Soulja Boy: A Closer Look At His Life, Career, And Legacy

So, What's Soulja Boy's Net Worth?

Let's get right to it. Soulja Boy, whose real name is DeAndre Cortez Way, is a multi-talented American rapper, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. His current net worth stands at an impressive $5 million. Now, if you're wondering how he got there, let me take you back to 2007. That was the year Soulja Boy dropped his debut single, "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." This wasn't just any song—it became a massive hit, sparking a dance craze that swept the nation. "Crank That" skyrocketed to the top of the charts, holding the number-one spot in the United States for seven non-consecutive weeks starting in September 2007.

Soulja Boy's follow-up albums, like "iSouljaBoyTellem" (2008) and "The DeAndre Way" (2010), didn't quite match the initial success of his debut, but they still made a splash. He's known for his catchy hooks and self-produced beats, which have kept him in the music charts over the years. Beyond music, Soulja Boy has ventured into other ventures, including fashion and tech. In 2012, he earned over $7 million, landing him among the Hip Hop Cash Kings for that year.

Did He Really Buy a $55 Million Private Jet?

Back in 2011, there were some pretty wild rumors swirling around Soulja Boy. It was reported that he purchased a $55 million private jet, a Gulfstream G5, to celebrate his 21st birthday. Supposedly, he spent $35 million on the jet itself and splurged an extra $20 million on upgrades. These upgrades, according to the story, included custom Italian leather seats, multiple liquor bars, several flat-screen TVs, and top-of-the-line bathrooms, floors, and cabinets. Sounds lavish, right? Well, it turns out these elaborate tales were just that—tales. Soulja Boy's team later clarified that the rumors weren't true.

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What About That $400 Million Contract?

In May 2016, Soulja Boy made headlines again when he claimed to have signed a $400 million record contract. He even joked that he thought they "lowballed" him and that he was "thinking 2 or 3 billion." But here's the twist: the deal wasn't exactly what it seemed. Soulja Boy had actually inked a partnership with a company called World Poker Fund Holdings to promote an online game called CelebrityWorld.com. The idea was to create a platform where players could "meet, play games, and hang out with their favorite celebrities." Think of it as a mix between a social network and an online casino where you could play slots, blackjack, and poker.

When questioned about the $400 million figure, a spokesperson for World Poker Fund Holdings explained that Soulja Boy had "jumped the gun" by throwing out that number. The spokesperson went on to say, "The deal is capped at $400 million, and it's based on a forward-thinking valuation of the company. He's young, he's 25 years old. He got really excited, and he tweeted something he probably shouldn't have tweeted. He was getting a lot of pressure from within the entertainment community, so he wanted to put a statement out. Obviously, the company's market cap is at $51.8 million. There's no way we could cut a $400 million deal. Endorsement deals are calculated on a lot of different factors. This is not a full cash transaction."

Early Life & Career: The Rise of a Young Talent

Soulja Boy's journey began in Chicago, Illinois, where he was born DeAndre Cortez Way on July 28, 1990. His family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, when he was six, and it was there that he developed a passion for rap music. At 14, he relocated to Batesville, Mississippi, where his father set up a recording studio in their home to encourage his son's musical pursuits. In November 2005, Soulja Boy started sharing his music on SoundClick, gaining positive feedback, which led him to create accounts on YouTube and MySpace.

Fast forward to March 2007, and Soulja Boy recorded "Crank That (Soulja Boy)." This track became the cornerstone of his first independent album, "Unsigned and Still Major: Da Album Before da Album." To promote the song, he made a low-budget video showcasing the "Crank That" dance. By the end of May 2007, the song was getting airplay, and he signed with Interscope Records. By September, "Crank That" was number one on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for seven consecutive weeks. The song earned him a Grammy nomination, marking a major milestone in his career.

