How DJ Khaled built a Hip-Hop empire off of relentless positivity, self-promotion and friends like Drake and Jay-Z

Around money, DJ Khaled grew up. Specifically, the future producer-rapper saw his parents tuck the proceeds from their car-based clothes sales at flea markets into a pouch around their small son’s waist while watching them as a youngster in New Orleans. It was the sound of the cash register that would echo in his ears when they eventually opened their own business.

These early encounters with low-level entrepreneurial activity had a lasting impact on him, especially when, when he was seventeen, “a bad accountant” destroyed all of his family’s hard work in building up retail companies.

Khaled, now 47, learned those difficult lessons the hard way. He is now a very successful musician and businessman, but most people know him as the consummate hype guy (“We the best!” “Another one!” “Bless up!”), whose albums include cameos from buddies like Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Drake, Lil Wayne, and other hip-hop heavyweights.

“Khaled shines a light of positive energy into every room he enters,” adds fellow mogul Jay-Z. His boundless enthusiasm and unwavering drive are contagious. His encouragement of sports, artists, and charitable causes encourages everyone to believe and aspire to heights never before dreamed imaginable.

Khaled’s extraordinary success is further shown by his home base in a posh Miami Beach area. Ten bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms, and two chef’s kitchens are located in the enormous, contemporary home that is inhabited by Khaled, his spouse Nicole Tuck, and their two young boys. Six automobiles may park there, along with several golf carts and a private dock. On the premises are also a playground, a basketball court, a putting course, and a second building with guest apartments and a recording studio (the pièce de résistance of the latter being a $20,000 Japanese toilet-bidet donated by hip-hop artist Drake). Shakira resides close by, as does Timbaland and Post Malone manager Austin Rosen, as well as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.