Net Worth Ranker
What Is Birdman’s Net Worth?
Bryan “Birdman” Williams, also known as Baby, boasts a substantial net worth estimated at $150 million. This impressive financial standing is primarily attributed to his role as the co-founder and CEO of Cash Money Records, a highly successful hip-hop label. Alongside his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams, Birdman established Cash Money Records in 1991, transforming it into a powerhouse that has represented iconic artists such as Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Blueface.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Bryan Christopher Brooks, who later became known as Bryan Williams and eventually considered restoring his birth name to Brooks, was born on February 15, 1969, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents, Johnnie Williams and Gladys Brooks, took nearly a month to decide on his name. Since Williams did not sign the birth certificate, Bryan initially used his mother’s last name. Growing up with three siblings—Kim, Ronald, and Ray—Birdman spent his early years living in an apartment above the bar his father owned. The family’s life took a tragic turn in 1975 when Gladys Brooks passed away due to illness. Following his mother’s death, Birdman and his siblings lived with their uncle in British Columbia, Canada, for several years before returning to New Orleans. Upon their return, they spent two years in foster care. When their father discovered this, he initiated a lawsuit and eventually gained custody, after which Birdman changed his last name to Williams.
During his teenage years in the Magnolia Projects of New Orleans, Birdman engaged in illicit activities with his stepbrother Eldrick Wise, including robberies and heroin sales. At the age of 16, both were arrested, and later, at 18, they were sentenced to three years in a correctional center. Birdman served 18 months and was eventually acquitted of all charges.
The Rise of Cash Money Records
After his release from prison, Birdman, along with his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams, recognized the growing popularity of the “bounce” sub-genre of hip-hop in New Orleans nightclubs. Spotting an opportunity, the brothers co-founded Cash Money Records in 1991. Despite lacking experience in the music industry or running a record label, they possessed approximately $100,000 in startup capital. They named their label “Cash Money Records,” inspired by the film “New Jack City.” Their first signed artist was Kilo G, whose 1992 horrorcore album “The Sleepwalker” marked Cash Money’s inaugural project. Subsequently, Birdman recruited DJ Mannie Fresh as the in-house producer. By the mid-1990s, Cash Money had become a prominent independent record label in the South. In 1995, Birdman signed Dwayne Carter, a 12-year-old rapper known today as Lil Wayne. Throughout the 1990s, Cash Money faced several tragedies, including the murders of artists Kilo G, Pimp Daddy, and Yella. To revitalize the label, Birdman and Slim recruited Turk and Juvenile to form the group Hot Boys, which later included Lil Wayne and B.G., propelling Cash Money to greater success. Between 1994 and 1997, Cash Money signed numerous artists, selling between 25,000 and 50,000 copies per album without major label distribution. The Hot Boys’ debut album sold 300,000 copies within its first two months.
In 1998, Cash Money Records secured a $30 million deal with Universal Music Group. The agreement included a $3 million upfront payment and $1.5 million guaranteed per album. Crucially, Cash Money retained ownership of its masters, allowing the label to receive a significant portion of the profits from each unit sold. Universal Music Group received a 7% distribution fee without gaining ownership of the label. This deal proved highly beneficial for Cash Money, especially with the later success of Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Drake.
Solo Career and Further Ventures
In 1998, Birdman began his rapping career, forming the group Big Tymers with DJ Mannie Fresh. They released their debut album “How Ya Luv That?” in 1998, followed by “I Got That Work” and “Hood Rich.” In November 2002, Birdman released his major-label debut album, titled “Birdman,” which peaked at #24 on the Billboard 200. Lil Wayne’s “Tha Carter,” released in 2004, achieved critical and commercial success, solidifying his position as Cash Money’s biggest artist. Birdman released his second album, “Fast Money,” in 2005, which debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200. In 2006, Birdman and Lil Wayne released their collaborative album “Like Father, Like Son,” which reached number three on the Billboard 200. Birdman continued his solo career with the release of “5 Star Stunna” in 2005 and “Priceless” in 2009, which debuted at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart. To date, Cash Money Records has sold over 50 million records, making it one of the most commercially successful labels in hip-hop history. At its peak, the label generated approximately $100 million per year in revenue.
