Soulja Boy, born DeAndre Cortez Way on July 28, 1990, is a rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and internet personality who exploded onto the scene with the 2007 hit “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”. The single not only went platinum 10 times but also ignited a global dance craze and catapulted the then-teenager to stardom. Despite once being listed among hip hop’s top earners, Soulja Boy’s net worth in 2025 is estimated at just $2 million, following years of legal setbacks, questionable business claims, and volatile income streams.
Here’s a closer look at Soulja Boy’s career trajectory, his financial highs and lows, and the legal and personal issues that reshaped his fortune.
From Bedroom Studio to Billboard No.1
Soulja Boy’s journey began in Chicago, but his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia and later Batesville, Mississippi, where his father set up a home studio to support his son’s interest in music. By age 14, Soulja Boy was releasing songs on SoundClick, later building a following on YouTube and MySpace. His self-made music video and dance for “Crank That” helped land him a deal with Interscope Records in 2007.
The song hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for seven weeks. His debut album Souljaboytellem.com peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified platinum. Though later albums like iSouljaBoyTellem and The DeAndre Way didn’t match the same commercial success, he remained a key figure in hip-hop’s internet evolution.
Peak Income and Business Claims
At his height, Soulja Boy reportedly earned $7 million in 2012, landing a spot on Forbes’ Hip Hop Cash Kings list. He diversified his ventures through clothing lines, a cologne, and attempts in gaming and marijuana branding. His reported income from these ranged from $30,000 to $50,000 per venture, with online streaming adding only around $18,000 so far in 2025.
In testimony from a 2025 court case, Soulja Boy confirmed past performance earnings included $50,000 for performing at Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration’s Crypto Ball and roughly $100,000 across two years from TikTok live sessions—though typical sessions only fetched him $300 to $400.
Legal Battles and Financial Damage
In April 2025, a jury found Soulja Boy liable for assault in a case brought by a former assistant. The court awarded the plaintiff $4 million in damages, a ruling that came after similar legal judgments, including a $471,900 award in 2023 to ex-girlfriend Kayla Myers following an alleged 2019 assault.
During the 2025 trial, Soulja Boy admitted under oath that he does not currently have access to multimillions, despite having previously hinted at earning $15 to $20 million from “Crank That” royalties. He also testified that he rents a home for $25,000 per month, does not have health insurance, and is the primary provider for his two young children, aged 1 and 2.
Fiction vs. Fact: The $400 Million & $55 Million Jet Claims
Soulja Boy is known for making bold public claims—many of which don’t hold up under scrutiny. In 2011, he reportedly bought a $55 million Gulfstream G5 private jet for his 21st birthday. His team later walked back the claim, clarifying it was a fabricated PR stunt.
In 2016, Soulja Boy tweeted that he had signed a $400 million deal. In reality, this was a promotional agreement with World Poker Fund Holdings to endorse their platform CelebrityWorld.com. The company’s market cap was only $50 million at the time, and a company representative later clarified that the figure was not a full-cash transaction, but a potential valuation cap if various goals were met.
Video Game Console Setback
Another headline-making venture involved the SouljaGame Console, a bootleg device preloaded with pirated games. In 2019, Nintendo issued a cease-and-desist, forcing him to abandon the project. Soulja Boy admitted in 2025 testimony that a rumored $140 million deal for the console never materialized due to legal threats.
Real Estate Missteps
Soulja Boy has rarely owned the homes he lived in. Most of his high-profile addresses were rented mansions in Los Angeles, including a $25,000/month Malibu home and an $8,000/month Northridge rental. In 2016, he claimed to have bought a $6 million Hollywood penthouse, but this was later revealed to be an Airbnb listing.
His only documented home purchase came in McDonough, Georgia, in 2008, where he paid $330,000 for a 7,500-square-foot home. He sold it in 2010 for just $132,000, incurring a substantial loss.
Controversies and Legal Troubles
Soulja Boy has been embroiled in numerous feuds and legal issues, including public spats with Bow Wow, Chief Keef, and even Ice-T, who once accused him of “killing hip-hop.” Other legal incidents include:
- 2009 arrest in Atlanta for obstruction
- 2011 home robbery by armed intruders
- 2013 death threats made on Facebook (claimed later to be hacked)
- 2022 lawsuit involving SafeMoon cryptocurrency promotion
- Multiple assault allegations from past girlfriends
These events, along with jail time and industry blacklisting, have continually affected his income and public image.
Personal Life and Career Pivot
In 2020, Soulja Boy had his face tattoos removed to pursue acting roles. He welcomed his first child in 2022 with partner Jackie, and he now shares responsibilities as a father of two young children.
Despite the challenges, Soulja Boy continues to release music and perform. In 2021, he dropped Soulja World featuring Lil B, and he remains active in hip-hop circles through collaborations, mixtapes, and digital content.
Final Thoughts
At 34 years old, Soulja Boy remains one of the most intriguing figures in hip-hop. His current net worth of $2 million is a far cry from the heights of his early success, but it reflects a career riddled with both innovation and instability.
From viral fame to courtroom drama, Soulja Boy’s story is one of early brilliance, bold claims, and financial turbulence—a reminder of how quickly the highs of fame can be offset by personal and legal pitfalls. Yet through it all, he remains an active artist still chasing the next big comeback.
