On October 25, 2022, he lost $2 billion in one day.
The same man had won 24 Grammy Awards—one of the most decorated artists in history.
The same man produced for Jay-Z, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys.
The same man interrupted Taylor Swift's Grammy speech on live TV.
The same man married Kim Kardashian and built a $6.6 billion empire.
The same man said slavery was "a choice" and praised Adolf Hitler.
This is the complete, unfiltered story of musical genius meeting mental illness meeting massive wealth—and the spectacular implosion that followed.
Early Life and Musical Rise (1977-2004)
Kanye Omari West was born June 8, 1977, in Atlanta, Georgia.
His parents divorced when he was 3. He moved to Chicago with his mother, Dr. Donda West, an English professor.
The Producer Era (1996-2004)
Late 1990s: Produced for local Chicago artists
2000: Produced tracks for Jay-Z's The Blueprint
- "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)" and "Takeover"
- Revolutionized hip-hop production with soul samples
2001-2003: Produced for:
- Alicia Keys ("You Don't Know My Name")
- Ludacris ("Stand Up")
- Beyoncé ("03 Bonnie & Clyde" with Jay-Z)
Problem: Record labels saw him as a producer, not a rapper.
Roc-A-Fella Records rejected him as an artist. "You're a producer," they said. "Not a rapper."
The Car Crash That Changed Everything (2002)
October 23, 2002: Kanye fell asleep at the wheel and crashed, shattering his jaw.
His jaw was wired shut for 6 weeks.
While recovering, he recorded "Through the Wire"—rapping with his mouth wired closed.
The song became his breakthrough.
"That accident made me who I am," Kanye later said.
The College Dropout (February 2004)
Kanye's debut album The College Dropout dropped February 10, 2004.
Singles:
- "Through the Wire"
- "Jesus Walks"
- "All Falls Down"
- "Slow Jamz"
Sales: 441,000 first week; 4.4 million total
Grammys: Won Best Rap Album (2005)
Impact: Challenged gangsta rap dominance. Made it okay to be vulnerable in hip-hop.
The Genius Phase: 808s to My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2005-2010)
Late Registration (2005): 860,000 first week
Graduation (2007): 957,000 first week (outsold 50 Cent's Curtis)
The Mother's Death (November 10, 2007)
Kanye's mother, Dr. Donda West, died from cosmetic surgery complications.
"I lost my everything," Kanye said.
The grief changed him permanently.
808s & Heartbreak (2008)
Released after his mother's death and his breakup with fiancée Alexis Phifer.
Sound: Auto-tuned singing, electronic production, emotional vulnerability
Reception: Polarizing (critics were confused; fans were divided)
Legacy: Influenced Drake, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and an entire generation
The Taylor Swift Incident (September 13, 2009)
At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, Taylor Swift won Best Female Video for "You Belong With Me."
As she gave her acceptance speech, Kanye stormed the stage, grabbed the microphone, and said:
"Yo, Taylor, I'm really happy for you. I'ma let you finish, but Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!"
Aftermath:
- President Obama called Kanye a "jackass"
- Kanye became the most hated man in America
- He went into exile in Hawaii
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (November 2010)
Kanye retreated to Hawaii and created his masterpiece.
Singles: "Power," "Runaway," "All of the Lights," "Monster"
Critical reception: 10/10 (Pitchfork), 9.5/10 (Rolling Stone)
Legacy: Considered one of the greatest albums of all time
The Kardashian Years and Yeezy Empire (2012-2021)
Marrying Kim Kardashian (May 24, 2014)
Kanye began dating Kim Kardashian in 2012.
Wedding: Florence, Italy (May 24, 2014)
Children: North (2013), Saint (2015), Chicago (2018), Psalm (2019)
Yeezy and the Adidas Deal (2015)
In 2015, Kanye partnered with Adidas to create Yeezy sneakers.
First release: Yeezy Boost 750 (sold out instantly)
Impact: Reshaped sneaker culture
Sales (2015-2022): $1.5-2 billion annually
Kanye's cut: 11-15% royalty = $150-300 million per year
Net worth peak (2021): $6.6 billion (mostly from Yeezy)
The Sunday Service Era (2019)
Kanye launched Sunday Service, weekly gospel performances.
