Popular Searches:
Mason Durell Betha, known globally as Mase, transformed from a Jacksonville kid into a hip-hop icon. His $8 million net worth reflects decades of success as a rapper, executive, minister, and media personality. This is the story of how he built his empire.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Mason Durell Betha |
| Born | August 27, 1975 |
| Age | 49 years old |
| Birthplace | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rapper, songwriter, executive, minister, TV personality |
| Net Worth (2025) | $8 million |
| Spouse | Twyla G Styles (married 2001) |
| Children | One child with wife |
| Famous For | Bad Boy Records, Harlem World album, sports talk show |
Mase emerged as one of the defining voices of 1990s hip-hop. His collaboration with Sean “Diddy” Combs created some of the era’s biggest hits. Beyond music, he reinvented himself multiple times—first retiring to pursue ministry, then launching record labels and media ventures.
Today, he remains influential across entertainment, business, and spirituality.
Mase was born in Jacksonville but grew up in Harlem, New York. His childhood split between Florida and New York shaped his street credibility and artistry. In high school, he pursued basketball and dreamed of the NBA. College brought another shift. While studying at State University of New York at Purchase, he ditched his athletic ambitions for music.
By the mid-1990s, he was producing demo tapes and performing at local Harlem nightclubs. He joined the rap collective Children of the Corn alongside Big L and Cam’ron. His early stage name was “Murda Mase”—dark and raw. In 1996, everything changed.
His sister introduced him to a music industry insider who brought him to a rap convention in Atlanta. There, Mase performed for Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs. Diddy saw star potential instantly and signed him to Bad Boy Records with a $250,000 deal.
Diddy shortened his name to just “Mase,” creating the icon the world knows.
Mase’s debut album, Harlem World, dropped in October 1997 and immediately dominated charts. It hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Pop and R&B charts and sold over 270,000 copies in its first week.
The album earned a Grammy nomination and achieved quadruple platinum certification. Hit singles like “Feel So Good” and “Lookin’ at Me” both peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Rap chart.
That same year, Mase appeared on major tracks alongside industry giants. He was featured on Mariah Carey’s “Honey,” which became massive. He collaborated with Brian McKnight and Brandy. More importantly, he appeared on Diddy’s own hits and The Notorious B.I.G.’s tracks, cementing his status as a central Bad Boy figure.
In 1998, Mase launched All Out Records, his own imprint under Bad Boy’s umbrella. His twin sister Stason was part of the group Harlem World, which he signed to the label. In 1999, he released Double Up, his second album. Though it sold 107,000 copies in its first week, it signaled changing tides. Mase’s momentum was shifting—not because of talent, but by personal choice.
On April 20, 1999, during a radio interview, Mase announced something shocking: he was retiring from music to pursue “a calling from God.” At the peak of his fame, he walked away. He enrolled at Clark Atlanta University and became an ordained minister. For five years, he stepped out of the spotlight entirely.
He returned in 2004 with Welcome Back. The album reflected his transformation. It was cleaner, more spiritual, yet still musically solid. Bad Boy and Universal Music Group distributed it. Mase had evolved.
His image shifted from hardcore rapper to reformed artist sharing faith-based messages. The contradiction seemed complete—until the mid-2000s when he collaborated with 50 Cent’s G-Unit crew, performing and recording alongside Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo.
In 2007, he stepped away again. In 2009, inspired by Michael Jackson’s death, Mase staged a second comeback. He appeared on tracks by Harry O, Drake, Kanye West, and Teairra Mari. By December 2012, he officially left Bad Boy Records, ending his longest industry relationship.
Beyond Bad Boy, Mase has controlled his own ventures. All Out Records, founded in 1998, gave him executive experience. More importantly, RichFish Records—his imprint under Columbia Records—signaled serious business acumen.
In 2019, he signed rising Brooklyn drill rapper Fivio Foreign to a reported $1 million contract. That deal showcased his ability to identify talent and invest capital into emerging artists. These executive roles contributed meaningfully to his net worth.
Rather than relying solely on his own artistry, Mase built revenue streams through artist development and label operations.
Mase’s $8 million net worth comes from multiple sources. Music royalties form the foundation—decades of album sales, streaming revenue, and catalog ownership. Publishing rights remain significant, though disputed.
In 2020, Mase publicly claimed Diddy paid him only $20,000 for publishing rights decades earlier. When he offered $2 million to buy them back, Diddy’s team reportedly told him he faced competing offers. This suggests publishing rights remain highly valuable.
His sports talk show, Come and Talk 2 Me, co-hosted with Cam’ron, generates income through YouTube and sponsorships. The channel has grown to 932,000+ subscribers. Label management through All Out and RichFish Records adds executive earnings.
Real estate investments and other business ventures round out his portfolio, though specifics remain private.
Mase didn’t limit himself to rapping. In 2010, he authored Revelations: There’s a Light After the Lime, sharing his spiritual journey. He’s guest-starred on television, appearing in the sitcom All of Us. These acting credits expand his entertainment footprint.
His sports talk show became his most visible recent work. Launching Come and Talk 2 Me with Cam’ron and Treasure Wilson, Mase entered the growing world of online sports commentary.
The show discusses NFL, NBA, and other sports topics. Subscriber growth reflects genuine audience interest. This venture proved Mase remained relevant and capable of building audiences in new formats.
In 2000, Mase founded S.A.N.E. (Saving A Nation Endangered) Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The ministry reflected his spiritual transformation. The church was later renamed El Elyon International Church, where Mase serves as pastor.
This role is genuine—not a gimmick. He holds ministerial credentials and provides spiritual counsel. His personal life has been stable since 2001, when he married Twyla G Styles. They share one child.
Unlike many celebrities with tabloid drama, Mase kept his family matters private and focused on his faith and career.
In January 2020, Mase posted a scathing Instagram message criticizing Diddy. The post came after Diddy’s Grammy pre-party speech about industry exploitation of artists of color. Mase disagreed sharply, claiming Diddy had exploited him directly.
He alleged that Diddy paid him just $20,000 for publishing rights—one of music’s most lucrative assets. Mase said he recently offered Diddy $2 million to buy them back, but was told other offers existed.
In his post, Mase wrote: “This is not black excellence at all. When our race is enslaving us… GIVE THE ARTIST BACK THEIR $$$.”
The dispute highlighted industry power dynamics and the value Mase created for Bad Boy Records. While Diddy remained silent on specifics, the exchange influenced hip-hop conversations about artist ownership and label exploitation.
Mase’s $8 million net worth represents far more than rap success. He built wealth through strategic exits from music, label ownership, ministry leadership, and media ventures. His willingness to reinvent himself—from Murda Mase to Harlem legend to minister to podcast host—demonstrates uncommon adaptability.
His impact on 1990s hip-hop remains undeniable. Yet his current relevance through Come and Talk 2 Me shows he’s not dwelling on nostalgia. Mase remains active, vocal, and financially motivated. Whether through music, ministry, or media, he continues building his legacy and wealth across multiple industries.
