Rappers are notorious for making lavish purchases that make them stand out.
Some of these purchases include things like fancy cars, huge mansions, and expensive, high end clothes/accessories -- such as watches, jewelry, sunglasses and more. But when seeing how much dough these richest rappers have rolling in, we can understand why they do it. If I had as much money as they do, I would probably do the same thing (actually, I definitely would!).
Even though most famous rappers make loads of cash in general, millions of dollars to be exact, these three beat the rest by a landslide. And with Forbes recently announcing their Forbes Five: Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists 2018 list, we see that there’s a new king in town who's taken the top, number 1 spot.
Do you think you know who the new king is? What about the other two following in his lead?
Take a look at our list of the 3 richest rappers to find out!
#1. Jay-Z
“I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man.” - Jay Z
This Brooklyn-based rapper is a complete musical GOD! Throughout his career he has ranked number one on the Billboard Top 200 list for numerous tracks and albums -- several of which you've likely heard. These rankings are in conjunction with his ability to sell millions of copies of his music around the globe.
This year, he remains one of the richest rappers -- stepping in with a net worth of $900 million. That is $90 million more than his previous year where he was ranked number two on the list. What does he have to thank for the increase? Booze! He holds stakes in D’Usse Cognac as well as Armand de Brignac Champagne, which have both risen in the past year.
Amidst those interests, he also holds nine-figure ownership stakes in Roc Nation and Tidal streaming service. With these business endeavors (and more) combined, it’s clear why he stole the number one spot as one of the richest rappers alive. To celebrate his surge, he and wife Beyonce bought a $88 million home in Bel Air, as well as another in East Hampton for $26 million.
#2. Diddy
“It’s very important to love what you do, because you’re going to have to spend a lot of time mastering your craft. Success doesn’t just land on your lap. You have to work, work, work, and work some more.” - P Diddy.
Diddy has officially been dethroned by his pal Jay Z as number one among the richest rappers alive. This might be a shock to some because it is a title he has held for the past seven years in a row. Will it cause any beef between the friends? We don’t think so -- Diddy’s still doing just fine!
This time around, his net worth comes in at a whopping $825 million. Although that is only a slight increase from the Mogul's previous year, expansion is always good and it’s better to watch your fortune increase rather than decrease (OBVI!). How does he make this much money you may ask? By making lucrative deals with big name companies on top of his music career.
Two of those companies in which he has profited from are Ciroc vodka and Revolt TV. Even though recent slow trends in both industries have affected those interests, immense growth in DeLeon Tequila (his joint venture with beverage giant Diageo) has allowed him to carry on as one of the richest rappers today.
#3. Dr. Dre
“You just have to find that thing that’s special about you that distinguishes you from all the others, and through true talent, hard work, and passion, anything can happen.” - Dr. Dre
It’s no surprise this rap paragon is on the list. Dr. Dre has been around since the 1980’s and has only worked his way up since that time. Throughout his career he has achieved many awards and rankings including winning several Grammy's and topping the Billboard Hot 100 list umpteen times.
As far as money goes, Dr. Dre definitely knows what he’s doing. With a net worth of $770 million, he is the 3rd runner up on our list of the richest rappers today. Back in 2014 he sold his audio company Beats to Apple for $3 billion, which he is still profiting from today. Along with music and entrepreneurship, he has also dabbled in a film career and has obtained many endorsements over time.
The first and second place winners better watch out though! Dr. Dre is also in place to receive Apple stock this summer that is said to be worth well over $100 million. Depending on their share price at the time, he could easily surpass Jay Z and Diddy to reign in the number one spot.
Together, these hip hop legends have a combined net worth of $2.495 BILLION!
Man, that’s a lot of bread! Not only are these hip hop icons the richest rappers alive, they are the wealthiest musicians of all time among ANY other genre out there!
Each of these men have put in the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to get where they are today. Because of that, we could all learn a thing or two about money making from Jay Z, Diddy, and Dr. Dre -- the richest rappers today!
Are any of these tycoons your favorite rappers? If not, who are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below and share with your family and friends!
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