The richest rappers in the world have made their fortunes through a combination of hard work, talent, and business acumen. These artists have used their platform to not only create great music but also to build successful brands.
In the world of music entertainment and rap, there are ‘rich rappers’ and then there are ‘super rich mogul rappers’. The difference between the two is that money is made from the art of rapping and going on tour with one’s music, and the next level is actually owning, producing and becoming a record label.
In this article, we are going to highlight some of the most successful names in the world of music and rap, while also showcasing how their net worth and fortunes were made.
35 of the Wealthiest Rappers in the World of Entertainment
When it comes to making money, rappers are in a league of their own. Some of the richest rappers in the world have amassed fortunes that rival some of the biggest names in business.
So, who are the richest rappers in the world and how did they make their money?
Jay-Z – $1.3 billion
Jay-Z is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and businessman. He is one of the best-selling musicians of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide. He has won 22 Grammy Awards, the most by any rapper.
In 2023, Forbes estimated his net worth at $1.3 billion, clearly making him one of the richest billionaire rappers in the world.
Sean Combs – $885 million
Sean Combs, better known by his stage names Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, and Diddy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Bad Boy Entertainment. His debut album, No Way Out, was released in 1997 and topped the Billboard 200 chart.
He has since released six more solo albums and three collaborative albums. He has also produced and starred in several films and television shows, including the reality show Making the Band. As of 2017, Forbes estimates his net worth at $885 million, making him one of the richest rappers in the world.
Dr. Dre – $800 million
Dr. Dre is an American rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics, and was previously co-owner of Death Row Records. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including 2Pac, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game, and Kendrick Lamar.
As a solo artist, he has sold over 25 million albums worldwide and won six Grammy Awards. The majority of Dre’s wealth has come from his Beats headphones company, which was acquired by Apple.
Kanye West – $400 Million
Kanye West is one of the richest rappers in the world, with a net worth of $400 million. He made his fortune through a successful career in the music industry, as well as some savvy investments. West first rose to fame as a producer and rapper, working with some of the biggest names in the business.
He eventually released his own solo albums, which were both critical and commercial successes. West has also ventured into fashion, creating his own clothing line. He has also made some smart investments, such as investing in real estate.
Drake – $250 million
As of 2023, Drake is one of the richest rappers in the world, with a net worth of $250 million. He’s come a long way from his humble beginnings as an actor on Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Drake’s net worth comes largely from his music career. He’s released five studio albums and countless mixtapes and singles. He’s one of the most popular rappers in the world, and his music has earned him multiple Grammy Awards.
In addition to his musical career, Drake has also made a name for himself as a businessman. He owns several businesses, including a record label, a clothing line, and a whiskey brand.
Eminem – $230 million
Eminem is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. He rose to prominence in the early 2000s with his album The Marshall Mathers LP, which sold over 8 million copies worldwide. He has since released eight more studio albums and starred in several films, including the semi-autobiographical film 8 Mile. As of 2017, Forbes estimates his net worth at $230 million, making him one of the richest rappers in the world.
Master P Net Worth – $250 Million
Master P is an American rapper, actor, and entrepreneur from Louisiana. His real name is Percy Robert Miller and he has been one of the most influential figures in rap music for more than two decades.
He started out as a street hustler before transitioning to music production, releasing his own records and eventually founding No Limit Records in 1991. His hard work and business savvy have earned him an estimated net worth of $250 million.
Usher Net Worth – $180 Million
Usher Raymond IV is one of the biggest names in pop music today. A singer, dancer, songwriter, producer, and actor, Usher is credited with popularizing R&B music in the early 2000s. He has sold over 100 million albums worldwide across nine solo albums, and his touring has been equally successful. His estimated net worth is $180 million.
Ronald Slim Williams Net Worth – $170 Million
Ronald “Slim” Williams is an American entrepreneur, investor and record executive who co-founded Cash Money Records with his brother Bryan “Birdman” Williams in 1991. He has served as the label’s co-CEO since then, signing some of the biggest rap stars in the world and driving Cash Money to become one of the most successful independent record labels ever. His estimated net worth is $170 million.
Pharrell Williams Net Worth – $150 Million
Pharrell Williams is a legendary producer and musician who has been instrumental in launching many careers in hip hop, R&B, pop and dance music. With seven Grammy awards under his belt, he has produced records for superstars like Madonna, Jay Z, Justin Timberlake and more.
