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Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z, grew up with three siblings and his mother in a dangerous neighborhood in Marcy Houses. Since childhood, he has been interested in creating music and drum patterns on various items, so his mother brought him a boombox to kickstart his passion. In the 1990s, he founded the record label Roc-A-Fella Records under Def Jam Records, wherein Jay-Z released his first album, Reasonable Doubt, which sold more than a million copies. Having sold more than 100 million copies of his albums, with each going platinum, the rapper has won 22 Grammy awards for his music. Jay-Z is one of the richest rappers through his business ventures and investments, with a net worth of a whopping $1.3 billion.
For as long as people can remember, Jay-Z and Beyonce have been a power couple in Hollywood, known for their long-standing relationship and supporting each other’s ventures. But long before he tied the knot to the singer, Jay-Z had a string of relationships with notable women. Let’s look at Jay-Z’s dating history, and the net worth of his girlfriends ranked.
Charli Baltimore ($500,000)
Jay-Z reportedly dated rapper and songwriter Charli Baltimore during the late 90s. While they didn’t make the headlines as a happening couple, their short-term relationship was serious before it fizzled out. Baltimore initially became a paralegal before dating Notorious B.I.G. and establishing her rapper career. She has released several albums and continues to pursue music.
Karrine Steffans ($4 million)
When Beyoncé released her surprise video album, Lemonade in 2016, she took the world by storm as she shared deeply resonating songs about her struggles in life and relationships. It was around the same time when author Karrine Steffans published an essay in xoJane admitting to having an affair with Jay-Z in 2000 before he met Beyoncé, as stated by US Weekly. Steffans has worked as a model on several hip-hop music videos and featured as a host on television shows. She has earned a hefty net worth from publishing the Vixen book series under HarperCollins Publishers.
Blu Cantrell ($5 million)
Another singer on the list, Blu Cantrell, began her career as a backup vocalist before releasing her music in 2001 with her debut album So Blu, which became certified gold. Cantrell had several hit singles that made it to the Billboard Top 40 during the prime of her career. The couple reportedly casually dated in the 90s and have been on good terms since ending things. She even congratulated Jay-Z and Beyoncé after the birth of their first daughter.
Rosario Dawson ($8 million)
Writer, singer, and actress Rosario Dawson was only 15 when she was discovered and cast in the 1995 movie Kids. She has over 100 acting credits, starring in movies and television shows, including the popular Men In Black series. As mentioned by Cheat Sheet, she dated Jay-Z in 2000 when the couple was getting a taste of stardom. While they dated for a while, their relationship fizzled before they parted ways. Jay-Z later stated that he broke up after having a crush on Beyoncé at a spring music festival.
Aaliyah ($8 million)
Aaliyah had a promising career as a singer and musician before tragically passing away in 2001. It was rumored that she dated Jay-Z in 1999 before Damon Dash, his business partner, also pursued the singer, as noted by Yahoo. A successful singer at 22 years of age, Aaliyah has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. She also had a strong acting career earning $1.5 million and $5 million for her roles in Romeo Must Die and Queen Of The Damned, respectively.
Rachel Roy ($12 million)
Rachel Roy is a successful fashion designer and owner of the Rachel Roy Collection. The designer has an A-list clientele, including Penelope Cruz, Tyra Banks, Kim Kardashian, Kate Hudson, Michelle Obama, and others. It was rumored that Jay-Z had an affair with Rachel Roy, which led to the viral elevator fight between him and Solange Knowles, Beyoncé’s sister, at the 2014 Met Gala. The rumors were then slightly confirmed when Beyoncé once released her album, Lemonade and called out Becky with the good hair, addressing Roy.
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter ($500 million)
A powerful Hollywood couple who has been together for more than a decade, Beyoncé and Jay-Z first met in 2000, and the next year appeared in an issue of Vanity Fair. They began collaborating on music and first released 03 Bonnie and Clyde and later Crazy In Love. Cosmopolitan said the couple tied the knot in 2008 and welcomed their daughter Blue Ivy Carter in 2012. After having a set of twins, the couple is still going strong in their relationship. Beyoncé first began her music career as a part of a trio band.
Destiny’s Child before pursuing a solo career. She is one of the best-selling female artists in the world, and through her various business ventures, Knowles has a massive $500 million fortune.
Jay-Z may have had several high-profile relationships and minor flings, but the rapper has not looked back since his marriage to Beyoncé. While they suffered a minor setback in 2014, they have worked on their differences and remain as happy as ever. The duo has also adopted the stage name The Carters and released their first joint album, Everything Is Love in 2018.
Sources: US Weekly, Cheat Sheet, Yahoo, Cosmopolitan
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