You might think your favorite musician makes their fortune mostly from music: albums, tours, merch. But some stars have quietly built seriously profitable tech portfolios—sometimes that tech income even rivals or outpaces their musical earnings. Knowing who they are can give you ideas about investing, diversifying, or just seeing how creative people leverage opportunity. Plus, it’s inspiring to see artists use their influence and wealth to shape tech innovations too. Let’s dig into seven musicians who’ve made millions from tech—not just tunes—and what makes their story worth your attention.
1. will.i.am: Beats, AI, and Early Stock Plays
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will.i.am is a prime example of a musician’s tech investments success story. He was a co-founder of Beats Electronics, which was acquired by Apple in 2014 for around $3 billion. Beyond hardware, he’s been involved in early tech ventures (like investments in AI startups, among others). He also reportedly invested in Pinterest, and his tech relationships include backing emerging tools for creators. will.i.am’s story shows how a musician can parlay fame, domain knowledge, and timing into tech windfalls.
2. Nas: From Rapper to Venture Capitalist
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Nas isn’t just known for his influential albums—he’s also a serious tech investor. Through his fund, Queensbridge Venture Partners, he has backed major tech companies like Dropbox, Lyft, and Coinbase. Those moves have turned into big returns, sometimes tens or hundreds of millions. He mixes passion and strategy, seeking out companies that align with his values as well as financial upside. His role reminds us that musician tech investments aren’t just side gigs—they can become full-fledged wealth builders.
3. Spectacular Smith: From R&B Group to Tech Founder
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Many might not know Spectacular Smith (of Pretty Ricky) has crossed deeply into tech. He founded Adwizar Inc. and runs Spectacular Academy—businesses that are tech-oriented, not just performance or music distribution. He’s had success scaling these ventures; estimates place his net worth in the hundreds of millions, largely driven by tech and entrepreneurial work beyond music. Smith is a clear example of musicians wanting to build a second act in the startup world or tech infrastructure.
4. Trevor McFedries: Virtual Avatars & Web3 Worlds
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Trevor McFedries, also known by his stage name Yung Skeeter, moved from DJ/music work into co-founding Brud, the company behind virtual influencer Lil Miquela. McFedries has raised many millions in funding for Brud, which operates at the intersection of tech, media, social platforms, and virtual/augmented reality. The venture shows how musician tech investments don’t necessarily have to be in hardware or traditional VC; digital art, virtual identity, and social media tech are growing fast. For creative musicians, blending artistry and tech like this can be not only profitable but deeply innovative.
5. Imogen Heap: Artist, Inventor, Tech Pioneer
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Imogen Heap is known for pushing musical boundaries, but she’s also built tech innovations. She created Mi.Mu Gloves—gesture-controlled musical gloves—and founded Mycelia, a blockchain-based platform for artist rights and decentralized music sharing. She’s also deeply involved in NFTs and rights-management platforms, staying ahead of many peers in terms of digital experiment and infrastructure. While perhaps not every project turned into a multibillion-dollar exit, her tech work has both cultural and financial impact. Heap’s model shows how musician tech investments can align with values: fairness, rights, and new ways to make music.
6. Jaden Smith: Startups, Sustainability & Tech Values
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Jaden Smith has invested in tech through eco-friendly or alternative startups long before many mainstream celebs caught on. He co-founded JUST Water and invested in Impossible Foods and other companies with sustainable or disruptive missions. His approach shows musician tech investments aren’t limited to obvious tech like apps or hardware—they can be climate, food, or materials tech too. That kind of diversity helps spread risk and can lead to strong returns, especially as society shifts toward sustainability. If you like socially responsible work, his path is an example of mixing influence, values, and smart tech investment.
7. Matt Bellamy (of Muse): AI, Fintech & UK Startups
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Muse’s frontman Matt Bellamy has quietly become active in tech investments, particularly in the UK and in AI or fintech sectors. He invested in the London-based startup Bloomsbury AI and others connected to overseas tech hubs. His involvement suggests musician tech investments aren’t always about major public announcements—they can be subtle, early-stage, high upside plays. Bellamy’s approach shows how someone known for stage performance can also be deeply plugged into the backstage of tech innovation. For artists curious about investing, his example highlights that you don’t need to move away from your home base to have an impact in tech.
What These Musicians Teach About Tech, Wealth & Creativity
These seven examples of musician tech investments illustrate a few big lessons. First: diversifying income beyond music isn’t just smart—it’s increasingly necessary in an era of streaming and shifting industry economics. Second: many successful musician tech investments align with personal values—health, rights, sustainability—which often amplifies both impact and investment success. Third: early bets, even small ones, can grow large if you pick the right sector and partners. Finally, having fame or a platform helps, but what matters more is vision, authenticity, and persistence. For any musician or creative person, following these models can mean turning passion and smarts into generational wealth.
Which musician’s story surprised you most—and is there a musician you know who’s making moves in tech but hasn’t gotten enough spotlight? Share what you’ve learned or who you think deserves recognition in the comments.
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Amanda Blankenship is the Chief Editor for District Media. She frequently writes for a handful of blogs and loves to share her own personal finance story with others. When she isn’t typing away at her desk, she enjoys spending time with her daughter, son, husband, and dog. During her free time, you’re likely to find her with her nose in a book, hiking, or playing RPG video games.
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