In addition to producing music, he also owns businesses such as Billionaire Boys Club clothing line and i am OTHER media company. His estimated net worth is $150 million.
Snoop Dogg – $150 million
Snoop Dogg is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s with his debut album Doggystyle, which sold over 4 million copies in the United States. He has since released thirteen more studio albums and starred in a number of films and television shows. A wide range of celebrity net worth sites estimate his net worth at $150 million.
Lil Wayne Net Worth – $150 Million
Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is a multi-platinum selling rapper from New Orleans. He is one of the most successful rappers in history, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. His career took off when he joined Cash Money Records as a child and has since released 12 studio albums. His estimated net worth is $150 million.
Ice Cube Net Worth – $140 Million
O’Shea Jackson Sr., better known as Ice Cube, is a rapper, actor and entrepreneur who began his career with the legendary rap group N.W.A. Following his success with N.W.A., he launched into a solo career that saw him release nine gold and platinum certified albums. Ice Cube has also starred in numerous successful movies, including “Friday” and “Barbershop.” His estimated net worth is $140 million.
Nicki Minaj Net Worth – $110 Million
Onika Tanya Maraj better known as Nicki Minaj is a Trinidadian-born rapper, actress and singer who dominated the rap scene in the mid to late 2000s with her debut album “Pink Friday” (2010). She has since released three further studio albums and collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip hop such as Drake, Lil Wayne and Meek Mill. Her estimated net worth is $110 million.
Birdman Net Worth – $110 Million
Bryan Williams, better known as Birdman or Baby, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur and co-founder of Cash Money Records with his brother Ronald “Slim” Williams. He is the CEO of the label and has signed some of the biggest names in hip hop to his label such as Lil Wayne and Drake. His estimated net worth is $110 million.
LL Cool J Net Worth – $100 Million
James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) is a legendary rapper from Queens, New York City who gained fame with his debut album “Radio” in 1985. He has released 13 studio albums and also appeared in several films. His estimated net worth is $100 million.
Timbaland Net Worth – $85 Million
Timothy Zachary Mosley aka Timbaland is an American rapper, record producer and songwriter who has been influential in the music industry since the mid-90s. He has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop such as Missy Elliott, Jay Z, Nas and Justin Timberlake to name a few. His estimated net worth is $85 million.
Akon Net Worth – $80 Million
The Senegalese-American singer, songwriter and entrepreneur Akon was part of the early wave of pop/R&B stars that emerged in the mid-2000s. He has released five studio albums, collaborated with numerous artists and also runs a successful record label. His estimated net worth is $80 million.
Michael Diamond (aka Mike D) Net Worth – $75 Million
Michael Diamond, better known by his stage name Mike D, is an American rapper, producer and songwriter from New York City. He is best known as one of the founding members of legendary hip hop group Beastie Boys alongside Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock) and Adam Yauch (MCA). His estimated net worth is $75 million.
Adam Horovitz aka Ad-Rock Net Worth – $75 Million
Adam Keefe Horovitz better known as Ad-Rock or King Ad Rock is an American musician, rapper and songwriter who is best known as the guitarist and vocalist of Beastie Boys. He has released two solo albums and also appeared in numerous films such as “Lost Angels” and “Beverly Hills Cop III.” His estimated net worth is $75 million.
Will.i.am Net Worth – $75 Million
Will Adams, better known by his stage name will.i.am, is an American rapper, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist from Los Angeles who rose to fame in 1998 with the release of The Black Eyed Peas’ debut album “Behind the Front.”
He has co-produced many hit singles for BEP including “Where Is The Love?”, “Let’s Get It Started” and “My Humps.” His estimated net worth is $75 million.
Kendrick Lamar Net Worth – $75 million
Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to prominence in the early 2010s with his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city, which was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). He has since released two more studio albums, which have both been certified platinum by the RIAA.
Lamar has also won twelve Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album for good kid, m.A.A.d city and Best Rap Performance for “Alright”. Current valuations of Kendrick’s net worth falls into the $75 million range.
Joseph Simmons (aka Rev Run) Net Worth – $70 Million
Joseph Ward Simmons, better known by his stage name Rev Run or DJ Run, is an American rapper, producer and entrepreneur who found fame as one of the founding members of legendary rap group Run-D.M.C. in the early 80s. His estimated net worth is $70 million.
