Mo Money, Mo Problems - here are the richest rappers in the world
As the legendary Biggie Smalls once said, “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” But most celebrities would probably agree that they’d rather have problems than be broke.
These rappers have all amassed huge fortunes, making them some of the richest people in the music industry. They may have their problems, but they also have a lot of money.
Eminem – $230 million
It must pay to be controversial. Eminem burst onto the scene in the 1990s with playful and intricate raps that made waves not only for their catchy beats, but also for his lyrics, which addressed everything from drug use and violence to mental health and his marital problems.
Although Eminem is one of the best-selling musicians of all time with more than 220 million records sold worldwide, he does not have the investment and alternative revenue streams to help other rappers rise to the top of that list.
Dr. Dre – $500 million
This entry comes with a big asterisk. Although legendary hip-hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre is currently reportedly worth $780 million, his recent divorce from ex-wife Nicole Young will seriously diminish the icon’s net worth.
Young, who was married to the Death Row Records co-founder and co-owner for 24 years, is on the verge of inheriting $100 million of her former husband’s fortune.
Sean Combs – $900 million
Whether you call him Puffy, P. Diddy, good ol’ Diddy or the maudlin Brother Love, Sean Combs is insanely rich under any other name.
The “No Way Out” rapper is also a songwriter, record producer, producer, investor and TV personality. All of these jobs provide a steady income and a bank account that could burst at the seams. Only a small portion of his money also comes from music; the bulk of Combs’ fortune is the result of development contracts for brands like Ciroc Vodka and Aquahydrate, as well as clothing lines and restaurants.
Jay-Z – $1.3 billion
Brooklyn-born Jay-Z is arguably the best-known rapper in the business. He owes that not only to his music, but also to several clothing lines, investments in nightclubs, a subscription-based streaming service, real estate (including a property in Bel Aire that he and his wife Beyonce bought for a whopping $88 million), and shares in a champagne brand and his own cognac.
All told, Jay-Z is worth $1.3 billion – more than double the $500 million fortune of his beautiful partner.
Ye (Kanye West) – $6.6 billion
As with everything concerning Kanye West, there is controversy about how much the rapper is really worth, but Forbes confirms that the multi-talented man is indeed a billionaire.
With his music, his work as a designer and other investments, Ye has built an empire that makes him the richest rapper in the world.