Net Worth Ranker
What Is Biz Markie’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on July 16, 2021, Biz Markie, the celebrated American rapper, DJ, and comedian, had an estimated net worth of $1 million. This figure represents the culmination of a career spanning several decades, marked by musical successes, acting roles, and various other ventures within the entertainment industry.
Early Career and Musical Achievements
Marcel Theo Hall, known professionally as Biz Markie, was born on April 8, 1964, in Harlem, Manhattan. He spent his formative years in Brentwood, Long Island, and graduated from Longwood High School in 1982. While specific financial details from his early career are not publicly available, his initial exposure came in 1986 with an appearance in the documentary “Big Fun in the Big Town.”
Biz Markie’s debut album, “Goin’ Off,” was released in 1988. Though concrete sales figures for the album’s initial release are difficult to pinpoint, it gained traction due to singles like “Make the Music with Your Mouth, Biz,” “Vapors,” “Pickin’ Boogers,” and “Nobody Beats the Biz,” which became underground hip-hop hits. The album laid the groundwork for his future success, but specific earnings from “Goin’ Off” remain undocumented.
His second album, “The Biz Never Sleeps,” released in October 1989, featured his most commercially successful single, “Just a Friend.” “Just a Friend” reached number nine on the Billboard charts. While specific royalties and sales figures for the single are not fully disclosed, its recognition as one of VH1’s Top 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders and inclusion in the 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop list underscores its enduring popularity and likely contributed significantly to Biz Markie’s earnings.
Biz Markie’s third album, “I Need a Haircut,” released in August 1991, faced legal challenges due to copyright infringement allegations. The case, Grand Upright Music, Ltd. v. Warner Bros. Records Inc., centered on the unauthorized sampling of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Alone Again (Naturally)” in the song “Alone Again.” The court ruling led to the album being pulled from circulation, impacting potential sales and revenue. The specific financial losses incurred due to this legal battle are not publicly detailed.
In 1993, Biz Markie released “All Samples Cleared!” in response to the lawsuit. However, the album did not achieve significant commercial success. Sales figures and earnings from this album are not widely available, but it marked a turning point in his career, shifting his focus towards other avenues within the entertainment industry.
Acting Roles and Other Ventures
Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s, Biz Markie diversified his career, taking on various acting roles in television and film. He appeared in “In Living Color,” “Meteor Man,” and “Men in Black II” (2002), where he played an alien whose language consisted of beatboxing. While the exact compensation for these roles is not disclosed, they contributed to his overall income.
In 2005, Biz Markie participated in the first season of “Celebrity Fit Club,” where he achieved significant weight loss. His appearance on the show likely brought in additional income, though the precise amount is not public knowledge.
Biz Markie also toured as an opening act for comedian Chris Rock in 2008. This venture, along with other DJing and performance gigs, added to his revenue stream. However, the exact financial benefits derived from these activities are not fully documented.
In the 2010s, Biz Markie continued to make television appearances, including VH1’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2010, a guest role on “SpongeBob SquarePants,” and a part in the film “Sharknado 2: The Second One.” From 2017, he worked as the DJ for the VH1 game show “Hip Hop Squares.” While his salary for these appearances remains undisclosed, they contributed to his income during this period.
Starting in 2020, Biz Markie hosted a radio show on SiriusXM’s LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells Radio Channel. The financial specifics of this hosting role are not publicly available.
Personal Life and Real Estate
Biz Markie married Tara Davis on October 18, 2018. He became a stepfather to Tara’s daughter, Averi. Information regarding any real estate holdings or assets acquired during his marriage to Tara is not publicly accessible.
Details regarding Biz Markie’s personal investments or assets, such as real estate, vehicles, or other valuables, are not publicly known. The documented net worth of $1 million primarily reflects his earnings from his entertainment career.
In April 2020, Biz Markie was hospitalized due to complications from type 2 diabetes. He later suffered a stroke and was in a diabetic coma. He passed away on July 16, 2021, at the age of 57, and was buried at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum in Farmingdale, New York. No information is available regarding the cost of any medical care received during his hospitalization or any end-of-life expenses.
