Forbes always does a great job of breaking down how much everybody in hip-hop makes and today they did not dissappoint by releasing this list. It is the 20 richest rappers alive list and you’ll be surprised to see some of the names on there. Rick Ross starts off the list at $25 million and Diddy finishes it off at $500 million. There are also some old names like the Beastie Boys and LL Cool J too.
#20 - Rick Ross - Net Worth $25 Million
The first artist on our list of richest rappers is the one and only Rick Ross who has a net worth of $25 million. That net worth is especially impressive when you consider that just two years ago, Ross appeared in a Georgia courtroom claiming he was in debt and couldn't afford his monthly child support. But thanks to hard work and a string of successful solo albums, those days are over!
#19 - T.I. - Net Worth $30 Million
T.I., who despite a couple run ins with the law and some time served behind bars, seems to be doing better than ever. He is constantly releasing new tracks with some of the biggest stars on the planet. T.I. also has a very promising acting career which is where he has been raking in serious cash recently.
#18 - Nelly - Net Worth $55 Million
St. Louis based rapper Nelly is the 18th richest rapper alive with a net worth of $55 million. Ever since his smash break through album Country Grammar, Nelly has released a string of hits which have been prominently played on the radio and featured in movies. Nelly himself has been featured in several films as a budding actor.
#17 - Busta Rhymes - Net Worth $60 Million
Woo hah! Busta Rhymes has got the number 17 slot All in Check! Busta has earned his $60 million thanks to the nine studio albums he has released which have sold well over 20 million copies world wide. Busta has also dabbled in acting and keeps a rigorous touring schedule where he earns a fortune off tickets and merchandise.
#16 - Ludacris - Net Worth $65 Million
Atlanta based rapper, producer and actor Ludacris comes in at number 16 on our list of the richest rappers in the world. Ludacris' earned his net worth of $65 million mainly through rapping and managing his own record label Disturbing tha Peace. Ludacris has also become a well received mainstream actor who has appeared in movies like Crash and 2 Fast 2 Furious. He has sold over 25 million albums world wide as a solo artist.
#15 - The Beastie Boys - Net Worth $75 Million Each
Long before Vanilla Ice and Eminem, The Beastie Boys were the original white rappers. And to prove just how successful they have been, each of the three Beasties is worth $75 million! Mike D, MCA and Ad-Rock started out as a punk rock band in the late 70s but would eventually sign on to Russel Simmons' Def Jam and go on to sell over 40 million albums world wide. #RIP MCA
#14 - Timbaland - Net Worth $75 Million
Timbaland is the 14th richest rap star in the world with a net worth of $75 million. Timbaland has sold millions of his own albums but perhaps more importantly he has sold millions upon millions of albums as a producer of people like Jay-Z, Missy Elliot and Justin Timberlake.
#13 - Pharrell Williams - Net Worth $77.5 Million
Pharrell is #13 with a net worth of $77.5 million. Like Timbaland before him, Pharrell Williams has sold millions of albums as a member of the rap group N.E.R.D. but more importantly he has produced some of the most popular hip hop albums and songs of the last 15 years. Along with co-producer Chad Hugo, Pharrell has produced smash hits for Mase, Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye West and many more. Pharrell Williams has also launched several profitable business ventures including a clothing line called Billionaire Boys Club.
#12 - LL Cool J - Net Worth $80 Million
#12 is a tie at $80 million. The first rapper is LL Cool J. LL Cool J is one of the earliest pioneers of hip hop who has transformed himself into a highly sought after actor for mainstream movies and television shows. LL Cool J has sold nearly 40 million albums worldwide and is currently the star of NCIS Los Angeles where he earns $125,000 per episode!
#12 - Akon - Net Worth $80 Million
With 11 million albums sold worldwide, Akon is clearly a successful rapper. But Akon's real wealth comes from some extremely savvy business moves. After the success of his first album Akon founded Konvict Music which would go on to sign artists like T-Pain and Kardinal Offishall. In 2007 Konvict signed a little known singer whose voice caught the ear of Akon. That artist was Lady Gaga and her explosive success has made Akon a fortune. Akon has stated that he makes 10 times more money off Gaga than off any of his own ventures.
#11 - Kanye West - Net Worth $90 Million
Like several members of this richest rappers list, Kanye West has earned his $90 million fortune as both a rapper and producer. Before becoming the famous Kanye we all know today, Mr. West produced for fellow artists like Jay-Z, Nas, DMX and Ludacris. Eventually Kanye released his own albums and has become of the most successful rappers ever. Recently Kanye has started a clothing line and is looking to invest and launch new tech-based businesses.
#10 - Lil Wayne - Net Worth $95 Million
Lil Wayne was signed to Cash Money Records at the age of 9 and since then has become one of the most successful and hardest working people in hip hop. His success and hard work has earned him a personal net worth of $95 million which makes him the 10th richest rapper in the world. Wayne has sold over 13 million albums and 40 million digital singles in The US alone and is constantly collaborating and touring with a wide variety of major artists. Lil Wayne is the CEO of Young Money Entertainment which signed artists like Drake, Nicki Minaj, Tyga and many more.
