Usher Raymond IV (Usher), an iconic American singer, songwriter, and performer, has left a mark on the music industry since his rise to fame in the late 1990s.Â
With an astounding 23.8 million albums and 38.2 million digital songs sold in the United States, and a staggering 80 million records sold worldwide, he ranks among the all-time best-selling musical artists.
This African-American music superstar is renowned for his electrifying performances and expressive voice. Usher boasts nine number-one singles and has been honored in the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame, SoundExchange Hall of Fame, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
His trophy cabinet is overflowing with eight Grammy Awards, 34 ASCAP Awards, nine Soul Train Music Awards, and eight American Music Awards. He stands tall at the Billboard Music Awards as the fifth-most awarded artist with 18 accolades.
Beyond his musical prowess, Usher’s financial acumen has secured his position among the world’s richest musicians. He owns the Cleveland Cavaliers professional basketball team and holds a minority equity stake in Tidal, alongside other music stars.
But Usher’s legacy extends beyond financial success. He’s a passionate advocate for giving back. In 2015, he joined forces with Anthony Anderson, Kevin Hart, Big Sean, Chris Paul, and others to donate over $500,000 in scholarships to 20 students at historically black colleges and universities. He also played a vital role in helping former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick fulfill his pledge to donate $1 million to oppressed communities in 2018.
Billionaires.Africa has tracked Usher’s business ventures, revealing his ownership in seven companies:
Usher holds a minority stake in the Cleveland Cavaliers, a renowned professional basketball team. He joined a consortium that acquired the team in 2005 for a reported total of $375 million, becoming the third pop artist to hold a stake in an NBA franchise. Under his ownership, the Cleveland Cavaliers achieved remarkable success, clinching five Central Division Championships, three Eastern Conference Championships, and the coveted 2016 NBA Championship.
On March 6, 2017, Usher partnered with Universal Music Group, Steve Stoute, Evolution Media, Jon Jashni, Charles King, and others to make a $6-million investment in Mass Appeal Magazine. This New York City-based media and content company, founded in 1996 as a graffiti print magazine, showcases his commitment to diverse and creative ventures.
RBMG, a record label established in 2008 as a collaboration between Usher and talent agent Scooter Braun, was initially created to jointly manage the burgeoning career of teen pop sensation Justin Bieber. As of 2023, Justin Bieber remains the sole artist under the RBMG label, emphasizing the enduring partnership’s significance.
Usher’s investment portfolio includes a minority stake in Tidal, the Norwegian-American music streaming service launched in 2014. Tidal continues to be primarily owned by Block, Inc., an American payment processing company led by industry luminaries Jack Dorsey and Jim McKelvey. Usher is among the sixteen notable artist stakeholders, alongside the likes of Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Beyonce, Rihanna, Madonna, J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, and others, co-owning Tidal with a minority equity stake.
- Hungry
Usher’s investment in Hungry, a service connecting local chefs with businesses seeking catering solutions, underscores his commitment to culinary entrepreneurship. In April 2019, he partnered with Hip-Hop icon Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Walter Robb, Seth Goldman, and Ndamukong Suh to invest $8 million in this innovative catering startup. Hungry’s collaboration with J’s Kitchen Culinary Incubator, owned by Usher’s mother, Jonetta Patton, further highlights his dedication to supporting food-related initiatives.
In 2019, Usher joined forces with prominent figures like Kevin Hart, Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato, DJ Khaled, and Scooter Braun to collectively invest $5 million in Liquid I.V., a health science and nutrition wellness company headquartered in El Segundo, California. Founded in 2012 by Brandin Cohen, Liquid I.V.’s mission is to address extreme dehydration in children in developing countries caused by life-threatening diseases.
Usher founded Usher’s New Look in 1999, a nonprofit organization created in collaboration with his mother, Jonetta Patton. This foundation is dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth by enhancing the lives of disadvantaged children and adolescents. Usher’s New Look offers a range of impactful programs, including grade-specific initiatives, peer-to-peer training, and mentorship programs, embodying Usher’s enduring commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people.
