Kanye West’s relationship with money has always been flamboyant. In 2022, when Forbes declared him a billionaire, his ego took center stage. 

He created a group chat, a virtual vault for his newfound status, and then added some of hip-hop’s biggest names: Drake, Jay-Z, his then-wife Kim Kardashian, Kid Cudi, Pusha T, and Travis Scott. With a flourish, he sent a text, a proclamation dripping with self-assurance: “I’M WORTH MORE THAN ALL OF YOU ON THIS TEXT COMBINED.”

The message, brash and competitive, perfectly embodied Kanye’s larger-than-life persona. However, the celebration was short-lived. By 2023, Kanye’s net worth had plummeted from a staggering $1.8 billion to a mere $400 million. The reasons for this dramatic fall were varied – severed partnerships, controversial statements, and a shift in the market.

 Regardless, the text message transformed from a boast to a bittersweet reminder of the fickle nature of fortune. It became a symbol of Kanye’s own tumultuous journey – a meteoric rise followed by a humbling fall, all within the span of a year.