If you’re a dedicated member of the BeyHive, a longtime fan of Jay-Z’s, or anyone who hasn’t been literally living under a rock, you know about Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s marriage. Together, they have a net worth of over three billion and are one of the most powerful Power Couples on the planet — if not the most powerful. Their empire spans music (duh!), fashion, entertainment production, several liquor brands, art, and real estate. As Jay-Z himself said: “I’m not a businessman / I’m a business, man.” Or, if you prefer hearing it from Beyonce: “I’m not bossy, I’m the boss.”
Beyonce and Jay-Z’s relationship and finances
Let’s dive into exactly what makes Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s three-billion-dollar empire work. Beyoncé is reportedly worth around $760 million. Jay-Z is reportedly worth around $2.5 billion. Both artists have attained their fortunes not only through the earnings from their chart-topping music but also through strategic brand partnerships, investments, and highly successful business ventures of their own that you may have never heard of.
Much of Beyoncé’s wealth comes from the proceeds earned through her sold-out tours, such as the 2023 tour in support of her album Renaissance. In addition, she still makes residual earnings from her early-career work as one-third of Destiny’s Child. Beyoncé also has a management and production company called Parkwood Entertainment. Through this company, Beyoncé has self-released her own music and music videos and signed with other artists, such as Chloe x Halle. In addition, Beyoncé created a clothing line called Ivy Park, which is a subsidiary of Parkwood Entertainment. Ivy Park’s three collaborations with Adidas each sold out quickly, and Balmain will collaborate with Ivy Park next on a clothing line meant to accompany the rollout of her newest album, Cowboy Carter.
Jay-Z has also earned a significant amount from his music career, which spans several decades and has earned him 88 Grammy nominations (Beyonce has 88 nominations, too). Since becoming a billionaire in 2019, Jay-Z’s strategic investments and liquor businesses have brought him to $2 billion just a few years later. His champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, was bolstered by corporate titan LVMH purchasing a 50% stake in the brand, and in 2023, he sold most of his stake in D’usse (his cognac brand) to Bacardi. Jay-Z has also invested in companies like Uber and Block, both of which went on to become hugely successful. On top of all this, Jay-Z has an extensive fine art collection.
Beyonce and Jay-Z’s combined assets include several multimillion-dollar properties spread around the world. On the relationship side, for all we know, Beyonce and Jay-Z are as happy as ever, with no reason to think that their empire will ever be disbanded.
Key details about Beyonce’s prenup
You might conclude from the previous paragraph that money is the last thing Beyoncé and Jay-Z need to worry about. However, when it comes to getting a prenup, money is actually exactly what Beyoncé and Jay-Z need to worry about. A prenup defines the financial terms of marriage by delineating precisely which assets belong to which partner during the marriage and in the case of divorce and sometimes death. Beyoncé and Jay-Z even got a postnuptial agreement to supplement their original prenup because their assets and wealth grew so much (Read more about postnuptial agreements here).
Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s initial prenup reportedly included a few unique clauses. In addition to the typical agreement that their premarital assets (whatever they had before marriage) stay separate throughout marriage, their prenup also dictates that Beyoncé receives $5 million from Jay-Z for each child they have. In addition, if Beyoncé and Jay-Z were to get divorced before two years of marriage, Jay-Z would need to pay Beyoncé $10 million. If Beyoncé and Jay-Z got divorced after two years of marriage, Beyoncé would receive $1 million for each year they were married for up to 15 years. That means that if they get divorced in 2024 (which we hope will never happen), it would make them 16 years married. This means Bey would theoretically get $14 million for being married 16 years (2 years = $10 mil, plus $1 mil for every year after), plus $15 million for the three children they had, according to their alleged prenup.
What would happen if they got a divorce right now?
As previously mentioned, Beyoncé and Jay-Z formulated a new postnuptial agreement in 2016, around the time of the release of Beyoncé’s album Lemonade. The goal of this postnuptial agreement was to determine precisely how Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s property would be separated in the event of a divorce. This postnup was necessary because of the great increase in both their individual and combined assets after they got married. The exact nature of this postnuptial agreement is unknown, but with $3 billion and several highly profitable businesses at stake, we can rest assured that Beyoncé and Jay-Z developed an agreement that carefully divides their assets in a way that both feel is fair.
If Beyoncé and Jay-Z were to get a divorce right now, all of their assets would be divided between them in the manner dictated by their original prenup and the updated postnup. If they hadn’t signed a prenup, their assets would be divided according to New York State law (as that is where they reside and where they would likely ultimately file for divorce). New York State is an “equitable distribution” state, which means that in the case of a divorce without a prenup, their assets and earnings would be divided in a way that is fair to both parties (according to a judge), taking into account a variety of factors like the length of the marriage, contributions of one spouse to the career of the other, the contributions of each person to the marriage, and the separate property of each person.
Other celebrity prenups
It’s not just Beyoncé and Jay-Z: getting a prenup is the best way for a couple planning to get married to ensure that each of the assets they individually acquired during the marriage remains separate in the case of a divorce. Many other celebrities have used prenups to ensure financial protection. For example, thanks to her ironclad prenup, Kate Bosworth’s premarital assets were protected throughout the split from her now ex-husband, Michael Polish. And Scooter Braun parted ways with his now ex-wife, Yael Cohen, in an amicable way, aided by the clarity of a prenup that clearly set out the terms of how each person’s assets would be split up in the case of a divorce. Britney Spears and her now-ex Sam Asghari were married with a prenup that sharply divided their assets. In addition, Jessica Biel and Justin Timberlake reportedly have a prenup with an extensive no-cheating clause, allocating $500,000 to Jessica if Justin cheats.
Key takeaways from Bey and Jay’s prenup
Even if you and your spouse are not (yet!) famous artists, it is still important to consider getting a prenup. Importantly, getting a prenup is not a sign of a lack of trust in your partner or a suspicion that the marriage will not work out. It shows a willingness to invest in the future financial stability of your partner, regardless of whether the relationship lasts. Ultimately, every couple wants to believe that their marriage is going to last forever. You can still believe this wholeheartedly — and get a prenup just in case. (You wouldn’t get car insurance thinking you’re a bad driver….right?!).
Nicole Sheehey is the Head of Legal Content at HelloPrenup, and an Illinois licensed attorney. She has a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to prenuptial agreements. Nicole has Juris Doctor from John Marshall Law School. She has a deep understanding of the legal and financial implications of prenuptial agreements, and enjoys writing and collaborating with other attorneys on the nuances of the law. Nicole is passionate about helping couples locate the information they need when it comes to prenuptial agreements. You can reach Nicole here: Nicole@Helloprenup.com
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