A rapper with one of the most iconic hip hop trajectories celebrates his birthday today. A life that could have ended at 24 instead became one of rap’s greatest triumphs.
Built for survival
He started in the tough neighbourhood, yet there was more to him than life on the streets. As a teenager, Curtis Jackson trained as an amateur boxer. He has often said the sport taught him discipline, patience, and mental toughness that later helped him succeed in music and business.
At age 24, 50 Cent survived being shot nine times, including in the face and the hand. His recovery became one of hip hop’s most famous comeback stories. Especially after Eminem and Dr. Dre signed him and helped launch him to stardom.
Building wealth
Even when dominating hip hop in the early 2000s, 50 Cent was business-minded, looking beyond music for long-term wealth. In 2004, Fifty invested in Glacéau, the parent company of Vitaminwater. Instead of a cash endorsement, he secured equity (roughly 2.5% to 10%) and launched his own flavour, “Formula 50”. When Coca-Cola acquired Glacéau for $4.1 billion in 2007, his stake netted him an estimated $100 million. Quite possibly this investment made him more money than his music had at that point.
Later, Fifty threw himself into producing TV shows. His crime drama Power turned into a hugely successful franchise, helping him build a second career behind the camera. Since then, his ambitions and his television empire has only expanded, venturing into overseas projects and true crime documentaries,
Star among stars<
Right before the pandemic, 50 Cent got his own Hollywood Walk of Fame star to recognise both his music and his work in film and television. Eminem was there, introducing Ffty in a short speech: “It’s one of the best friends I’ve ever known in the world. It’s much more fun to be his friend than his enemy because this guy is relentless. And the same way he is in battles, he’s relentless in business. He does it all”.
He truly does. And there is no sign that he’s going to slow down soon.