It’s no secret that most rappers live a life of luxury and when given the chance, they’re happy to flex their wealth with supercars, lavish mansions, and gold jewelry. With hip-hop being one of the top music genres right now, it’s safe to say that their money isn’t just for show. Here are the richest rappers in the world right now.
1. Jay-Z – $2.5 Billion
Shawn Corey Carter, better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is considered one of the greatest rappers to grace the hip-hop scene. With Kanye’s fall down the rich list, Jay-Z is now the wealthiest rapper as verified by CNBC.com.
Selling over 140 million records, Jay became the first rapper billionaire in 2019. He is one Grammy ahead of Kanye, gaining 24 Awards during his long-running career. He used his earnings to fund many business ventures.
In 1999, he launched Rocawear, a lifestyle clothing company, and in 2003, he founded the 40/40 Club, a franchise of sports clubs. These are only some of the shrewd investments that helped Jay-Z acquire a $2.5 billion net worth.
2. Sean Combs – $1 Billion
Sean Combs goes by many names, but perhaps his most famous moniker is Diddy. He made millions in the rap game but now makes the majority of his money from a partnership with Diageo’s Ciroc vodka. According to Forbes he made $90 million in 2022.
Before starting his own record label, Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993, he interned at Uptown Records. Then, Combs made his debut album, which became a seven-time platinum record.
He has won three Grammy Awards and has helped some of the finest hip-hop artists in their early days. This includes Mary J. Blige, Usher, and The Notorious B.I.G. Sean also explores other projects like acting and fashion to hit a billion fortune.
3. Dr. Dre – $500 Million
Another high-earning producer is Dr. Dre, who refined many hip-hop household names that are still going strong today. He produced for 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, T.I., and more. Overall, he made most of his money by doing the work in the background.
He began his career in the 1980s with the hip-hop collective N.W.A and eventually went solo. Dr. Dre is credited with Eminem’s breakthrough by signing him to his Aftermath Records label in 1998.
He has seven Grammy Awards under his belt, including Producer of the Year for Non-Classical music. His most successful venture is the headphone brand Beats by Dr. Dre. In 2014, he sold it to Apple for $3 billion, and as a result, he’s worth $500 million.
4. Kanye West – $400 Million
Ye is one of the most controversial musicians of this era and was at one stage a billionaire! He has sold around 140 million singles and 20 million albums worldwide. He started his music career as a producer and wrote songs for big-name artists that came before him.
In 2000, he began working with performers on the hip hop label Roc-A-Fella Records, which marked a defining moment in his life. Now, Kanye West is an award-winning artist with 24 Grammys to his name.
In addition to music, he is a fashion designer and most of his $400 million fortune comes from his sneaker brand, Yeezy. Kayne lost his spot on the top of the rich list after losing his multi-year deal with Adidas worth an estimated $1.5 billion!
5. Russell Simmons – $340 Million
Russell Simmons is an author, businessman, and record executive. He is famous for co-founding the legendary hip-hop label Def Jam Records with Rick Rubin. He also owns other businesses in various fields.
Rush Communications Inc., Simmons’ corporation, is made up of ten enterprises and three non-profits. He has also produced Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam for HBO. He has a development agreement with the network.
Argyleculture, Phat Farm, and Tantris are some of his fashion lines. He has also written books on various topics, such as art, success, and veganism. As a renowned name in the hip-hop community, Rusell Simmons is valued at $340 million.
6. Eminem – $250 Million
Marshall Mathers, recognized by many as Eminem and his alter ego, Slim Shady, is undoubtedly the most successful white rapper in the industry. His rap skills gave him a place in the industry that many rappers of his skin color struggle to achieve.
However, this wasn’t always the case. In the mid-1990s, Marshall faced a lot of racial hatred when he initially started battle rapping in Detroit since he was one of the few white rappers participating in the events.
This was one of the many challenges Eminem dealt with, but now, he is one of the best-selling musicians alive. He is estimated to have sold approximately 220 million records worldwide. This earned him a $250 million fortune and 15 Grammy Awards.
7. Pharrell Williams – $250 Million
Pharrell is a rapper, singer, and record producer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential producers of the twenty-first century as he helped shape the sound of contemporary music.