October 2007 saw the release of his first major-label album, "Souljaboytellem.com," which debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and went on to be certified platinum by the RIAA. Fourteen months later, he released "¡SouljaBoyTellem." His third studio album, "The DeAndre Way," came out in 2010, followed by "Loyalty" in 2015. Despite delays and challenges, Soulja Boy continued to collaborate with other hip-hop artists like Gucci Mane, Sammie, Shawty Lo, and Arab. His fifth studio album, "How Can You Blame Me," was initially planned for a 2019 release but faced delays due to legal issues. Over the years, he's also released several mixtapes and singles, including 2021's "Pandemic" and "Soulja World" featuring Lil B.

Soulja Boy's Record Label: Stacks on Deck Entertainment

In 2004, Soulja Boy founded his own record label, Stacks on Deck Entertainment (SODMG), while he was still signed to Interscope. Over the years, he's signed various artists to the label. However, in 2016, he made the decision to drop all the artists from SODMG. Later, in 2019, he re-signed Lil 100 and added Atlanta artist 24hr to the roster. In April 2021, Soulja Boy signed a record deal with Virgin Music, marking a new chapter in his career.

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Controversies: The Challenges Along the Way

Soulja Boy hasn't been without his share of controversies. Back in February 2009, he challenged rapper Bow Wow to a race in their expensive sports cars. Soulja Boy claimed Bow Wow's car was rented, which sparked a Twitter feud. Both rappers eventually exchanged diss tracks, but they later made peace and even released a collaborative mixtape called "Ignorant Shit" in 2016.

Another major controversy arose in April 2013 when Soulja Boy took to Facebook to issue death threats against rapper Chief Keef. He posted Keef's phone number and urged fans to call him, warning that Soulja Boy was coming for him with a gun. However, Soulja Boy later claimed his social media accounts had been hacked, and he hadn't sent those messages. The two have since resolved their differences.

Personal Life: Beyond the Music

Soulja Boy's personal life has been filled with highs and lows. In June 2008, legendary rapper Ice-T criticized Soulja Boy for "killing hip-hop" and described his song "Crank That" as "garbage." This sparked a back-and-forth exchange of videos online. Kanye West stepped in to defend Soulja Boy, arguing that he had created something new and original for the genre. This feud was even parodied in a 2010 episode of "The Boondocks."

On December 30, 2008, Soulja Boy was the victim of a home invasion. Initially, reports suggested six masked men with AK-47s were involved, but a video later surfaced showing only two men claiming responsibility. In January 2009, Soulja Boy recounted the harrowing experience to MTV News, describing how the robbers broke into his home and pointed guns at him and his friends.

Tragedy struck again on March 22, 2011, when Soulja Boy's younger brother, Deion Jenkins, died in a car crash. This loss undoubtedly left a deep impact on him. In 2020, Soulja Boy decided to remove all his face tattoos to open up more opportunities in film and television. He expressed a desire not to be typecast as a gangster or drug dealer in acting roles. In September 2022, he welcomed his first child, a son, with his girlfriend, Jackie.

Legal Issues: The Bumps in the Road

Soulja Boy's legal troubles have been well-documented. In October 2009, he was arrested in Atlanta for obstruction, a misdemeanor, after running from police during a video shoot in an abandoned house. He was released on a $550 bond. Other legal issues have included weapon violations, alleged death threats, and a rape accusation that his spokesperson denied.

In 2021, a model named Nia Riley, an ex-girlfriend and daughter of singer Teddy Riley, accused Soulja Boy of putting a gun to her head and allegedly kicking her in the stomach while she was pregnant, leading to a miscarriage. In February 2022, he became a defendant in a class-action lawsuit against cryptocurrency company SafeMoon, alleging it was a pump-and-dump scheme. He had promoted the SafeMoon token on social media alongside others like Jake Paul, Nick Carter, and Lil Yachty using misleading information.

In February 2019, Soulja Boy was accused of kidnapping a girlfriend at his Malibu rental, holding her at gunpoint for six hours. In October 2023, he was ordered to pay $471,000 in damages to the woman, Kayla Myers. To satisfy the judgment, an LA court authorized the Sheriff's Department to enter his Bell Canyon home, where valuable assets were believed to be stored.

Real Estate: Where Does He Live?

Over the years, there have been reports of Soulja Boy buying homes in Los Angeles. For instance, in 2016