Soulja Boy’s $55 million birthday gift … to himself
AJC file photo
Rapper Soulja Boy cranked it but good for his 21st birthday this week. He celebrated by springing for a Gulfstream G5 jet, People reports.
The new ride is tricked out with upgrades including “custom Italian leather seats, flat screen TVs, four liquor bars, a customized travertine-tiled floor, a revamped bathroom and Brazilian hardwood cabinets,” People reports, citing a TMZ post.
Total price tag of Air Soulja: $55 million. (Forbes estimated his 2010 earnings at $6 million. Hmm.)
The young artist is throwing himself a birthday bash in Miami tonight, and his guest list includes Sean Kingston, Bow Wow and Dwight Howard.
You’re invited, too! Well, sort of.
If you’d like to join in the Pretty Boy Swag online, you’re welcome to stream the party video from Soulja’s website.
Sorry but watching the party on your computer involves a fee. Can you blame Soulja? He’s got a new plane to pay for, you know.
- Jennifer Brett/The Buzz/jbrett@ajc.com
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140 comments Add your comment
Thelma
July 30th, 2011
12:52 am
Soulja Boy is from Batesville Mississippi and he is not even making his people proud if he did indeed make such a FOOLISH purchase. Personally, I agree with a lot of you…He does not have that kind of money…but it sure has tongues wagging, thus getting him publicity!!!!!!
annegabert
July 30th, 2011
1:59 am
A $35 million G5 jet, plus an additional $20 million on customizations as a personal gift, and then $300,000 on a party, goodnight! http://bit.ly/pUmpao
Working Musician
July 30th, 2011
3:27 am
While I agree that if he actually purchased the G5 for 50 Million outright, it was probably a dumb idea, it may be possible that he had money in a trust.
Also, we must remember that his first album did really well, not only with sales, but also with ringtones. I believe he wrote and produced which means he got 100% of the mechanical royalties. Also, it may be a great write-off for him. As a deducting musician, he may have been looking for a large deduction to lower his income. I’m sure he has accountants and someone to guide him a little…
SlammPro
July 30th, 2011
3:45 am
I’m hoping that in the next couple of days the truth will come out and the young brother did not spend money he obviously doesn’t have. Maybe he just rented a $55 M plane, I thought the young man was much more clever than some from the past.
SlammPro
July 30th, 2011
3:58 am
Jennifer Brett says Soulja Boy spent $55M on a plane..Well I guess we should all believe what she says then, I mean she is a journalist right?
Allyanaz
July 30th, 2011
4:41 am
He’s worth $6m and spends $55m….BIG CAR, NO UNDERWEAR!!! Big ego, no common sense. Wasteful.
watchin from europe
July 30th, 2011
4:42 am
I can’t stop laughing…
Where would he be going that would require a Pvt plane.
Top bill at the Mobile, AL Civic Center?
He does not even have a manager that understands Airport usage fees for Pvt planes
Its a weekend rental for Party chatter!
Lets’ all say together…FOOL
Mr. Ed
July 30th, 2011
6:47 am
Folks, Jennifer only reports celebrity news. She does not personally fabricate the story for her own pleasure.
Like others, I find the validity of Soulja Boy having the capability to spend 55 million to be questionable at best.
But guess what? If he indeed spend it, good for him. He’s free, over 18 years, paying taxes, living his American dream.
quickshot
July 30th, 2011
6:57 am
All you guys are lame. Do you think that this dude gives a ##% about what you think. Kick rocks please and keep it moving, Get a life
sha
July 30th, 2011
7:18 am
Atlanta is sooooooooo full of negative people. Very sad:(
Russ
July 30th, 2011
7:23 am
I hope he didn’t get it from the Buy Here-Pay Here used airplane lot. They know how to shut off your engine if you don’t make the weekly payment.
Name (required)
July 30th, 2011
8:17 am
you idiots. he didn’t buy the plane. he’s basically renting or leasing it. he’s NOT paying $55 million
Ryan
July 30th, 2011
8:25 am
It wouldn’t matter if it cost 200 million dollars, he’s not planning on paying for it. They will repo it in a year. Standard practice for that segment of society. 400K house, 80k Mercedes, 20K Salary. I’m just curious as to which STUPID lender signed off on that one.
Deepdiver
July 30th, 2011
8:33 am
Buying something and renting it are very different. Most rappers rent cars and limos for video shoots. This is probably no different. His music sucks, so his publicist has to use stupid stunts like this to get him publicity.
Andrew D
July 30th, 2011
9:09 am
Let’s do the math. (even APS can figure this one out) you made $6M, buy a plane for $55M, that puts you in the hole by $49M. -$49M before fuel costs, pilot’s salary, airport tax, storage fees, aircraft maintance fees, taxes on your $6M, plus taxes on your plane purchase. Your lawyer, accountant, your gear, your girl’s gear, gifts for your family, let’s not forget about your crib, your “bling”, and the cost to be on OPERATION REPO. Sorry, the tapeing of OPERATION REPO is free.
