50 Cent’s story from nothing to riches amid all sorts of adversities to becoming a billionaire, successful rapper, and business mogul is a testament to determination, hard work, resilience, and patience.
The rapper, born Curtis Jackson, grew up in New York City, Queens, South Jamaica hood, prevalent with d***s, illegal activities, and violent crimes, which had 50 Cent engaged in all this after the passing of his mum, who was murdered when he was 8 yrs due to a drug-related dealing.
The rapper then grew up with his grandmother, where he grew up with her. During this time, he engaged in many street activities—selling d***s to survive—and was caught with co***ne, he**in, and a starter pistol at 19.
He got arrested multiple times, though he didn’t serve jail time but was kept in a boot camp program.
Before he made his big break in music, he got shot nine times outside of his grandma’s house in 2000 at 24 years old.
This tragic incident hit him when he had just signed to Columbia Records, but the incident put him on hold, and the label had to drop him.
During his recovery, he dropped a mixtape titled Guess Who’s Back in 2002 and 50 Cent Is the Future in 2000 too, which caught Eminem’s attention, leading to his deal with Shady/Aftermath in 2002 and his debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ in 2003, which was a huge success, officially marking his brand as a rapper.
He’s had a series of business ventures that have contributed immensely to his growth.
In 2003, in partnership with Mark Ecko, he launched the G-Unit Clothing Brand, which became a very successful clothing brand in the mid-2000s, a clothing style that represented the streetwear at the time, stemming from baggy jeans, hoodies, tank tops, and sneakers. Until his fallout with The Game in 2005, who was signed to G-Unit Records at the time, they managed and promoted the brand. But shortly after his fallout with 50 Cent in 2005 over royalties, credit issues, and control over G-Unit, he became the biggest oppose and saboteur of the brand with the G-Unot campaign that tarnished the brand’s image, which completely ran out of the market after Mark Ecko ended his partnership with 50 Cent.
50 Cent dived again into Vitamin Water. This was one of his most notable business moves. He invested in Glacéau, the company behind Vitamin Water, which he had some minority stakes in with his flavor, “Formula 50.” But then Coca-Cola bought Glacéau, the company, for $4.1 billion in 2007, with 50 Cent going home with a whopping sum of over $100 million approximately.
In 2006, 50 Cent then launched G-Unit Records. 50 Cent established his record label, G-Unit Records, which signed several artists, including Lloyd Banks and Young Buck.
50 Cent founded Cheetah Vision Films in 2007, a production company focused on making films and TV shows. This was part of his larger ambition to build an empire in entertainment.
Also, in 2009, 50 Cent launched the energy drink Street King, which aimed to provide a meal for every drink purchased in underdeveloped countries. He later sold his stake in the company.
In 2009, 50 Cent entered the consumer electronics market by creating his brand of headphones, SMS Audio. These headphones were marketed as high-end audio products.
50 Cent published his first book in 2010, The 50th Law, in collaboration with Robert Greene. It was a self-help and inspirational book focused on the principles of overcoming fear and adversity, and 50 Cent is living proof.
50 Cent then created his energy shot in 2015 called Formula 50. It became a popular product—a blend of vitamins and energy-boosting ingredients that took off in the market.
50 Cent then made a bold move into the alcohol industry by acquiring a minority stake in Effen Vodka. This was a notable venture into spirits, and 50 Cent promoted the brand heavily.
In 2015, 50 Cent’s big break in television came with the launch of Power, a hit series he executive-produced and appeared in. The show ran for six seasons and helped cement his status as a key figure in the entertainment scene.
50 Cent launched his line of champagne in 2017, Le Chemin du Roi, expanding his alcohol portfolio and later adding Branson Cognac, which was part of his fast-growing Sire Spirits company.
In 2018, 50 Cent launched a boxing promotion company called Tycoon TKO. The company was meant to focus on promoting young, talented boxers.
50 Cent then signed a deal to promote Pure Growth Partners bottled water. In 2019, he endorsed a more eco-friendly, natural brand of water.
In 2020, 50 Cent indulged in another major TV venture—he helped produce the series For Life, which was based on the real-life story of Isaac Wright Jr., a man who was wrongfully convicted and became a lawyer in prison.
In 2021, 50 Cent’s production company, G-Unit Film & Television, continued to grow with multiple productions in TV and film. He also launched BMF, based on the real-life story of the Black Mafia Family.
In 2022, 50 Cent expanded his portfolio into digital assets, investing in cryptocurrency and NFT projects, where he saw a substantial return.
In 2023, 50 Cent expanded his television empire with even more series, such as The Oath, Black Family Mafia, and A Moment in Time.
50 Cent owns multiple properties, including a massive mansion in Connecticut that he bought out of foreclosure. Over the years, 50 Cent has partnered with various brands, from clothing to sneakers. His collaborations include ones with Reebok and others in the fashion industry.
In 2025, 50 Cent will continue to thrive in his business ventures. His G-Unit Film & Television Inc. is currently producing Netflix documentaries surrounding the legal case of Sean Combs, “Diddy,” which is set to be released in late 2025. He equally announced his first Las Vegas residency called 50 Cent: In Da Club at Planet Hollywood Resort PH Live. The event took place on January 3 and 4, 2025, offering fans an intimate concert experience with some of his most iconic hits.
50 Cent, in an interview with The Enthusiast Report podcast, revealed he attained his billionaire status in 2007; he just prefers a low-key profile. He filed for bankruptcy in 2015 over a $7 million lawsuit, which he paid to Rick Ross’ baby mama, Lastonia Leviston, for leaking her sex tape. He also lost against Sleek Audio for owing them $17 million over a failed headphones deal and had some failed business ventures and debts ranging from $10 million to $50 million, causing him to file for bankruptcy as a strategy to restructure his finances rather than being broke. He cleared all these debts in 2017 and, since then, has been striving high.
Speaking on The Enthusiast Report podcast, the NYC rapper, a one-time Grammy Award winner, with 4 BET Awards, 2 MTV Video Music Awards, 6 World Music Awards, 87 awards in total throughout his career, and 137 nominations, said:
“I have been a billionaire since 2007. I’m not far from where I came from. I’ve been a billionaire financially because everybody around me is being paid, their resources are there, and I don’t see things that I want that I can’t go get. But everything else—you can have it, I can have it if I want it. I just don’t have the urge, and that’s just who I am.”
50 Cent attained the level of success he is at now with no inheritance or starter pack—just true determination and resilience. He’s had quite many lows and highs, but every single time, he kept his head high.
Check out this part of the interview where he specifically talks about how he became a billionaire.