Busta Rhymes Net Worth – $65 Million
Trevor Tahiem Smith Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City whose career spans over two decades and includes nine studio albums and numerous international hits such as “Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check” (1996). His estimated net worth is $65 million.
Swizz Beatz Net Worth – $65 Million
Kasseem Dean aka Swizz Beatz is an American hip hop recording artist, producer and entrepreneur from The Bronx who gained fame in the late 90s. He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in hip hop such as Jay-Z, DMX and Busta Rhymes under his record label Full Surface Records. His estimated net worth is $65 million.
Nelly Net Worth – $60 Million
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr., better known by his stage name Nelly, is an American rapper and country music singer from St Louis whose career began in the mid-90s. His hit single “Country Grammar” (2000) was a massive success which helped launch him to international stardom. His estimated net worth is $60 million.
Chad Hugo Net Worth – $55 Million
Charles Edward Hugo aka Chad Hugo is a Grammy award-winning American record producer and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame in the late 90s as part of production duo The Neptunes with Pharrell Williams. His estimated net worth is $55 million.
Wiz Khalifa Net Worth – $55 Million
Cameron Jibril Thomaz aka Wiz Khalifa is an American rapper, entrepreneur and actor from Pennsylvania whose career began in 2006 with the release of his debut album “Show & Prove”. He has since released five studio albums including “Rolling Papers” (2011) which gave him international recognition. His estimated net worth is $55 million.
T.I. Net Worth – $55 Million
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rapper, record producer and actor from Atlanta whose career began in the late 90s. He has released nine studio albums and won three Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song (“Whatever You Like”, “Live Your Life” and “Swagga Like Us”). His estimated net worth is $55 million.
Missy Elliott Net Worth – $50 million
Melissa Arnette Elliott, better known by her stage name Missy Elliott. She is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and dancer. She was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and rose to fame in the late 1990s with her unique style of rap music. As of 2021, Missy Elliott’s net worth is $50 million.
Andre 3000 Net Worth – $45 Million
Andre Lauren Benjamin better known as André 3000 is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and actor from Atlanta who rose to fame in the early 2000s with his hip hop group Outkast alongside Big Boi. He has since released five solo albums which have earned him numerous awards including four Grammy Awards. His estimated net worth is $45 million.
Rick Ross Net Worth – $45 Million
Rick Ross, also known as William Leonard Roberts II, is one of the most influential contemporary American rappers. He was born in 1976 and began his music career in 2004 with the release of his first album Port of Miami.
Over time he has gone on to become one of the world’s biggest rap stars with hits like “Hustlin”, “Aston Martin Music” and “Hold Me Back”. His estimated net worth is $45 million dollars, making him one of the richest rappers in the world.
Cardi B Net Worth – $40 million
Cardi B is one of the hottest rappers in the game right now, and she’s got the bank account to match. The Bronx-born rapper has an estimated net worth of $40 million. She rose to fame with her breakout single “Bodak Yellow” in 2017 and has since released her debut album Invasion of Privacy, which went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart. She’s also landed endorsement deals with major brands like Fashion Nova and Reebok.
Megan Thee Stallion Net Worth – $8 million
Megan Thee Stallion is one of the richest rappers in the world. She made her money through a variety of sources, including music sales, touring, merchandise, and endorsements.
Megan Thee Stallion is one of the most successful young rappers in the world. She has released several chart-topping singles, and her debut album, Good News, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Megan has also toured extensively, and her live shows are highly sought-after. In addition to her music career, Megan has also ventured into acting, modeling, and product endorsements.
Doja Cat Net Worth – $8 million
When it comes to the richest rappers in the world, Doja Cat definitely ranks high on the list. She is estimated to be worth a whopping $8 million dollars. The majority of her wealth comes from her music career and endorsements.
For example, she has a deal with Adidas that is reportedly worth $1 million dollars. Doja Cat’s music career began to take off in 2018 with the release of her single “Mooo!” The song went viral on social media and helped her gain a lot of attention. She followed up with the release of her debut album “Amala” in 2018.
More of the World’s Richest People
While rap artists and media moguls are always going to be bringing in the big bucks, they aren’t the only names to be paying attention to. Take a moment to view our list of the best female rappers in the world, and the best countries to live in.
You might not be able to afford the luxury cars and houses that some of these superstars and world renown celebrities have, but you can definitely dive into their lives with our excellent resources.
ncG1vNJzZmianKS0qLXNoGWoqpdkv6qvx56qrWWilr2xsdGsZg%3D%3D