Popular television shows have such a unique way of becoming mainstream fixtures, and while not every single hit show reaches this lofty altitude, the ones that do remain loved for decades. Rare shows like The Office, Friends, and even some reality shows like Jersey Shore make a name for themselves and exhibit an incredible amount of staying power with the masses.
There is simply no way people can talk about 90s television with mentioned The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and this is because its genuinely amazing and still holds up after all these years. Jazzy Jeff was a fixture on the show, and his journey to his $8.5 million net worth is just as impressive.
Let’s see how Jazzy Jeff made his fortune!
He Hit It Big With Will Smith In Music
To track the unique journey that Jazzy Jeff took to make his fortune, we need to head back to the 80s when he and Will Smith were aspiring musicians that were looking for their big break. During this time, Jazz was on the tables while Will was rocking the mic as a musical duo.
It may seem odd to think about now, but before becoming a television and film star, Will Smith was a rapper that wound up finding a ton of success in the business. In the early days, Jazzy Jeff was the DJ that was spinning tracks for Will, and this homegrown Philadelphia do would eventually crack the code to get on MTV and get their careers up and running.
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, as they were known back then, wound up making the most of their mainstream exposure. According to RIAA, each album that the duo worked on together during their partnership hit Gold status at a minimum. Their biggest album, He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, was certified 3x Platinum, meaning that it had sales of over 3 million copies.
The group was able to utilize massive hits like “Summertime” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand” to bolster their album sales, and they wound up being exceptional successful together. They had multiple Platinum and Gold singles throughout the 80s and early 90s, making them legitimate rap pioneers that helped pave the way for the next generation of rappers and DJs alike.
With their music careers being a massive success, it was time to dabble in some new ventures. This new venture turned Will into a powerhouse star and it also made Jazz even more popular than before.
He Even Acted On The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is easily one of the greatest shows of all time, and even now, people can still watch an episode and enjoy it just as much as audiences did back in the 90s.
On the show, Will was the star, and this wound up taking his career to new heights as a legitimate actor. He could not have been better in the role, and while some people still knew him as the rapper from MTV, they soon saw that he was here to shake things up for the foreseeable future.
On the series, Jazzy Jeff played the character Jazz, and he was best friends with Will on the show. Art often imitates life, and the chemistry that the duo had on the small screen was a clear indication of their genuine friendship in real life. Jazz may not have been the most popular character on the show, but he left a huge impression on audiences and even had an iconic gag.
According to IMDb, Jazzy Jeff would appear in 46 episodes of the iconic show, meaning that he spent more than enough time making audiences laugh to cement his place in the show’s history. This means that fans will be hyped to see him during the upcoming reunion.
Working with Will Smith has certainly been great for Jazzy Jeff, but he has also found plenty of success on his own.
He Was A Successful Music Producer
While Jazzy Jeff never became a mainstream darling like Will Smith, this does not mean that he did not continue to do what he loves while expanding on his already impressive net worth.
Over the years, many artists have had the privilege of working with Jazzy Jeff, including folks like Talib Kweli, The Roots, and even Jill Scott. No one will turn down working with a pioneer, and it shows the influence that Jazzy Jeff had on the rap game.
After being in the business for decades, Jazzy Jeff still continues to create and make music. It’s something he has always been passionate about, and he continues to be an inspiration to musicians everywhere.
With $8 million to his name and counting, Jazzy Jeff’s career has been one for the ages.