When Kanye Became A Billionaire, He Moved Fans With An Emotional Purchase

Hip hop star and fashion mogul Kanye West is rich. Like really, really rich. So rich that there probably aren’t many things in the world that he can’t afford – or hasn’t already bought. A $34,000 gold-covered skull for Jay-Z? He’s got one! A $39,000 fur coat in all the colors of the rainbow? The perfect Christmas gift! A $3 million diamond engagement ring? Got, got, got! But these are all objects you’d almost expect the extravagant star to buy, right? So when West recently bought a relatively inexpensive and unglamorous item, the emotional purchase left his fans totally shocked.

After all, we’re talking about a man who Forbes, in April 2020, declared to be a billionaire. And even though the magazine said West was worth “a bit over $1 billion,” the star argued that the figure was actually more like $3 billion. But whatever the exact sum, his hard-won fortune is undeniably huge. The musician’s marriage to Kim Kardashian in 2014 also confirmed his place in one of the celebrity power couples of our age.

Forbes has even valued Kardashian West – alone – at $780 million. That’s a heck of a lot of money all under one roof! On the one hand, you’ve got arguably the most famous reality-star-turned-business-magnate on the planet. And on the other, you’ve got a rap star with a sneaker empire. There is little that they can’t afford, so it would take a very unusual purchase to surprise fans at this point.

The pair haven’t been reluctant to enjoy their wealth, either. Seriously, “shy” is not an adjective you’d ever associate with them. They live in a lavish, renovated multi-million-dollar house in Hidden Hills, California. How much was it, you ask? They reportedly purchased the house in 2014 for $20 million – and have spent a further $20 million improving it. The work has now made the abode worth $60 million, according to Kris Jenner – Kardashian West’s mom.

In all fairness, though, West has worked hard to build up his vast fortunate over the years. Starting as a music producer for other artists, in 2000 he secured a job at iconic hip hop label Roc-A-Fella Records. Here, West worked on the album The Blueprint by one of the label’s co-founders, Jay-Z. The collaboration was a huge success, and West’s reputation as a producer was secured.