Who is the richest rapper?
The growth of rap music has been ten fold and folks from every walk of life and culture are trying to get into the rap game. With dreams of fame and fortune, they soon realize that like any other career, it’s extremely difficult to become successful. Some aspiring rappers have no chance of ever making it big, while very few rappers have made it big and are making hundreds of millions of dollars.
Below is a list of the richest rappers ranked in order of their net worth.
20. Adam Horovitz aka Ad-Rock – $75 million
Ad-Rock, was born Adam Keefe Horovitz. He is a musician, guitarist, rapper, producer, and an actor. He is best known for being a member of the hip hop group, the Beastie Boys since 1982. During his career, he has signed with Def Jam Records, Grand Royal Records, and Capitol Records. Ad-Rock’s estimated net worth is $75 million. Horovitz isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either. We suspect he might crack $100 million someday.
19. Akon – $80 million
Akon is a singer, rapper, songwriter, businessman, producer, and an actor. During his career, he founded two very successful record labels, Konvict Muzik and Kon Live Distribution. His second album titled Konvicted, received three Grammy Awards nominations. He also starred in three films. Although he has had some legal trouble in the past, he has still managed to hold onto a net worth of $80 million.
18. Timbaland – $85 million
Timbaland was born Timothy Zachery Mosley, and he is a record producer, singer, rapper, DJ, and a songwriter. As a rapper, he released several albums. He has also done work with other artists, including Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado. He has been working in the music industry since 1994, and today he has a net worth of $85 million. Like some of the other rappers on this list, Timbaland seems to get better with age.
17. Drake – $100 million
Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham. He has been working in the music industry since 2001, and he is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Drake is from Canada, and he originally gained recognition in the television series, Degrassi: The Next Generation in the early 2000’s. In 2007, he wanted to work on his music career and he left the show. After he released his debut mixtape, his career took off. He has won a variety of awards over the years, including a Grammy for Best Rap Album. He currently has a net worth of $100 million.
16. LL Cool J – $100 million
LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith. He has been working in the music, television, and movie industry since 1984. He is famous for his old school raps including The Boomin System, Mama Said Knock You Out, and Around the Way Girl. He got into movies, and he started in several films including Deep Blue Sea and The Last Holiday. He also appears in NCIS: Los Angeles and he is the host of Lip Sync Battle in Spike. He has taken his career extremely far since he started out in Queens. He has a net worth of $100 million.
15. Ice Cube – $120 million
Ice Cube, who was born O’Shea Jackson is a rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and a filmmaker. He began his career in 1984 with the controversial rap group NWA. After leaving NWA, he had a very successful solo career and then he broke into films such as Boys in the Hood, the Friday movies, and more recently Ride Along and Ride Along 2. He also starred in and produced the Barbershop films. Ice Cube received a great deal of attention and praise because he had a big part in creating the hit movie, Straight Outta Compton. He currently has a net worth of $120 million.
14. Snoop Dogg – $143 million
Snoop Dogg was born Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. He is a rapper and an actor. His music career started in 1992 when he was discovered by NWA’s Dr. Dre. Soon, he released his debut solo album, The Chronic. He has starred in movies including The Wash and Bones. He has also made a few cameo appearances in movies such as Half Baked, Starsky & Hutch, Bruno, and Training Day. He currently has a net worth of $143 million.
13. Kanye West – $147 million
Kanye West is a rapper, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and an entrepreneur. He has been working in the music industry since 1996. He is a relatively controversial rapper, having done things that the public thought was wrong, like interrupting Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech during an awards show and then writing a song about how he made her famous. He is married to Kim Kardashian, and there is much speculation about the couple’s net worth. According to Kanye, he is hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. According to other sources, he has a net worth of $147 million. There is no proof that Kanye is in debt, and since he also has a very rich and successful wife, chances are his debt is not as serious as reported.
12. Lil Wayne – $150 million
Lil Wayne was born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. He is a hip hop recording artist, and he has been working in the music industry since 1996. His first solo debut album went platinum. He has played in a variety of movies and has had guest starring roles on a variety of television shows. Currently, he has a net worth of $150 million and that’s thanks to his vast network of connections and relationships in the industry. As much as he performs, he produces as well.
11. Pharrell Williams – $150 million
Pharrell Williams is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and a record producer. He has been working in the music industry since 1992. Throughout his music career, he has earned 10 Grammy Awards. Two of those awards were won when he was performing with the Neptunes. Since 2014, he has been a coach on the television show, The Voice. He has an estimated net worth of 150 million. And yes, he continues to wear those big hats.
10. Birdman – $150 million
Birdman was born Bryan Williams, and he is a rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. In 1991, he co-founded Cash Money Records. In 2010, he formed an oil and gas exploration company. He also started his own clothing line. He has been in the music industry since 1991. His net worth is estimated at $150 million. Much of his net worth has been because of music but his entrepreneurial skills may very well bring him into the top five in due time.
