Jay-Z Says Calling All Billionaires Bad Is ‘Like A Cop-Out’

This article was first published on Forbes.com

Topline

Jay-Z, the world’s wealthiest musician, pushed back on arguments that billionaires are inherently bad in a rare interview with GQ on Tuesday, saying it’s “like a cop-out” to link a person’s morality to the amount of money they have.

Key Facts

Jay-Z, whom Forbes estimates is worth $2.8 billion, told GQ a person’s “morality is not defined by a dollar amount,” questioning: “If so, what is that dollar amount? When does it start? If it’s a cutoff like ‘all millionaires are bad,’ at 999,000 I’m good? It can’t be that way.”

The rapper suggested people who have more money can do more good, telling GQ he has “done things with my reach that I wanted to do that was helpful for a lot of people.”

When asked how he feels about the “public perception that all billionaires are bad,” Jay-Z said “people behave the way they want to behave—it’s not a dollar amount” and criticized the argument as a “cop-out.”

Jay-Z said critics of billionaires “demonize this group of folks without fixing the actual system that exists,” adding, “ may enhance it or may cause you to act in a way. But you was going to act like that anyway.”

Forbes Valuation

Forbes estimates much of Jay-Z’s $2.8 billion net worth comes from his liquor business. He sold 50% of spirits brand Armand de Brignac to LVMH in 2021, and sold a majority stake in D’Usse to Bacardi in 2023. Jay-Z is also co-founder and chairman of entertainment company and record label Roc Nation, and his other assets include his music catalog, a fine art collection and stakes in Uber and streaming company Tidal. Jay-Z is married to Beyoncé, whom Forbes named a billionaire in December with an estimated net worth of $1 billion.

What Else Did Jay-Z Say In The Gq Interview?

Jay-Z, who seldom gives interviews, spoke about a sexual assault lawsuit that accused himself and Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The lawsuit was filed in October 2024, but was refiled to include Jay-Z as a defendant two months later, though it was dropped in February 2025 after an NBC News report called the plaintiff’s account into question. Jay-Z told GQ the lawsuit “took a lot out of me” and made him feel “uncontrollable anger.” The rapper said he refused to settle the lawsuit, acknowledging it would have been “cheaper” and “quicker,” but said, “I can’t take a settlement—it ain’t in my DNA.” He also weighed in on the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud, which largely took place in 2024 and culminated in Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl halftime show, which is curated by Jay-Z’s Roc Nation. He criticized the social media reaction to the rap beef as going “too far.” “It’s bringing people’s kids in it. I don’t like that,” Jay-Z said, saying it was “like trying to tear down people’s lives.” He said his company chose Lamar to headline the Super Bowl because he was having a “monster year,” not to make a statement on the rap feud. “They drag everybody in it, like everyone’s part of this conspiracy to undermine Drake, I guess. But, it’s like, what the f—? I’m fucking Jay-Z!” he said. Jay-Z also defended choosing Bad Bunny for the 2026 halftime show amid right-wing backlash that criticized the choice of a Spanish-language performer. “ the number one streamed artist in the world,” he said, adding he “got the opportunity to create a more balanced idea of what popular music is today.”

Tangent

Jay-Z spoke with GQ as he prepares to return to performing. He announced a pair of shows at Yankee Stadium, scheduled for July, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his debut album, “Reasonable Doubt,” and the 25th anniversary of “The Blueprint.” He announced a third Yankee Stadium show after the first two sold out.

Further Reading

Exclusive: The Jay-Z Interview (GQ)

The World’s Celebrity Billionaires (Forbes)