In the early 1990s, he founded the hip-hop and R&B production group The Neptunes, with whom he has collaborated on tracks for a variety of artists. In 1999, he became the lead singer of N.E.R.D, a hip-hop and rock band.
He has won 13 Grammys in total. Pharrell Williams is the owner of I am OTHER, a multimedia artistic organization and record label that houses all of his projects. This helped him greatly in achieving a $250 million net worth.
8. Drake – $250 Million
Aubrey Drake Graham is a rapper, songwriter, producer, and actor from Canada who rose to prominence over a decade ago. Drake has been consistent with his releases, and now, he is one of the most productive artists in the game.
In the early 2000s, he rose to prominence as a young actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Now, Drake is the highest-certified digital singles musician in the United States, with over 170 million records sold around the world.
Drake has two Brit Awards, three Juno Awards, five Grammy Awards, and six American Music Awards to his name. He also owns a liquor company, a clothes brand, and a substantial real estate portfolio to add to his $250 million net worth.
9. Master P – $200 Million
Percy Robert Miller Sr. is a rapper, record executive, actor, and businessman who goes by the stage name Master P. He broke into the spotlight for his classic songs, flashy style, and numerous talents.
His grandfather left him $10,000 as part of the settlement after he died, which he used to buy a record store named No Limit Records in California. The money he made from this initiative encouraged him to pursue acting.
He also dabbled with sports by playing basketball and wrestling. As a rapper, he was the Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist in the American Music Awards. Master P’s $200 million net worth is thanks to his business empire of clothing, management, games, and music.
10. Usher – $180 Million
Millions of music fans know Usher Raymond IV, or simply Usher, for his sweet singing vocals and dance skills. He has sold over 80 million records, making him one of the best-selling musical artists of his time.
He released his debut self-titled album in 1994. The album was a major success, bringing Usher worldwide acclaim. This launched his career, which reaped a total of eight Grammys.
Usher co-owns the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball franchise as well as the Tidal streaming platform. He is also a co-founder of the RBMG Records record label. This gives him a total net worth of $180 million.
11. Lil Wayne – $170 Million
Many of his peers deem Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, to be one of the most impactful hip-hop acts of his generation, and he is frequently considered as one of the best rappers of all time.
Wayne began his career in 1995 when he was 12 years old. He was recruited by Cash Money Records as the label’s youngest artist. Since then, he has sold over 120 million records all across the world.
He has won four Billboard Music Awards, five Grammy Awards, and 11 BET Awards. With 109 tracks, he has the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100. He built his own music label, Young Money Entertainment and is now worth $170 million.
12. Ice Cube – $160 Million
Ice Cube is one of the pioneers that popularized the subgenre of gangsta rap. Since the early 1990s, he has also pursued a filmmaking career. Real name O’Shea Jackson Sr., he began writing songs at the age of 14.
In 1986, he founded C.I.A., his first rap group. Then, he established the groundbreaking gangsta rap ensemble N.W.A. alongside Eazy-E and Dr. Dre in 1987. He went solo when he turned 21.
Jackson has also directed, produced, written, and performed in a number of films since 1995. Some of his hit movies are Straight Outta Compton, 21 Jump Street, and xXx: Return of Xander Cage. These projects are a considerable factor in his $160 million fortune.
13. Snoop Dogg – $160 Million
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., known professionally as Snoop Doggy Dogg, became a popular rapper and media personality thanks to his ultra-smooth sound and melodic cadence. His personality is also loved by many on the internet.
Dr. Dre’s first solo single, “Deep Cover,” and Dre’s first solo album, The Chronic, catapulted Snoop to popularity in 1992. Since then, he has sold more than 23 million records in the US and 40 million across the globe.
Snoop Dogg acquired Def Jam and became its new Executive Creative and Strategic Consultant in June 2021. His position allows him to work proactively across the organization’s executive team and artist pool. Snoop’s $160 million net worth is only expected to rise because of this.
14. Swizz Beatz – $150 Million
Swizz Beatz, whose real name is Kasseem Daoud Dean, is a musical producer, rapper, and entrepreneur. He is also famous for being the lucky man to tie the knot with singer and songwriter Alicia Keys.
