Kardinal Offishall
$4 million
Wikimedia Commons, via Wikipedia: The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G. left an estate valued at $10 million at the time of his death in 1997 — a figure that has since grown dramatically under decades of careful stewardship. Born Christopher George Latore Wallace in Brooklyn, New York, he was an American rapper and songwriter widely regarded as one of the greatest MCs in hip-hop history. In a career that spanned barely five years, he released two studio albums, both of which achieved critical and commercial success, and established himself as the defining voice of East Coast hip-hop in the mid-1990s.
Updated March 2026: According to HOT 97 and reporting by DMARGE, the Notorious B.I.G. estate is valued at over $160 million as of 2024–2025, with a potential deal with Primary Wave Music that could be worth between $100 million and $150 million for a 50% stake in publishing, master recordings, and publicity rights.
Christopher Wallace was born on May 21, 1972, in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, to Voletta Wallace, a Jamaican immigrant who worked as a preschool teacher. He grew up largely without his father, who left the family shortly after his birth. Wallace attended George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School — the same school that would later produce Jay-Z and Busta Rhymes — and transferred briefly to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. He was reported to be an honor student in his early years but became involved in drug dealing by his early teens, dropping out of school at 17.
During his adolescent years in Brooklyn, Wallace developed his rapping skills in local freestyle battles and cyphers, gaining a reputation in the neighborhood long before any record deal materialized. He recorded a demo tape in 1992 that circulated locally and eventually reached music industry contacts, leading directly to his professional career.
In 1993, Wallace became the first artist signed to Sean “Puffy” Combs’s newly founded Bad Boy Records. That same year, he gained early recognition through guest appearances on several prominent singles. His debut studio album, Ready to Die, was released on September 13, 1994. The album received widespread critical acclaim and spawned three successful singles — “Juicy,” “Big Poppa,” and “One More Chance” — cementing his status as the central figure of East Coast hip-hop at a time when West Coast rap dominated the charts.
In 1995, Wallace was named Rapper of the Year at the Billboard Music Awards and guided his protégé group, Junior M.A.F.I.A. — which included longtime friend Lil’ Kim — through the release of the album Conspiracy. While working on his second album, he became embroiled in the escalating East Coast–West Coast hip-hop rivalry, which included a well-publicized feud with his former associate Tupac Shakur.
Wallace was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9, 1997, at age 24, six months after the murder of Tupac Shakur. His killer was never identified. Just two weeks after his death, his second studio album, Life After Death, was released as a posthumous double album. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded two Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money Mo Problems.” The album sold over 10 million copies in the United States alone. Wallace was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020, in his first year of eligibility.
At the time of his death in March 1997, Wallace’s estate was valued at approximately $10 million. Despite the brevity of his recording career, several revenue streams contributed to this figure:
After his death, his mother Voletta Wallace assumed management of the estate and built it into a far larger enterprise. Under her stewardship, the estate grew to over $160 million by 2021 through licensing, merchandising — including a 2011 partnership with Brand Sense Partners — brand collaborations, and posthumous compilations. The estate earned $80 million in 2025, according to Forbes’ 2025 highest-earning dead celebrities list, ranking fifth overall. In early 2025, negotiations were underway for Primary Wave Music to acquire a 50% stake in publishing, masters, and publicity rights for between $100 million and $150 million.
Wallace married R&B singer Faith Evans on August 4, 1994 — just nine days after they first met. The marriage was tumultuous; the couple separated after a year but never formally divorced before his death. He had two children: T’yanna Wallace, born in 1993 to his former girlfriend Jan Jackson, and C.J. Wallace, born in October 1996 to Faith Evans. Both children have pursued careers connected to their father’s legacy — T’yanna has operated a clothing line, and C.J. has appeared in documentary and film productions about his father’s life.
Wallace stood 6’3″ (190 cm) and, at various points in his life, weighed over 300 pounds — a physical characteristic he incorporated into his public persona. He was known for an outgoing personality and a generous disposition toward his neighborhood. His mother, Voletta Wallace, remained the primary steward of his legacy until her death in February 2025. Following her passing, Bad Boy Records executives Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow assumed management of the estate.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s estate is valued at over $160 million as of 2024–2025, according to reports from HOT 97 and DMARGE. This represents a dramatic increase from the approximately $10 million valuation at the time of his death in 1997. The estate earned $80 million in 2025 per Forbes rankings, making it one of the highest-grossing deceased celebrity estates in the world.
During his lifetime, Wallace earned money primarily through record deals with Bad Boy Records, royalties from Ready to Die and Life After Death, hit singles including “Big Poppa” and “One More Chance,” live performances, and writing and production credits. Posthumously, the estate’s value grew through merchandise licensing, brand partnerships, posthumous album and compilation releases, and the enduring performance of his two studio albums.
Wallace’s mother, Voletta Wallace, managed the estate from 1997 until her death in February 2025. Following her passing, management transferred to Mark Pitts and Wayne Barrow, co-founders of ByStorm Entertainment and former Bad Boy Records executives. As of early 2025, the estate was in advanced negotiations with Primary Wave Music for a potential deal valuing a 50% stake in publishing, master recordings, and publicity rights at between $100 million and $150 million.
Born on May 21, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, The Notorious B.I.G. passed away on March 9, 1997 at the age of 24.
The Notorious B.I.G. stands 6’3″ tall (191 cm).
The Notorious B.I.G. married singer Faith Evans in 1994. They remained married until his murder in 1997. He had two children: T’yanna Wallace from a prior relationship and Christopher Jordan “C.J.” Wallace with Evans.
Yes, The Notorious B.I.G. had two children: T’yanna Wallace (~32) from a prior relationship and Christopher Jordan “C.J.” Wallace (~29) with wife Faith Evans. C.J. has followed his father into the entertainment industry, pursuing acting and music.
The Notorious B.I.G. lived in Brooklyn, New York, the borough that shaped his music and identity. Born and raised in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, Brooklyn’s streets and culture were central to his legendary storytelling.
At the time of his death, The Notorious B.I.G. had accumulated approximately $10 million from album sales and music ventures. His posthumous legacy has been enormously profitable, with his music catalog continuing to generate millions in annual royalties.