Hip-Hop Cash Kings – Forbes Hip-Hop’s Top 20 Earners

  • Source of Wealth: Rapper, Songwriter, Entrepreneur, Co-owner of the New Jersey Nets
  • Nationality: United States

At numbers 2 and 3 on the Forbes list are Diddy and Kanye West with $35 million and $16 million, respectively. Lil Wayne and Birdman are on number 4 with $15 million.

Nicki Minaj becomes the first female to make the list at No. 15 with $6.5 million. The Young Money diva burst onto the scene with her platinum debut Pink Friday, tours with Lil Wayne and Britney Spears, and endorsement deals with M•A•C Cosmetics and Casio.

Cash Kings 2011: Hip-Hop’s Top 20 Earners

1.Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter – $37 million

Net Worth: $450 million (as of March2011)

The Hip-hop’s reigning Cash King continues to reap the benefits of a 10-year $150 million Live Nation deal, as well as his stakes in the New Jersey Nets, the 40/40 Club chain, ad firm Translation and others. This year marked the first time he out-earned his wife Beyonce (her 2011 earnings: $35 million) since their marriage in 2008. For more on the business of hip-hop, check out Empire State of Mind: How Jay-Z Went From Street Corner to Corner Office.

2. Sean “Diddy” Combs – $35 million

Net Worth: $475 million (as of March 2011)

Music now accounts for less than 20% of earnings for the artist formerly known as Puff Daddy, thanks to big stakes in clothing lines Sean John and Enyce, record label Bad Boy and marketing firm Blue Flame. But it’s his Ciroc vodka deal that led Forbes to estimate his net worth at $475 million as of March 2011.

3. Kanye West – $16 million

The self-proclaimed Louis Vuitton Don returns to the top three on Forbes list for the first time since 2009. His new album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, hit stores in November 2010, earned critical raves and quickly went platinum. His follow-up, Jay-Z collaboration Watch the Throne, debuted on August 8th, 2011.

4. Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter – $15 million (tie)

The lyricist reportedly wrote his first song at age 8 and signed a record deal with Cash Money at 9. He’s now one of rap’s richest, despite serving eight months in jail last year. His latest release, I Am Not A Human Being, made him the first artist since Tupac Shakur to have a No. 1 album while incarcerated.

4. Bryan “Birdman” Williams – $15 million (tie)

Net Worth: $100 million (as of March 2011)

Co-founder of Cash Money Records and one half of the duo Big Tymers, continues to rake in cash from the label, home to fellow Cash Kings Lil Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj. Forbes Magazine excluded Birdman from last year’s list because he is deemed to be more executive than rapper, but was included this year because most rappers on the list have a similar job description.

6. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers – $14 million (tie)

He doesn’t tour as much as many rappers and his outside business interests are limited, but music alone was enough to blast him back into the upper reaches of the FORBES 2011 list. His album Recovery sold 5.7 million copies worldwide and earned 10 Gramm nominations. He added to his coffers with Super Bowl spots for Lipton and Chrysler.

6. Andre “Dr. Dre” Young – $14 million (tie)

Net Worth: $125 million (as of March 2011)

The super producer/rapper, launched the careers of fellow Cash Kings including Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent. He keeps bringing in cash—namely from producer fees and Beats by Dre, HP laptop line, his lucrative headphone venture with Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine.

6. Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus – $14 million (tie)

The ageless wonder of the West Coast turned in another strong year, boosted by new album Doggumentary, heavy touring and endorsements with companies from Metro PCS to Pepsi Max. Icing on the proverbial cake: A verse on Katy Perry’s smash hit “California Gurls.”

9. Aliuane “Akon” Thiam – $13 million

The Senegalese-American singer-songwriter-producer extraordinaire caked up on a string of international concerts from Australia to Zimbabwe, a lucrative World Cup spot with Pepsi, a host of business ventures and hit song “I Just Had Sex,” which has garnered over 115 million YouTube views since its December debut.

10. Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges – $12 million

The self-proclaimed Mouth of the South makes money from much more than just music. This year (2011), he earned big on movie roles including Fast Five, No Strings Attached and New Year’s Eve, as well as endorsements with Tag body spray and Trojan condoms. He also struck partnership deals to launch Soul By Ludacris headphones and a cognac called Conjure.

11. Wiz Khalifa (tie) – $11 million11. Drake (tie) – $11 million13. Pharrell Williams – $10 million14. Timbaland – $7 million15. Swizz Beatz (tie) – $6.5 million15. Nicki Minaj (tie) – $6.5 million17. Rick Ross (tie) – $6 million17. 50 Cent (tie) – $6 million17. Pitbull (tie) – $6 million20. T-Pain (tie) – $5 million20. B.o.B (tie) – $5 million

Richest Rappers 2011 – Wealthiest Hip-Hop Artists

Forbes

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