Damon Dash Net Worth

What Is Damon Dash's Net Worth?

Damon Dash is an American record producer, entrepreneur, and music executive who has a net worth of -$25 million. Unlike his one-time partner Jay-Z, who today is a billionaire, Damon Dash has experienced a number of reported financial issues in recent years, including a bankruptcy filing in 2025 in which he listed $25 million in debt and just $4,300 in personal assets.

Damon Dash is best known as the co-founder of Roc-A-Fella Records alongside Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. Born in New York City, Dash began his career in the 1990s, managing Jay-Z and helping launch his debut album "Reasonable Doubt" in 1996. Roc-A-Fella quickly became one of the most influential hip-hop labels of its era, signing artists like Kanye West, Cam'ron, and Beanie Sigel. Beyond music, Dash expanded the brand into fashion through Rocawear, which was later sold for hundreds of millions, and pursued film projects, including "Paid in Full" and "State Property."

Despite his early success, Dash's relationship with Jay-Z soured, leading to the dissolution of their partnership in the mid-2000s. While Jay-Z went on to build a business empire, Dash struggled with financial setbacks and legal disputes. He attempted ventures in film, fashion, art, and streaming, but many failed to match his earlier achievements. Over the years, he faced lawsuits, tax problems, foreclosure, and child support battles, which damaged his reputation as a mogul. Still, Dash remains a polarizing figure in hip-hop culture, remembered as both a visionary who helped shape the golden era of rap business and a cautionary tale about the volatility of fame and fortune.

Financial Problems

In 2014, Dash was ordered to pay Linda Williams, the mother of his son Boogie, $50,000 for causing her to be prosecuted on harassment charges in 2009. In August 2015, it was reported that Damon owed $4.14 million in back taxes to the state of New York.

During his divorce proceedings from Rachel Roy, Damon revealed to a judge that he owed $2 million in back taxes and was in the midst of foreclosure on two New York City apartments. He was also being sued by several NYC law firms and various other creditors for lack of payment. His Chevy Tahoe had been repossessed after he could not keep up with the $700 monthly payments. Dash was forced to vacate his $9 million Tribeca, New York home, which was later sold in foreclosure for $5.5 million.

In September 2019, Dash petitioned a court to end his child support payments to Roy. During the original divorce proceedings, he agreed to pay Roy $6,000 per month in child support that would extend beyond when their two daughters turned 18. In his court filing, Damon claimed that in 2018, he earned a total of $56,000, while Rachel supposedly earned more than $500,000.

In March 2019, Dash was ordered to pay Rachel Roy $341,991 and $25,000 for attorney fees.

In November 2019, Dash was arrested for failing to pay $400,000 in child support. He reportedly paid more than $1 million to be released. Later that month, Damon filed legal documents claiming he was broke again and could not afford to pay a $2,400 personal debt. This time, he claimed his only source of income was his own business, which was making zero profit. He further revealed that he received $2 million from producer Lee Daniels as part of a lawsuit settlement, but the money was garnished by creditors.

In January 2024, Damon was back in court once again to seek a reduction in his child support obligations. According to his filing, he only made a total of $5,140 in the previous year and, at most, could only afford a monthly support payment of $430.

2025 Bankruptcy Filing

In September 2025, Dash formally filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida, declaring that he was more than $25 million in debt and had only about $4,350 in personal assets to his name. The filing detailed massive unpaid tax liabilities across multiple states, significant arrears in child and spousal support, and millions owed from lawsuit judgments. Here's how the bankruptcy petition broke down his debts:

Breakdown of Damon Dash's $25 Million Debt

• Taxes (~$19 million total)
  • IRS (federal): about $8.7 million
  • New York State: about $9.65 million
  • Los Angeles County (California): about $5.8 million
  • New Jersey State: about $3.5 million
• Domestic Support Obligations (~$650,000+)
  • Ex-wife Rachel Roy – spousal and child support arrears
  • Cindy Morales – child support (mother of son Lucky)
  • Linda Williams – child support (mother of son Boogie)
  • NYC Dept. of Social Services – about $487,000 tied to support enforcement
• Legal Judgments & Lawsuits (~$5 million+)
  • Filmmaker Josh Webber – about $4.8 million from two judgments (*Dear Frank* film dispute and defamation case)
  • Photographer Monique Bunn – $30,000 defamation damages
  • Author Edwyna Brooks – $78,000 from Mafietta copyright case
  • Attorney Christopher Brown – $100,000 in unpaid fees
• Other Unsecured Debts (~$5.5 million)
  • Miscellaneous lawsuits, unpaid wages, and business liabilities

Roc-A-Fella Share Auction

Through the years and his various controversies, Damon never sold his 33.3% stake in Roc-A-Fella Records. In July 2024, it was revealed that his stake would be auctioned by the U.S. Marshall service to satisfy an $800,000 civil judgment related to a copyright and defamation case won by a film director in 2022. Roc-A-Fella Records still owns the rights to Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" album. The auction documents list that album as the company's biggest asset. The minimum bid for Dash's 33.3% stake is $1.2 million.

