Named after a South American revolutionary leader, Tupac Shakur lived a short, albeit brilliant life that saw him rise to significant prominence in pop culture and hip hop music. The son of parents who were both heavily involved in the Black Panther movement, Shakur’s life was influenced by anti-government and anti-system rhetoric, much of which was violent and confrontational. As he rose to prominence in the world of hip hop music, he used these same messages to help shape his own lyrics and performance style.
However, before he became an iconic rapper, Shakur first dabbled in acting. By the age of 12, he was acting in stage plays like A Raisin in the Sun. He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts and studied jazz, poetry, acting, and ballet. It was this early educational experience that helped him gain a foothold in the entertainment industry as a roadie and MC for the group The Digital Underground. In 1991, he released his debut album, which was called 2Pacalypse Now. The album controversially touched on police brutality, young black male violence, and other deviant themes that gained the attention of notable politicians, including Vice-President Dan Quayle. Quayle denounced the album, saying it had no place in society, a move that made the album all the more popular with Tupac’s audience.
He went on to release four more studio albums between 1991 and his death in 1996. His fifth and final album, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory stands out as one of his best selling records, despite its being released under his pseudonym Makaveli. It rose to the number one spot on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum in 1999. In his brief, but brilliant career as a leading hip hop star, he built a Tupac Shakur net worth of $40 million.
What Was Tupac Shakur Worth After Death?
His Tupac Shakur net worth of $40 million, which was the figure attached to him at the time of his death, continues to hold strong even today. In fact, Forbes Magazine notes that his estate is bringing in on average $2 million each year with music and memorabilia sales. The estate continues to bring in revenue as well from royalties and residual income from his acting endeavors, which include roles in the movies Nothing But Trouble, released in 1991, as well as 1992’s film Juice. All total, he starred or appeared in eight movies that ranged from 1991 to 1997. His final film in the movie Gang Related was released after his death.
Despite his death taking place close to a decade ago, Shakur continues to enjoy widespread fame and notoriety. In fact, he is consistently ranked among the most influential hip hop stars of his generation, alongside his once-friend-turned enemy The Notorious B.I.G. In fact, these two performers’ names will arguably be forever intertwined simply because of the violent and similar ways they died and the fact that The Notorious B.I.G., or at least a few members of his entourage, was thought to have been involved in Shakur’s murder. The Notorious B.I.G. himself would be gunned down in a similar manner only months after Shakur’s death, a tragedy in itself that was thought to be retribution for Shakur’s violent demise.
Even with the violent nature of his death, Shakur continues to earn fans and maintain longstanding ones each year. His estate continues to be one of the most lucrative in hip hop music, and many modern rappers borrow from his brand and lyrics to gain their own foothold in music. His story has been made into stage plays and movies. He also is honored in several areas of the globe with parks and statues named after him and made in his image.