Rich Dudes│From YOLO to OVO, How Drake’s Net Worth Is Invested

Aubrey Drake Graham, better known by his stage name Drake, has been one of the most successful rappers and pop superstars of the 21st century. With a net worth of $250 million, he has become one of the highest-paid entertainers worldwide and is considered one of the wealthiest hip-hop artists ever.

Drake began his career on the Canadian television show Degrassi: The Next Generation as a basketball star Jimmy Brooks. While recording and producing successful track after successful track, Drake accumulated more than $430 million in his lifetime before taxes and lifestyle costs.

Aubrey has become a sensational success in the music industry, with his debut album Thank Me Later reaching number one on the hip-hop charts and selling millions of copies.

Aubrey Drake Graham's story is filled with ups and downs, shaping him into the force he is today. Beyond numbers and awards, his unbeatable success leaves us all “In My Feelings.”

In 2001, at just 15, a parent of one of Drake’s high school friends noticed his natural talent and helped him land a role as Jimmy Brooks on the long-running children's television show Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Although the role he portrayed in the show was that of a popular basketball star named Jimmy Brooks, the earnings he received for his performance were meager, amounting to only $50,000 per year.

Drake released mixtapes in 2006, with his first one grabbing the attention of hip-hop mogul Lil Wayne. He graced it with lyrics to his soon-to-be hit single “Brand New.” Drake signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne’s record label, in 2009 after the Tha Carter III tour. The rapper's third mixtape, So Far Gone, released that year, was a global success.

Drake’s debut studio album, Thank Me Later, was rolled out after he signed with Lil Wayne's company, Young Money Entertainment. It quickly climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 200 chart.

Since then, Drake has won over 180 awards, including four Grammys, inked a long-term worldwide partnership with Universal Music Group worth an estimated $400 million, and a brand endorsement with Apple Music.

His concerts regularly pack stadiums and bring in an estimated $1 million per show. Coupled with his album sales, he has built an impressive net worth of $250 million as of 2023.

Aubrey Drake Graham's investments include luxury properties, high-end cars, extravagant jewelry, and a private jet. With a diverse and strong portfolio, he's building a bright financial future and legendary music career, following 'God's Plan.'

Drake has quite an eye for real estate. The male hip-hop artist knows when, where, and how to invest. Over time, Drake has bought and sold several properties, including his Hollywood Mansion in L.A.

In 2012, he invested $7.7 million in the lavish YOLO Estate in Hidden Hills, California. This palatial estate featured multiple residences, including the 12,000-square-foot main house.

In 2018, Drake splashed out $4.5 million on a sprawling ranch property and sold it for $12 million in 2022. His original master plan was in full swing. He also bought a 1.6-acre state in 2015 for $2.85 million.

As we can expect from a ten-time Grammy award winner, Drake lives a high life and knows how to invest his fortune for maximum return.

The real estate market is expected to remain strong in 2023, with the Federal Reserve voting to raise its key interest rate and the median existing-home price declining 0.9% to $375,700 year-over-year. Growing housing demand and business activity, improved job markets, and higher income levels provide an optimistic outlook on the residential real estate market.

The rental vacancy rate has stabilized at a low level for five quarters in a row, and rental price growth is predicted to reach 8.4% in May 2023. Furthermore, builders are investing in multi-family homes to meet the increasing demand for rental properties. All these signals point to a positive outlook for real estate investments in 2023.

Drake is well-known for investing in luxury cars, purchasing high-end vehicles, customizing them, and ultimately reselling them at a higher value. His impressive collection consists of several unique and valuable rides.

The global luxury car market is anticipated to increase significantly over the 2023 to 2030 forecast period with a CAGR of 6.9%. It is expected to reach $600 billion, with a CAGR of 5%. Moreover, introducing eco-friendly luxury cars and the rising consumer demand for comfortable driving experiences will likely boost the market.