In September 2024, Damon took to social media to complain that Jay had sabotaged the auction and caused the potential value of his 33.3% stake to plummet. As a result, he would be less likely to be able to afford to pay off the roughly $130,000 he owes in child support and the million he owes in back taxes. Even the New York City Department of Social Services stepped in to complain about Jay, and insisted that whoever buys the rights will own them through 2098, not 2031 as some had implied online.

(Photo by Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for Damon Dash Studios)

Legal Issues

In 2012, rapper Curren$y sued Dash for $1.5 million, accusing him of releasing music without his permission. Dash's attorney put out a statement that the music was released legally and by the book.

In June of 2022, a lawsuit was settled between former Roc-A-Fella Records label owners Jay-Z and Damon Dash that claimed Dash was planning to sell his percentage of ownership of the record label's first album, "Reasonable Doubt," as an NFT. The year prior, Jay-Z placed a restraining order to prevent Damon's attempt.

In early 2023, Dash was mostly cleared of a sexual assault allegation by a federal jury. Monique Bunn sued him in 2019 on counts that he touched her inappropriately while she was sleeping at his house during a video shoot. The lawsuit originally sought tens of millions of dollars, but jurors awarded Bunn $30,000 in damages after not finding Dash liable.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Early Life

Damon Anthony Dash was born on May 3, 1971, in Harlem, New York. He attended private schools but grew up in an environment where resourcefulness and hustle were essential. As a teenager, he swept floors in a barbershop and sold newspapers to earn money for sneakers and clothes. Dash often credited his entrepreneurial drive to lessons he learned from his mother, who tragically passed away from an asthma attack when he was just 15 years old. Her death left a lasting impact on him and further fueled his desire to succeed on his own terms.

Career

Damon Dash co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995 alongside Jay-Z and Kareem "Biggs" Burke. The label quickly became one of the most important forces in hip-hop, launching Jay-Z's career with "Reasonable Doubt" and later developing stars such as Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, and Kanye West. Dash not only acted as Jay-Z's business partner and manager but also took an aggressive, street-smart approach to marketing that helped Roc-A-Fella dominate the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, he organized Jay-Z's "Hard Knock Life" tour, which grossed $19 million and cemented the label's reputation as a commercial powerhouse.

At the height of Roc-A-Fella's success, Dash expanded into fashion by co-founding Rocawear with Jay-Z. The clothing line became one of the most profitable hip-hop fashion ventures of its era, generating hundreds of millions in annual revenue before ultimately being sold to Iconix Brand Group for $204 million in 2007. Dash's personal fortune peaked around $50 million, and he was widely regarded as one of hip-hop's most influential moguls.

However, Roc-A-Fella's fortunes shifted after Def Jam Records acquired a 50% stake in the label. Tensions escalated when Jay-Z accepted the role of Def Jam president in 2004, a move that widened the rift between the two. In 2005, Jay-Z bought out Dash's stake in Rocawear, formally ending their business partnership. The breakup marked a dramatic turning point in Dash's career.

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Other Ventures

Outside of music, Dash pursued numerous entrepreneurial projects. His film company produced movies such as "Paid in Full," "State Property," and "The Woodsman," and he occasionally appeared on-screen as well. He launched the media collective DD172, which encompassed ventures including the art gallery Dash Gallery, the lifestyle magazine "America Nu," and the independent label BlueRoc Records. Though many of these projects received attention, most struggled to maintain long-term success.

In later years, Dash tried to adapt to the digital age, launching streaming platforms and lifestyle brands under the Dusko banner. Despite financial setbacks, he maintained a reputation as a fiercely independent businessman who resisted industry norms and continued to invest in creative ventures.

Relationships

Dash was in a high-profile relationship with R&B star Aaliyah from 2000 until her tragic death in a plane crash in 2001. Though they were not officially engaged, Dash has stated the two had plans to marry.

In 2005, he married fashion designer Rachel Roy, whom he met while she was working at Rocawear. They had two daughters together, Ava (born 1999) and Tallulah (born 2008). The marriage ended in 2009 after a contentious divorce that included allegations of domestic abuse. Roy was awarded sole custody of their daughters, along with financial support and a restraining order.

Dash also has a son, Damon "Boogie" Dash (born 1991), from his relationship with Linda Williams. Boogie gained public recognition through the WE tv reality show "Growing Up Hip Hop."

In 2020, Dash and his fiancée, film producer Raquel Horn, welcomed their son Dusko Dash, further expanding his family.

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