He started out as a disc jockey when he was a teen after receiving the necessary equipment from his stepfather and uncles. As his experience and popularity grew, he made raps and beats for artists in hip-hop, rock, should, and R&B.
Many publications consider him one of the best producers to ever exist. Dean’s resume includes a variety of entrepreneurial pursuits in addition to music. As a fashion designer, art collector, and board director, he got his net worth to $150 million.
15. Birdman – $150 Million
Bryan Christopher Williams, commonly called as Birdman and sometimes referred to as Baby, is a rapper and record executive who helped establish many notable projects in the hip-hop category.
He and his brother co-founded Cash Money Records in 1992. In 2002, Birdman dropped his first album. He became one of the two members of Big Tymers around this time. Williams is also the one who first saw the potential of Lil Wayne.
Birdman has also earned a reputation for himself by assisting in the development of the record label YMCMB. The brand stands for Young Money Cash Money Billionaires, a combination of Lil Wayne and Birdman’s labels. This is why Birdman now has a net worth of $150 million.
16. Nicki Minaj – $150 Million
Nicki is arguably the most acknowledged female rapper out there, and she is the only woman to make it to this list. Her flexibility as a performer is emphasized by her poetry and energetic flow. She is also a master of using accents and alter egos.
Earlier in life, she was turned down for 15 jobs in a row due to her rudeness. Fortunately, Lil Wayne discovered her, and she got to make 100 million record sales thereafter.
Now, she has conquered over a hundred noteworthy awards. She has been nominated 13 times for the Grammys. By standing out in the music industry, she secured a lot of endowment deals to obtain a net worth of $150 million and be one of the richest rappers today.
17. LL Cool J – $120 Million
LL Cool J,had multiple hits in the 90s and became one of the most sought-after rap musicians of all time. James Smith is regarded as one of the innovators that sparked the creation of pop rap.
Smith began rapping when he was ten years old, inspired by the Treacherous Three hip-hop trio. He became one of the first hip-hop performers to attain mainstream recognition with the stardom of his song “I Need a Beat” and the Radio LP.
LL Cool J was the first hip-hop artist to be honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2017. He was welcomed into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 with a Musical Excellence Award. Currently, LL Cool J is worth $120 million.
18. Pitbull – $100 Million
Armando Christian Pérez, better known by his stage name Pitbull, is a rapper and vocalist who started his career sometime around the early 2000s. Pitbull initially made reggaeton, Latin hip hop, and crunk songs.
He chose to rebrand himself as a pop artist with a new style and sound. He collaborated with major pop and hip-hop stars to make some of his hit tracks. This includes his songs Timber, Give Me Everything, and Feel This Moment.
Pitbull has sold more than 25 million albums and around 100 million singles internationally. He has 35 Billboard Latin Music Awards to his account that contribute to his $100 million honeypot.
19. Ad-Rock – $90 Million
Adam Keefe Horovitz, commonly referred to as Ad-Rock or King Ad-Rock, is an entertainer, guitarist, and rapper famous for being a key member of the Beastie Boys.
Horovitz began his musical career as a member of the band The Young and the Useless, which shared the stage with the Beastie Boys on several occasions. Beastie Boys original guitarist left the band in 1982, and Horovitz took his place. After this, the group became more hip-hop oriented.
They signed with Def Jam and became a sensation. Under the pseudonym 41 Small Stars, Horovitz also remixes a variety of tunes for different artists. Furthermore, he’s been featured in numerous TV shows. That’s why Ad-Rock’s net worth is around $90 million.
20. Timbaland – $85 Million
Born Timothy Zachery Mosley, Timbaland is a rapper, producer, songwriter, and record executive. He’s gotten a lot of praise for his unique stuttering rhythmic approach and clever production work.
He achieved popularity in the R&B and hip-hop sectors in the late 1990s. Timothy has five tracks that have been at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 15 million copies. He’s worked with big-name artists, such as Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, and Ludacris.
Additionally, the producer makes a lot of money from royalties, as he is paid every time one of his works is used in a movie or TV show. His music has been featured in over 100 shows and films to date. Thus, Timbaland’s wealth sits at $85 million.