Attendees: Invited guests only, often celebrities
Merch: $50-$225 hoodies and t-shirts
Album: Jesus Is King (2019) - won Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Album
The Downward Spiral (2018-2022)
"Slavery Was a Choice" (May 1, 2018)
On TMZ Live, Kanye said:
"When you hear about slavery for 400 years... for 400 years? That sounds like a choice."
Backlash: Massive. Even his supporters were horrified.
Kanye's response: Claimed he was "expressing an idea."
The Presidential Run (2020)
July 4, 2020: Kanye announced he was running for president.
Party: Birthday Party
Platform: Anti-abortion, pro-Christian values
Results: 60,000 votes nationwide; appeared on ballot in 12 states
Impact: Widely seen as a publicity stunt or mental health crisis
The Divorce (February 2021)
Kim Kardashian filed for divorce in February 2021.
Reason: "Irreconcilable differences"
Settlement (2022): $200,000/month child support; joint custody
Public harassment: Kanye publicly harassed Kim and her boyfriend Pete Davidson on social media
Harassing Pete Davidson (2022)
Kanye posted disturbing content about Pete Davidson, including:
- A music video depicting Pete's kidnapping and burial
- Threatening Instagram posts
- Calling Pete "Skete"
Result: Instagram temporarily suspended Kanye's account
The Collapse: Anti-Semitism and Losing Billions (2022)
"Death Con 3 On Jewish People" Tweet (October 8, 2022)
On October 8, 2022, Kanye tweeted:
"I'm a bit sleepy tonight but when I wake up I'm going death con 3 On JEWISH PEOPLE."
Reaction: Immediate outrage
Twitter action: Account locked
The Alex Jones Interview (December 1, 2022)
On Alex Jones' InfoWars, Kanye said:
"I love Hitler... I love Nazis."
Fallout: Universal condemnation
The Corporate Exodus (October 2022)
October 25, 2022: Adidas terminated the Yeezy partnership.
Lost in one day: $1.5 billion (his Adidas deal)
Total losses:
- Adidas: $1.5B
- Gap: $970M
- Balenciaga: Dropped him
- CAA talent agency: Dropped him
- MRC (documentary): Shelved $250M project
- Def Jam: Dropped him
Net worth after: $400 million (down from $6.6 billion)
Other Dropped Partnerships:
- JPMorganChase (bank account closed)
- Apple Music and Spotify (playlists deprioritized)
- Foot Locker (removed Yeezy products)
The Mental Health Factor
Kanye has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
2016: Hospitalized for exhaustion and sleep deprivation
Statements: "I am a God," "I am Picasso," "I am Shakespeare"
Medication: Kanye has publicly refused medication, saying it stifles his creativity
Public episodes: Erratic behavior, rants, conspiracy theories
Question: How much is mental illness vs. personal responsibility?
The Legacy: Genius and Destruction
Musical achievements:
- 24 Grammy Awards (8th most of all time)
- 10 studio albums
- 160+ million records sold
- Influenced Drake, Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Lil Uzi Vert, and an entire generation
Business peak:
- $6.6 billion net worth (2021)
- Yeezy worth $1.5-3 billion annually
- Revolutionized sneaker culture
The collapse:
- Lost $2 billion in one day
- Universally condemned for anti-Semitism
- Career destroyed by own words
Current status (2024):
- Net worth: $400 million (down from $6.6B)
- No major label deal
- No major brand partnerships
- Sporadic independent music releases
What We Learn
Kanye West's story teaches:
-
Genius doesn't excuse hate: Talent can't save you from consequences
-
Mental health matters: Untreated bipolar disorder + fame + wealth = disaster
-
Words have consequences: One tweet cost him $2 billion
-
No one is too big to fall: Even a $6.6 billion empire can collapse overnight
-
Support systems matter: Losing his mother was the beginning of his decline
From 24 Grammys to Losing $2 Billion
That producer who revolutionized hip-hop?
He destroyed his own career.
That genius who made My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy?
He praised Hitler and lost everything.
That billionaire with a $6.6 billion empire?
He's worth $400 million and unemployable.
Kanye West is a cautionary tale about untreated mental illness, unchecked ego, and the consequences of hate speech.
From musical genius to cultural pariah. From $6.6 billion to $400 million. From Grammy domination to universal condemnation.
Whatever else he is, Kanye West is proof that talent alone isn't enough—and that some mistakes destroy everything.
