Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé made real estate history last week with their blockbuster purchase of a Malibu mansion for $200 million—the most expensive house ever sold in California.
What’s more, music’s ultimate power couple reportedly paid for their new compound in cash, according to TMZ, which also helpfully reminded us how the megarich pair have the assets to back such a colossal cash transaction.
According to Forbes, Jay is worth $2.5 billion … thanks to his lucrative liquor businesses, Ace of Spades and D’Usse, his music catalog, and his fine art collection —with pieces from [Jean-Michel] Basquiat.
In 2022, Forbes estimated Beyoncé’s net worth to be just shy of $500 million … crediting her tours, music catalog, and appearances in feature films to the majority of her wealth. Of course, she also just kicked off her “Renaissance” tour, which is expected to rake in more than $1 billion … so their net worth will only go up from here.
The couple’s contract is said to be the second most expensive in the history of American real estate, as a New York City apartment previously sold for $238 million, per the New York Post.
Sources close to the real estate deal told TMZ that the Carters bought the all-concrete mega-mansion from art collector William Bell, who took nearly 15 years to build the estate.
The 30,000-square-foot property, captured in the above images by real estate photographer Anthony Barcelo, was designed by Japanese architect Tadao Ando, who also conceived the comparatively paltry $57.3 million mansion that Jay-Z’s former collaborator Kanye West bought during his divorce from Kim Kardashian.
The “Crazy in Love” couple are said to have gotten their new home at a great price, as it was originally listed at $295 million.
Jay and Bey celebrated their historic purchase with a lavish dinner on May 19 in London. The Carters dined on a “delectable soufflé” with billionaire entrepreneur Nassef Sawiris, according to the Post, which reports they were photographed leaving Harry’s Bar in Mayfair after dinner.
The historic purchase is just the latest big money move that bolsters one of Jay-Z’s most famous lyrics: “I’m not a businessman, I’m a business, man.”