#9 - Ice Cube - Net Worth $100 Million
Ice Cube has been in the rap game for a long time. He has transformed himself from one of the founding members of Gangsta Rap to one of the most successful mainstream actors and producers in the world. After leaving N.W.A., Ice Cube sold millions of albums as a solo artist. He also began acting in films like Three kings, Barbershop, Friday and many more. Cube actually wrote the screenplay for Friday which went on to earn over $30 million worldwide and had two sequels. Thanks to this mainstream success, Ice Cube has earned a net worth of $100 million!
#8 - Snoop Dogg - Net Worth $110 Million
Snoop Dogg has been at the top of the hip hop charts ever since his debut in 1993 and has parlayed that success and cred into one of the most profitable careers in music. Snoop Dogg has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has starred in several major films. Snoop is a highly sought after spokesperson dozens of companies like Adidas and Pepsi Max. Snoop owns his own clothing line and production company. Everyone seems to love Snoop which has allowed him to amass a net worth of $110 million.
#7 - Birdman - Net Worth $115 Million
Birdman, aka Bryan "Baby" Williams is the co-founder and CEO of Cash Money Records. Before signing to a major record label, Birdman had already sold millions of albums independently, so when Universal Music came calling Cash Money scored a $30 million up front guarantee, plus the right to own their own masters. Owning their masters allows Cash Money to make exponentially more money per record sold than the traditional artist. Birdman has a net worth of $115 million which makes him the 7th richest rapper in the world.
#6 - Eminem - Net Worth $120 Million
After exploding onto the rap scene with 1999's The Slim Shady LP, Eminem has gone on to sell over 90 million albums worldwide and become a dominant force in the hip hop industry with a personal net worth of $120 million. Outside of his own career, Eminem has helped launch the careers of several other prominent rappers. The most successful artist on Eminem's Shady Records is obviously 50 Cent who has sold millions of albums on his own. Em also owns his own clothing line and has branched out into the acting world when he starred in 8 Mile. Eminem has had some darker times, including legal problems and drug issues, but after the release of his latest album Recovery it's clear Mr. Mathers is back and better than ever.
#5 - 50 Cent - Net Worth $250 Million
Between album sales, touring and his clothing line, 50 Cent earned more than enough money to make it into the top 20 richest rappers. But what got him to #5, above the man who discovered him Eminem, involves a little deal he made with the company Vitamin Water. 50 Cent was such a big fan of the drink that he agreed to endorse it for free... Well not free, he took an ownership stake which was worth $150 million when then company sold to Coca Cola for $4.1 billion! This windfall combined with all his other successes has earned 50 a net worth of $250 million!
#4 - Dr. Dre - Net Worth $260 Million
Rapper, actor, producer and entrepreneur Dr. Dre has been a pivotal figure in the hip hop world since his days as a founding member of N.W.A.. Dre has sold millions of albums on his own but countless more millions as the head of Aftermath records where he overseas both Eminem and 50 Cent. Interestingly, Dr. Dre's biggest windfall ever didn't come from selling music, it came from selling his Beats By Dre headphone company to Taiwanese company HTC for $300 million. Dre's take from the sale was reportedly $150-175 million thanks to his more than 50% ownership in the company. That sale catapulted the Dr. into the top five of richest rappers alive with a net worth of $260 million.
#3 - Master P - Net Worth $350 Million
Like Birdman, Master P was selling hundreds of thousands of records on his own before he signed any major record contract. This gave him the leverage to score one of the most lucrative distribution deals in hip-hop history and as the company churned out hits, Master P's bank accounts sky-rocketed. Master P branched out into other lucrative businesses. He launched a movie studio, a cable TV network, a sports management company and more. Master P is a true hip hop mogul with a net worth that stands today at $350 million making him the third richest rapper alive.
#2 - Jay-Z - Net Worth $475 Million
Arguably the best rapper ever, certainly one of the best entrepreneurs in hip hop history, Jay-Z is a mogul whose success knows no bounds. Jay-Z has released over 15 records and they've all gone multi-platinum, selling over 50 million albums world wide. Jay sold his clothing line Rocaware for $200 million in 2007. His most recent record deal with Live Nation netted him $150 million. He retains ownership stakes in Def Jam, Arsenal Football Club, the New Jersey Nets and his 40/40 night clubs. Jay-Z's currently worth $475 million which makes him the second richest rapper ever, but if he stays on pace he is likely to be the first billionaire rapper in the next 10 years.
#1 - Diddy - Net Worth $500 Million
P Diddy is the richest rapper alive with a net worth of $500 million. Diddy is the reigning Cash King of the hip hop industry thanks to his company Bad Boy Entertainment and a variety of entrepreneurial ventures. Diddy has been very successful with his clothing line Sean John and his vodka brand Ciroc. Puffy still owns all of the late Notorious BIG's master recordings as well as his own and many of the artists who have appeared on his label. He has a cologne, several upscale restaurants and is planning to launch his own business school. But Diddy better watch out, Jay-Z is inching closer and closer in Puffy's net worth rear views. How much longer will he wear the crown of richest rapper alive??
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I could of swore jay-z was a billionaire already? Smh
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