Want to know why rappers are often talking about how much they earn and what type of car they drive around town? That’s because, after looking at the richest rappers of 2015, the guys with keen ears and immense talent are worth some serious money. So if you can keep a beat and flow a bit, I suggest trying to make it as an MC and give up on any other dream you have.
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15. Ronald “Slim” Williams – $100 million
The brother of another rapper you’ll read about on this list, Birdman, Ronald “Slim” Williams co-founded one of the hottest record labels in hip hop, Cash Money, with his younger. From that move, along with others, Slim has found himself carrying a net worth of $100 million and becoming one of the most influential voices for emerging artists since.
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14. LL Cool J – $105 million
Although he released his latest album in 2013, LL Cool J’s career is best known from the hits that he put out in the ’80s and ’90s while still with Def Jam. Transitioning into acting, LL Cool J has become a household name for action and drama, earning a starring role on NCIS and hosting the Grammys the past four years for CBS—with whom he has a contract with for his TV show.
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13. Usher – $115 million
Rising to fame in the late-’90s thanks to his debut album Nice & Slow—which went platinum six times—Usher has come a long way from that early-20s kid, growing into quite the entertainer these days. In addition to his singing career and own record label, Usher is a judge on the singing competition show The Voice, only bringing in more money each year to add to his $115 million empire.
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12. Kanye West – $118 million
Originally gaining prominence as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records where he mixed songs on Jay Z’s The Blueprint in 2001, Kanye West stepped behind the mic and dropped his debut labium in 2004. Outspoken and influential, Kanye has influenced tons of new artists while putting his personal spin on a variety of tracks. For that reason, he’s a legend in hip hop and is worth $118 million.
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11. Ice Cube – $120 million
Best known as a member of the ’90s L.A. group NWA, Ice Cube has proven that he is as dynamic as any rapper in hip hop. In addition to his rap career, Ice Cube has starred in a few family-friendly films, as well as been the face of a number of products, helping him build a net worth of $120 million in 20-plus years.
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10. Lil Wayne – $125 million
Being on the scene since he was nine years old—which is when he first signed with Cash Money Records—Lil Wayne has been at for more than 20 years, selling records and doing as he pleases ever since. With him serving as CEO of his own imprint, Young Money Records, since 2005, Weezy has built a personal brand that is worth $125 million.
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t8. Snoop Dogg – $140 million
The rapper from the LBC, Snoop Dogg might come across as a laid-back guy, but he has been one of the smartest businessmen on the rap scene for over 20 years. In addition to his various record sales and hit songs, Snoop has starred in a number of movies and TV shows, and began a youth football league that has helped generate income, too. All of it leads to a total of $140 million for him.
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t8. Eminem – $140 million
With 15 Grammys in his career, Eminem has established himself as an all-time great who is capable of doing nearly anything he wants to. Thanks to the success of his movie 8 Mile, too, as well as other business deals that he has worked on, Em carries a net worth of $140 million.
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7. Birdman – $175 million
Sharing his fortune from Cash Money Records with the aforementioned Slim Williams, Birdman’s fortune is “only” $175 million. Seeing as how the two are the braintrust of one of the most successful hip hop labels ever, that’s pretty powerful. But seeing the brand continue to expand into other ventures like clothing and vodka will only earn more cash to both.
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6. 50 Cent – $270 million
One of the most successful rappers of the past decade-plus, 50 Cent might be worth $270 million, but not all of it comes from solely selling records—like others who sit above the $250 million mark. Thanks to his stake in VitaminWater, 50 has earned more than $100 million from that deal and is set to haul in even more from his record label and other business deals he has inked.
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5. Russell Simmons – $325 million
The godfather of hip hop, there’s a good chance that Russell Simmons had a hand in many of the other artists on this list. Co-founding Def Jam Records and Phat Farm clothing, Simmons has an influence on nearly everything in the game, making his $325 million easy to understand.
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4. Master P – $375 million
While rapper Master P might not pump out albums routinely like others on this list, make no mistake about it—the man is bringing in lots of cash. Worth $375 million, he finds himself so high on this list thanks to his No Limit record label and other ventures with the brand, growing it into one of the most sought out names in hip hop.
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3. Jay Z – $550 million
In addition to his music that sells like hotcakes, Jay Z has been at the top of the game in terms of partnering up with big brands to get his music in the forefront of fans. Thanks to his pact with Samsung in 2013 for his album Magna Carta Holy Grail and touring deal with Live Nation, Hova has seen his earnings climb to $550 million, making him one of the richest rappers in the world.
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2. Sean “Diddy” Combs – $700 million
Another example of a mogul who is more than just recording his own music, Sean “Diddy” Combs has seen his net worth rise to $700 million thanks, in part, to his expanding business ventures which include the production of a number of groups and artists and the launch of his Revolt TV in 2014.
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1. Dr. Dre – $800 million
While Dr. Dre has had a number of big hits as an artist, the majority of his net worth comes from the deal he signed with Monster headphones that allowed the company to put his name on a number of their products. No too far away from being the first billion-dollar rapper, Dre should get there one day thanks to a budding business career in addition to what he does in the studio.
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