50 Cent's Hollywood Empire: A Deeper Dive Into His Business Success
Discover how 50 Cent has leveraged his fame into a diverse empire, shaping TV and film production, gaming, and large-scale investments.
By Ajao ToluwalopeDec. 18 2023, Published 2:18 a.m. ET
The author’s content and opinions have not been pre-reviewed, approved or endorsed by Discover.
From a difficult childhood in Queens, New York, 50 Cent changed the narrative when he achieved worldwide fame with his albums in the 2000s — and became one of the biggest names in hip-hop music.
However, beyond releasing chart-topping hits, 50 (real name: Curtis James Jackson) has diversified his earnings too. In addition to his music career, he’s invested in multiple ventures and companies.
Beyond the Beats: 50 Cent's Diversification
We can trace 50 Cent's groundbreaking success across multiple ventures. From making video games to television and other entrepreneurial ventures, here is everything you need to know about his impressive empire.
Lights, Camera, Action: 50 Cent's Screen Success
50 Cent is also a powerhouse in the television industry, having made significant stints as a producer, and actor. Along with being the producer of the Starz TV series, Power, he also had a starring role on the show — and his character even landed his own spinoff, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.
50 Cent went on to start G-Unit Film & Television, a production company dedicated to developing compelling content for both television and film.
This venture has allowed him to nurture emerging talent while continuing to deliver high-quality entertainment to audiences worldwide.
Entering the Gaming Realm: 50 Cent in Virtual Worlds
Not all music fans know this, but 50 Cent is no stranger to the video game industry.
His foray began on November 17, 2005, when he released the 50 Cent: Bulletproof. He returned to the video game industry with its sequel, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand. These action-packed games use his likeness, voice and tracks from his albums. Players can literarily step into 50’s shoes and enjoy a thrilling gaming experience designed to mirror his personality.
According to Business Insider, 50 Cent's original MSRP costs around $50 a pop. He's amassed up to $125 million in total sales from this empire alone.
Beyond the Entertainment: 50 Cent Is Also a Major Investor
Beyond his creative endeavors, 50 Cent's business acumen has played a pivotal role in his success. Have you heard his Vitaminwater story?
The artist penned a deal with Glaceau, an energy drink company which owned Vitaminwater, where he received shares in the company to promote the product. In a rather fortunate twist, Coca-Cola acquired the brand in 2007, and this made him a whopping $100 million.
“People were talking about how much money I made, but I was focused on the fact that $4.1 billion was made,” 50 Cent said per Yahoo. “I think I can do a bigger deal in the future.”
He’s since then launched his line of energy drinks, the Street King, aiming to allocate part of the proceeds to end hunger for 1 billion African children.
50 Cent also founded the high-end headphone company, SMS Audio. He uses proceeds from every headphone sold for another worthy goal – providing 250 meals to hungry Americans through the Feeding America initiative.
Plus, 50 has a his own clothing line, G-Unit Clothing and is a minority stakeholder in Effen Vodka. Today, his net worth is estimated at $155 million, according to Forbes.
Not too shabby for a kid from Queens.