9. 50 Cent – $155 million
50 Cent, born Curtis James Jackson III is a rapper, actor, businessman, and an investor. He began selling drugs in the 1980’s and then gave that up to pursue his love of music. Over the years, he has found himself in trouble with the law a few times, but as of late, has not been in any trouble. His whole focus has been on his career. In 2002, he was discovered by Eminem and signed on to his label Shady Records. He became one of the most famous rappers in the world with the group G-Unit. Over the years he had made a variety of smart investments and became a licensed boxing promoter. He has an estimated net worth of $155 million.
8. Ronald Slim Williams – $170 million
Ronald is a businessman who co-founded Cash Money Records with his brother Birdman (listed above). Ronald is also the executive producer for most of the label’s artists, including Lil Wayne. Slim is one of the more under the radar members of this list since he’s more businessman than rapper. However, you can see Slim on a number of tracks and he certainly has the skills to do whatever he wants. He currently has a net worth of $170 million.
7. Usher – $180 million
Usher is a singer, songwriter, dancer, and an actor. He started out in the business in 1991. His debut album earned him two Grammy Award nominations in 1998 and 1999. He won his first Grammy in 2002. In 2015, he teamed up with various other artists to create the music streaming service, Tidal. He also had a very big part in starting pop star, Justin Bieber’s career. Apparently there was a bidding war to see which label Bieber would sign with. In the end, Usher won and Justin Bieber signed to Island Def Jam Recordings. He current has a net worth of $180 million.
6. Eminem – $210 million
Eminem was born Marshall Bruce Mathers III. He is a rapper, a producer, and an actor. He started in the music industry in 1992. He was first discovered by Dr. Dre, and he signed with Dre’s label to release his first album. Eminem is famous for his controversial lyrics, which in the beginning were often about his ex-wife, Kim Mathers. The two had a daughter together, and they did not split amicably. Much of his lyrics were about how much he hated her and he wanted her dead.
Many people believe that it is his lyrics and his lack of fear that made him what he is today. Throughout his career he has had 10 number one albums. He has starred in several movies, including 8 Mile, which he had the lead role. He has also had several cameo roles in movies and television shows. Eminem, like everyone, has gone through problems in his life. He had an addiction to prescription medication and he went to rehab in the early 2000’s. Even after all of his troubles, he still has managed to create an empire. He has a estimated net worth of $210 million. Rumor has it that he is back in the studio, therefore, his net worth is likely to grow significantly.
5. Russell Simmons – $325 million
Russell Simmons in a producer, entrepreneur, and author. He is also the brother of Daniel Simmons, a painter, and Rev Run of Run-DMC, who is a very famous rapper and a former star of an MTV reality television show. He attended the City College Of New York in Harlem briefly, and he met a man named Kurt Walker. It was Kurt who first influenced him to become part of the hip-hop world. In 1983, he co-founded Def Jam and sold his share in 1996 for $120 million. His company includes 10 businesses and two non-profits. He currently has a net worth of $325 million.
4. Master P – $350 million
Master P was born Percy Robert Miller and he is a rapper, actor, record producer, author, filmmaker, investor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a former basketball player. In 1999, he won an American Music Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist. He has starred in a variety of films and he has made several smart investments in the past. Master P is the founder and CEO of a conglomerate company called P.. Miller Enterprise. He has also invested in Better Black Television, which is a cable network. He first became famous in the mid-1990’s, when he was part of the hip-hop group, TRU. His fame continued to grow when his album went triple platinum. His net worth is $350 million.
3. Jay-Z – $550 million
Jay-Z was born Shawn Corey Carter, and he is a rapper, businessman, and investor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists in America. Not only is he a singer, but he also co-created the Rocawear line, he is the co-owner of the 40/40 Club, which is a sports club in New York City. Since it opened, he opened more chains around the country and he has plans to open more around the world. He si also the former president of Def Jam Recordings. He is married to the queen of hip-hop, Beyonce, and they have a baby together. Together, he and Beyonce are considered to be hip-hop royalty. He has a current net worth of $550 million.
2. Dr. Dre – $700 million
Dr. Dre was born Andre Romelle Young. He is a rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is also the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, which has made him millions of dollars in just the first few years. His career started when he was a member of the World Class Wreckin Cru. Later, he became part of the controversial gangsta rap group NWA, along with MC Ren, DJ Yella, Ice Cube, and Easy E. When the group split up, he moved on, and he took Snoop Dogg under his wing and helped build his career. He did the same thing for Eminem a short time after. Both of these men are on this list. He has also overseen the careers of some very successful recording artists. He has an estimated net worth of $700 million.
1. Sean Combs-P-Diddy – $750 million
Sean Combs is a rapper, singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and entrepreneur. During his career, he has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards. He has also won NCAAP Image Awards, BET Awards, and he had an album that was named one of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. He is also the creator and producer of Making the Band. He has a successful clothing line and he has managed many successful artists. He has played in a few movies, including Monsters Ball and Made. He also likes to help the less fortunate. He ran the New York City Marathon in 2003, and raised $2 for the New York City education system. He has a net worth of $750 million. Considering that he grew up in a pretty dangerous housing project in Harlem, New York, he has come pretty far.
