Who Is Jimmy Iovine? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on March 11, 1953, Jimmy Iovine is a prominent American entrepreneur and former music executive known for his pivotal role in shaping the music industry. As of 2025, Iovine is 72 years old. He began his career as a recording engineer and has worked with legendary artists like Bruce Springsteen, U2, and Tom Petty. Over the years, he founded Interscope Records and was instrumental in launching Beats by Dre, a brand that revolutionized music consumption and later sold to Apple.
| Occupation | Film Producer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 11, 1953 |
| Age | 72 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Jimmy Iovine's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In 2025, Jimmy Iovine stands at approximately 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) tall. His weight is reported to be around 180 lbs (82 kg). While precise measurements regarding his body stats aren't widely publicized, his athletic build reflects a robust lifestyle, suitable for his dynamic career in the fast-paced music industry.
In 1989, Iovine and Ted Field, founder of film production label Interscope Communications, co-founded Interscope Records. A year later, the label secured a distribution deal with Atlantic Records and garnered success with artists including No Doubt, 4 Non Blondes and Gerardo. Atlantic owned a 50% stock in the label.
Iovine and Field signed Tupac Shakur to a recording contract as one of the first hip-hop acts under Interscope in 1991. A year later, Interscope became notable for providing distribution, initial funding and financial oversight for the highly successful Death Row Records.
Death Row, founded by Suge Knight, operated as a subsidiary of Interscope, beginning with the December 14, 1992 release of label artist and producer Dr. Dre's solo debut album The Chronic.
With singles consisting of "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" and "Let Me Ride", both of which featuring labelmate Snoop Dogg, The Chronic sold over five million copies in the United States and become Dr. Dre's best-selling album in his career. Iovine and Dr. Dre formed a friendship following the release of The Chronic.
Over 19 million records sold from Death Row, the label was largely responsible for Interscope's multi-platinum success throughout the 1990s. However, Snoop Dogg accumulated more success on Death Row and Interscope with his November 1993 debut Doggystyle.
It opened at number one on the Billboard 200 with the biggest first-week sales in 1990s hip hop. In November 1995, Interscope released Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt, which sold over 16 million copies worldwide as its single, "Don't Speak" made number one on Billboard's Radio Songs chart.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Jimmy Iovine has had an intriguing romantic life. He was previously married to employee and entrepreneur, and after their divorce, he started dating a renowned actress. As of 2025, he is believed to be in a serious relationship, but details about his current girlfriend remain private. Iovine has children from his previous marriage and is known to prioritize family amidst his busy career.
In 2006, Iovine and his close friend, hip hop musician Dr. Dre, co-founded Beats Electronics. Two years later, the brand launched its first set of headphones. In late 2013, they began development for Beats Music, and released it in 2014, which went on to become the framework for Apple Music. The company was purchased by Apple Inc.
for $3 billion in May 2014. At the same time, Iovine vacated his positions as chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, ending his twenty-five year relationship with his label.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Jimmy Iovine's net worth is estimated to be around $1 billion, making him one of the wealthiest figures in the music industry. His earnings stem from multiple avenues, including lucrative music deals, successful business ventures, and investments in technology and entertainment companies. Post the sale of Beats by Dre, his financial portfolio has only grown, reflecting his savvy business acumen.
In September 1995, after internal conflict with Atlantic Records over controversy concerning the label's support of gangsta rap, the label and its former parent company at the time, Time Warner made the decision to sell off its share in Interscope to Iovine and Field.
In January 1996, Doug Morris, chairman and CEO of the music division of MCA Inc., convinced Iovine and Field to bring Interscope to the company in exchange for acquiring 50% of the label's shares for $200 million.
As a result, Interscope was placed in the same company portfolio of labels alongside future sister label Geffen Records, MCA Records, Universal Records and DreamWorks Records. By then, MCA was sold off by Matsushita Electric (also a parent company of Panasonic) to Canadian distillery and mass media conglomerate Seagram.
With Interscope now under the MCA and Seagram shade, the label managed to gain more success with Tupac Shakur's double album All Eyez on Me, which opened at number one on the Billboard 200 with 566,000 copies sold in its first week. The album became another success for the rap division of the label and Death Row Records, where artist Dr.
Dre felt uncomfortable due to founder and former CEO Suge Knight's consistent spending, violent behavior and gang affiliation. As a result, Dr. Dre departed from Death Row and re-signed with Interscope through a new label deal, creating his own imprint called Aftermath Entertainment.
The label's foundation proved to be challenging, when on November 26, 1996, upon release, the compilation Dr. Dre Presents: The Aftermath, was given a lukewarm response as was The Firm's The Album, despite the latter, released on October 21, 1997, almost a year after Dr. Dre Presents: The Aftermath, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200.
Iovine, as stated on the 2017 HBO documentary, The Defiant Ones, was pressured by Doug Morris to either give Dr. Dre time to control his music and artists or drop him from his label.
Iovine responded, "We could that, but then, you would save my salary as well because I'm going with him." Interscope had further success with Tupac Shakur's posthumous record The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory as well as Snoop Dogg's Tha Doggfather and Bush's Razorblade Suitcase.
Career, Business and Investments
Iovine's career spans over four decades, beginning in the 1970s as a recording engineer. His significant contributions include founding Interscope Records in 1990, which became a powerhouse for numerous chart-topping artists. In 2014, his pivotal move was the sale of Beats by Dre to Apple for $3 billion, a deal that solidified his stature in both music and technology. In recent years, he has been focused on various projects, including music documentaries and philanthropic efforts aimed at supporting budding artists.
James Iovine (born March 11, 1953 ) is an American entrepreneur, former record executive, and media proprietor. He is the co-founder of Interscope Records and became chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M, an umbrella music unit formed by Universal Music Group in 1999.
Social Network
Jimmy Iovine maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram, where he shares insights on music, business, and personal reflections. While not overly frequent in posting, his content resonates with avid followers, especially young entrepreneurs and aspiring musicians. His social network reflects both personal interests and professional engagements.
Education
Iovine's formal education includes a degree from the City University of New York's Meadow School of Music. His education provided a foundation for his impressive professional journey, which combined technical skills in music production with business acumen. Though he didn’t pursue a traditional path in academia, his practical experience has greatly informed his career success.
In August 2022, the Iovine and Young Center, a magnet high school opened in Los Angeles. The school aims to improve the declining rate of enrollment in the L.A. Unified district.
