Did Macklemore And Ryan Lewis Really Steal 'Thrift Shop' From A New Orleans Jazz Musician?

Even if the jazz musician won the lawsuit against Macklemore and Ryan Lewis – and the hip hop duo had to share the profits from both "Thrift Shop" and "Neon Cathedral" with him – it wouldn't be much of a financial catastrophe for the collaborators.

While Macklemore's net worth alone is estimated at about $18 million, the sales from the October 2012 release of The Heist, the album by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis that features the two songs that the jazz musician is suing over, have brought the hip hop duo a whopping $1.5 million in profits, according to the Gazette Review.

Even if the two split the profits, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis would have easily earned $750,000 each – the amount that normally takes long decades for U.S. individuals to earn.

But sales of album copies are not the only sources of earnings for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who in February 2016 released their second album This Unruly Mess I've Made that has sold nearly 700,000 copies worldwide, as the duo have also signed numerous endorsement deals in recent years.

Daily Macklemore 7: Pwoar our hot white man of the century looking chuffed at the success of his latest banga. More money for hair products. pic.twitter.com/og73ZRAaAm

— Lamp is 8 (@Lamp_Is_8) February 8, 2017

— Lamp is 8 (@Lamp_Is_8) February 8, 2017

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis also have their official store where they sell a variety of merchandise, many of which is inspired by "Thrift Shop" lyrics and the theme of the hit 2012 song.

[Featured Image by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images]