In early 2010, Birdman launched an oil and energy venture called “Bronald Oil” with his brother Ronald, combining their names. The venture aimed to explore and develop oil resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Oklahoma Osage County. However, the success of this venture remains unclear.
Legal Issues
Birdman has faced several legal challenges throughout his career. In November 2007, he was arrested in Tennessee for possession of nearly a pound of marijuana. In 2009, Birdman, Lil Wayne, and Cash Money Records were sued for copyright infringement by Thomas Marasciullo, who claimed his voice was used without permission on tracks from the “Like Father, Like Son” album and Birdman’s “5 * Stunna” album. In January 2015, Lil Wayne filed a $51 million lawsuit against Birdman, alleging that he refused to release his album “The Carter V” and mismanaged Young Money, failing to pay artists. In July 2015, prosecutors alleged that Birdman and Young Thug conspired to murder Lil Wayne and were involved in an April shooting. Additionally, Birdman filed a $50 million lawsuit against Jay Z’s Tidal streaming service over Lil Wayne’s “Free Weezy Album,” asserting that Cash Money Records exclusively owned the rights.
Personal Life
Birdman’s personal life has been marked by several tragedies. His mother passed away in 1975, his stepbrother Eldrick Wise was murdered in 1991, and his father died in a car accident in 1996. In 2006, one of his younger sisters, Tamara, also died in a car accident. Birdman has ten brothers and twelve sisters. He has two biological children, Bryan Jr., born in 1997, and Bria, born in 1998. In May 2016, he began dating singer Toni Braxton. They announced their engagement in 2018 but called it off in January 2019. However, in April 2019, the couple confirmed they were still together.
At his peak, Birdman claimed to purchase 100 new cars every six months, giving the older models to friends and family. He often wears several million dollars worth of jewelry, including a 15-carat black diamond ring and matching earrings, and a $500,000 grill on his teeth. During Hurricane Katrina, Birdman reportedly lost 20 houses and 50 cars, including two Maybachs and four Ferraris.
Earnings Highlights
By the age of 22, Birdman had already accumulated a net worth of $40 million. His annual earnings from 2007 to 2019 are as follows:
- 2007: $12,000,000
- 2008: $10,000,000
- 2009: $9,000,000
- 2010: $10,000,000
- 2011: $15,000,000
- 2012: $20,000,000
- 2013: $21,000,000
- 2014: $24,000,000
- 2015: $18,000,000
- 2016: $18,000,000
- 2017: $20,000,000
- 2018: $20,000,000
- 2019: $20,000,000
Total Earnings (2007-2019): $217,000,000
Birdman has faced lawsuits from several current and former artists for allegedly failing to pay royalties.
Real Estate
At his peak, Birdman owned a $30 million condo in Miami, along with at least two other properties in Miami, including a recording studio, and a large mansion in New Orleans. However, his property portfolio has since decreased. For many years, Birdman’s primary residence was a mansion on Palm Island in Miami. This property has an interesting history: Hip hop producer Scott Storch initially purchased it for $10.5 million in 2006 but lost it to foreclosure after depleting his $70 million fortune. Russell Weiner, the founder of Rockstar energy drinks, acquired the house out of foreclosure for $6.7 million in 2010 and sold it to Birdman for $14.5 million just two years later. In January 2018, a bank threatened to evict Birdman from the 20,000-square-foot waterfront mansion. He initially attempted to sell it for $20 million but eventually accepted $10.9 million in November 2019.
In December 2021, a homeowner in Los Angeles sued Birdman, seeking $114,000 in unpaid rent for a Bel-Air mansion. According to legal documents, Birdman had agreed to pay $33,000 per month for the mansion but ceased payments at some point.
