In the ensuing years, Fat Joe continued to collaborate with various artists, producing albums like J.O.S.E. 2 and The Darkside Vol. 1. With a new record deal from E1 Music, he announced plans to release two additional Darkside mixtapes before retirement. Over the years, he kept releasing music alongside artists like Cool and Dre, Ludacris, ASAP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, and French Montana.

Legal Issues

Throughout his career, Fat Joe has faced several legal challenges. On more than one occasion, he has been charged with assault and has testified as a witness in two murder trials involving his bodyguard. In another incident, he was present in a vehicle with two men who were fatally shot, leading to his involvement as a witness in the trial.

In 2012, Fat Joe entered a guilty plea for tax evasion, having neglected to pay taxes on $3 million in income from 2007 to 2010. Consequently, he faced a four-year sentence.

“`

months in prison.

Personal Life

Fat Joe has three children and is married to Lorena Cartagena. He has resided in both Miami and Tenafly, New Jersey.

Fat Joe, having lost 88 pounds over the years, expressed that he will keep his stage name, believing that changing it wouldn’t be a wise marketing strategy.

In 2022, he made a significant purchase, a custom Rolls Royce Cullinan, which cost him $450,000.

Real Estate

In 2000, Joe invested $115,000 in an acre of land located in Plantation, Florida, near Fort Lauderdale. Subsequently, he built a custom home spanning 5,300 square feet at a cost of $1.2 million. He listed the property for $2 million in 2010, and it was bought by Instagram personality Malú Trevejo, who later priced it at $3.25 million.