Andrew D
July 30th, 2011
9:11 am
…and by the way, just like Ryan commented, you just cost some lender their job. Got room for them on your posse?
Latisha
July 30th, 2011
9:15 am
sha …. no not negative … just calling out idiots when we see ‘em.
John
July 30th, 2011
9:32 am
Please read Justsaying’s post at 8:33 p.m. of yesterday, which seems to make a lot of sense. No way this guy could afford to purchase a $55 million jet in this economy. He simply would not qualify for loan based on his net worth–and earning potential. Jennifer should not have mislead us with this idiotic column.
Let’s say this guy bought a $5 jet outright; it still would end up being this guy’s financial undoing. Just ask, I believe, Scottie Pippin, formerly of the Bulls (although I believe his cost $17 mil. or so if I recall right), who will now (like Willie Nelson) do about anything for $. Private jets are HUGE money pits, what with maintenance (particularly), fuel, storage, insurance, and taxes. I think even the celebs and sports figures by now have figured this out. Simple alternative to them is charters and fractional interests.
JackDennis
July 30th, 2011
9:40 am
Hard to sustain all that. Especially with zero, or very limited, talent.
Baden-Baden
July 30th, 2011
9:46 am
Let’s see, the last blog in which I commented was related to how far behind Blacks were economically, and now this no-talent, illiterate f**k buys a jet? But since we’re “all” invited, I guess that makes it okay.
Baden-Baden
July 30th, 2011
9:48 am
Quickshot, go ask him if you can ride on his plane…
He said WHAT??
Dee
July 30th, 2011
9:52 am
IDIOT!!!…I doubt if he even knows how to spell Gulfstream…
mike b
July 30th, 2011
9:57 am
Gives me a headache and a pain in my rear to see these hip-hop artists make millions and millions of dollars with their so-called “music.” Along with tattoo’s, rap music is the biggest “fad” of our age.
Kathy
July 30th, 2011
10:07 am
I think we can all see where this is heading…
Andrew D
July 30th, 2011
10:38 am
Here we go, Blacks are behind economically, now he’s a F__k. I agree, he wasn’t the smartest in his class, but I know of some other dumb people when he it comes to money and they aren’t all black either. So let’s leave the race card out of this.
watchin from europe
July 30th, 2011
11:13 am
Baden-Baden, your up the road from me…
watch ya mouth!
Should we list Vanilla Ice’s STUPID , Ice Ice baby moves?
I didn’t think soooo
mac240
July 30th, 2011
11:17 am
This is just PLANE stupid!
jason
July 30th, 2011
11:27 am
Maybe his chicken business is prosperous or someone at gulfstream has an addiction!
ThurmonMunson
July 30th, 2011
11:37 am
Hey Solja….need any recommendations for an instructor?
hahahahahaha
July 30th, 2011
11:39 am
What a moron! He’ll end up like MC Hammer…. Stupid kid.
jason
July 30th, 2011
11:39 am
Could Reggie Bush be behind all this? They both seem to have “garbage juice” in common and which way dos your S*** flow? exactly……South beach, final destination.
BlowsaDouche
July 30th, 2011
11:43 am
Too legit…too legit to quit blowing my money on bullsh!t.
jason
July 30th, 2011
11:48 am
He’ll need that jet to get away from the KLUX where hes from
Big Mike
July 30th, 2011
11:51 am
I have to say that you are consistant, cause I can always count on you to be a JACK-ASS weather you are leasing or buying it!!!
DMARS
July 30th, 2011
12:33 pm
LOL I gotta ask this who in the world buys anything that has to do with Soulja Boy for him to have $55 million to spend SMH, this is what rap has come to??
Jacki Clarke
July 30th, 2011
1:09 pm
What a misguided kid, if true. Who are the people around him, could be an endorsement, the full story to be told later. He wouldn’t listen to Hammer even if he tried to give ‘what not to do’ financial advice.
That $55 million Soulja Boy plane? Just kidding! | The Buzz
July 30th, 2011
1:10 pm
[...] Boy did not buy himself a $55 million plane for his 21st [...]
darb
July 30th, 2011
4:36 pm
You got a lot of nerve editing my comments. So much for free speach.
Sebreena Peter
July 31st, 2011
12:40 am
Soulja Boy 21st Birthday Party with Trina, Sean Kingston, Trae Tha Truth, Cubana Lust & more http://t.co/R4Iz4Rfs
Jennifer Brett
August 1st, 2011
11:59 am
Darb:
We do remove posts from time to time if they contain offensive terms or language. The Buzz blog is not a democracy. It is essentially private property, albeit online.
The notion of free speech as guaranteed by the First Amendment relates to government censorship. So, the government cannot tell the AJC to quit writing about celebrities, laudable though that effort may be.
The First Amendment does not guarantee the rights of people to post any and all thoughts on *other* people’s blogs. Or, to use historical terms, it does not guarantee someone’s right to ensure a newspaper will print their letter to the editor or guest column or whatever.
The First Amendment guarantees free speech, not an audience.
Jennifer