Roos van Duijne
$500 thousand
Ice Cube’s net worth is an estimated $160 million, accumulated over four decades as a rapper, actor, screenwriter, director, and entrepreneur. Born O’Shea Jackson in South Central Los Angeles, Cube helped build one of the most influential groups in hip-hop history, then rebuilt his career as a Hollywood player, and later added a professional sports league to his portfolio.
Updated March 2026: According to Variety, Ice Cube co-produced Straight Outta Compton — which grossed $60.2 million in its opening weekend on a $29 million budget in 2015, one of the most profitable music biopics in Hollywood history. Ice Cube’s net worth, estimated at $160 million, reflects earnings from music, film, his BIG3 basketball league, and business ventures built over more than 35 years in the entertainment industry.
O’Shea Jackson was born on June 15, 1969, in the Westmont neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles to Doris, a hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a groundskeeper at UCLA. He grew up in a working-class household with an older brother, and his half-sister was murdered when he was 12 years old — an event that shaped the raw, confrontational tone of his future work.
Jackson attended George Washington Preparatory High School before transferring to William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, where he began writing rap lyrics in keyboarding class. At 16, he sold his first song. After graduating, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona, earning a diploma in architectural drafting in 1988 — a practical qualification he has cited as grounding for his later career in film production and entrepreneurship.
Ice Cube joined N.W.A in 1987, alongside Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella. The group’s debut album Straight Outta Compton (1988) established gangsta rap as a commercial force and sold over three million copies, generating approximately $32,000 for Cube at the time — a figure he later contested as exploitative, leading to his departure from the group in 1989 following a financial dispute with manager Jerry Heller.
Cube’s solo debut, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990), produced by the Bomb Squad, debuted to critical acclaim and commercial success. Death Certificate (1991) peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. The Predator (1992) debuted at #1 simultaneously on both the Billboard 200 and R&B charts — a rare double debut at the time. Lethal Injection (1993) continued his commercial run.
After a period of reduced recording activity during his peak film years, Cube returned to music periodically, releasing Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006) and I Am the West (2010). His most recent album, Man Down, was released on November 22, 2024 — his first solo effort in six years, featuring 19 tracks and collaborations with Snoop Dogg, E-40, Too Short, Busta Rhymes, and Killer Mike, per his official website. In 2025, he announced a follow-up project titled Man Up and launched the “Truth to Power” North America tour — a 40-date coast-to-coast run billed as celebrating four decades of his music career.
Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff in 1992 — a marriage that has lasted more than 33 years, making it one of the longest-standing in hip-hop. The couple has four children together: O’Shea Jackson Jr. (born 1991), who followed his father into acting and played him in Straight Outta Compton; Darrell (born 1992); Kareema (born 1994); and Shareef (born 2000). Cube became a grandfather in 2017. The family has long resided in Los Angeles.
Cube has been publicly identified with the Nation of Islam and black nationalist philosophy, which informed much of his early lyrical content. He has been politically outspoken throughout his career, meeting with former President Donald Trump during the 2020 campaign to discuss a “Platinum Plan” for Black communities — a decision that drew criticism from some quarters. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994. In 2025, Ice Cube received a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Ice Cube’s net worth is estimated at $160 million as of 2026. His wealth comes from a combination of music royalties, film acting and producing fees, ownership stakes in the Friday and Barbershop franchises, his BIG3 basketball league, real estate, and endorsements accumulated over more than three decades in entertainment.
Ice Cube reportedly commands $150,000 to $300,000 per live performance. In 2025, he launched the “Truth to Power” North America tour, a 40-date run commemorating four decades of his music career, with additional dates running into late 2026.
Yes. Ice Cube released Man Down in November 2024 — his first solo album in six years, featuring 19 tracks and collaborators including Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and Killer Mike. He has announced a follow-up project, Man Up, for 2025, and continues to tour actively.