Due to its massive growth potential, investing in the luxury car market will likely yield dividends over the coming years because many automobiles have recorded capital appreciation of over 10%.

In 2019, Drake acquired a luxurious Boeing 767 jet dubbed“Air Drake”—worth around $185 million—as a gift from Cargojet. He upgraded the interiors with leather chairs, plush carpets, and wide-screen TVs.

Featuring his own brand OVO owl logo, Air Drake has a 20,000-gallon fuel tank, costing around a million dollars annually—that’s a hell of a gas bill. While lavish, this jet exemplifies the perks of being a world-famous rapper.

The outlook for private jet investments is positive. The global business jet market is currently valued at $29.03 billion and is expected to grow to $38.34 billion by 2029, a CAGR of 4.06%.

Additionally, there were 5.3 million private flights globally in 2022, and sales of pre-owned and new jets are forecast to reach $34.6 billion in 2022. These figures point to a robust and lucrative market for private jet investments.

Drake's affinity for luxury shopping is evident when it comes to extravagant jewelry. With an investment of over $3 million in lavish jewels, his collection showcases an alternative asset with financial and aesthetic value.

Drake also sports an impressive range of fine bling, like Cartier Love bracelets, a Rolex Sky-Dweller with 18-carat white gold and a crushed iced dial, and a diamond-encrusted OVO logo pendant gifted by Young Thug.

As the Toronto Raptors ambassador, he received championship rings featuring 16 rubies and 650 diamonds, with a custom version containing 30-carat diamonds. This fascinating jewelry collection highlights yet another avenue for exploring alternative investment assets.

The Jewelry market reached a value of $340.69 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 4.6% from 2023 to 2030. This growth is driven by increasing disposable income, changing lifestyles, and perceiving jewelry as a status symbol.

Furthermore, the pandemic has positively affected jewelry sales, with 30% of consumers in a recent poll reporting they purchased more jewelry during the pandemic. Therefore, investments in the jewelry sector will likely increase in the coming years due to increasing gem demand.

With his massive fan following of 100 million on Instagram, Drake has the potential to earn $50 million through the release of his NFT collection, according to fellow rapper Torey Lanez. If he were to enter the NFT market, it could trigger a bull run in this space, which is still relatively underdeveloped.

Torey Lanez reportedly earned $1 million from his NFT album sales, suggesting a lucrative opportunity for established musicians to gain additional revenue. Drake has made some foray into the NFT market, with some mintspace.io offerings priced from $480.

Drake has also invested in crypto firm MoonPay and other celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Justin Bieber, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO of MoonPay, believes that NFTs can significantly impact industries like music, fashion, film, and gaming by offering creators a means of financing, retaining control over their intellectual property, and directly selling their work to consumers without intermediaries.

Drake is really making waves in the world of business and startups. He's been clever with his money, investing in a bunch of ventures like tech startups Omni, Daring Food, SiriusXM radio, and media companies like DreamCrew and Players’ Lounge.

Drake launched his record label OVO Sound, a clothing line, and even a whiskey brand, Virginia Black. Plus, he's the ambassador for the Toronto Raptors.

One of his investments, the fintech startup Wealthsimple, skyrocketed to a massive  $5 billion value, thanks to him and other celebs like Ryan Reynolds and Michael J. Fox.

In 2018, his OVO sound label alone made around $50 million. Meanwhile, his SiriusXM radio venture and The Carter Effect documentary have been huge hits.

Recently, Drake joined big names like Jeff Bezos in investing in sports media startup Overtime, helping them raise $80 million. They plan to grow into new spaces and kick off a high-school basketball league.

With 18% to 20% success rates, small businesses and venture-capitalist-backed startups are often seen as risky but full of potential. Entrepreneurs who’ve had previous success generally have better odds.

So, there's never been a better time to start something new if you've got the right mix of experience, cash, and market know-how. And, so far, Drake is proving he has an eye for success.