The music star, businessman and actor, reported in court papers that he has assets and debts in the range of $10m to $50m (£6.5m- £32m), according to the Wall Street Journal.
The filing comes days after a jury ruled that he must pay $5m to a woman suing over a sex tape case.
50 Cent's 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin' catapulted him to global fame.
Real name Curtis James Jackson III, the Grammy-award winning rapper's business interests have included clothes, boxing, drinks, and mining.
His stake in VitaminWater reportedly netted him tens of millions of dollar when Coca-Cola bought the drinks brand in 2007.
Chapter 11 allows companies time to re-organise their finances while protecting them from creditors' demands.
<<Print>>