Support NeoGAF

[DominoKid]

http://www.forbes.com/special-report/2011/cash-king-11.html

01. Jay-Z: $37 million

02. Diddy: $35 million

03. Kanye West: $16 million

04. Lil Wayne: $15 million

04. Birdman: $15 million

06. Eminem: $14 million

06. Dr. Dre: $14 million

06. Snoop Dogg: $14 million

09. Akon: $13 million

10. Ludacris: $12 million

11. Wiz Khalifa: $11 million

11. Drake: $11 million

13. Pharrell Williams: $10 million

14. Timbaland: $7 million

15. Swizz Beatz: $6.5 million

15. Nicki Minaj: $6.5 million

17. Rick Ross: $6 million

17. 50 Cent: $6 million

17. Pitbull: $6 million

20. T-Pain: $5 million

20. B.o.B: $5 million

my thoughts
- no surprise Jay is #1. but he's still #2 in his relationship IIRC
- Birdman is stealing from Wayne/Drake/Nicki
- i bet Pitbull lives a nice life.
- wonder how much of that 11 mil Wiz has burned on weed and Amber Rose
- (edit) nas lost.

 

[SoulPlaya]

I always question of the validity of these lists. I mean, 14 mil for Snoop? Yes, I know he does endorsements, but 14 mil worth?

 

[franknbeans]

I'm surprised how low rick ross is. He put out three albums this year. Arguably the hottest rapper out right now.

 

[DominoKid]

I'm surprised how low rick ross is. He put out three albums this year. Arguably the hottest rapper out right now.

he's not that big on the business/industry side yet. thats where the higher folks (from Akon up) make their money at I think.

Wiz at 11 mil is the puzzling one to me.

 

[exarkun]

he's not that big on the business/industry side yet. thats where the higher folks (from Akon up) make their money at I think.

Wiz at 11 mil is the puzzling one to me.

Dude sells ill t-shirts with the witty shit on em.

 

[miyuru]

Pretty cool list. I thought Pitbull would be higher though considering how popular he is. The other dudes are legends so the list makes sense, but still.

 

[Slayven]

B.o.B should be higher, I swear I heard that song every other minute on tv for about 6 months.

 

[maruchan]

I don't see soulja boy on the list... So how did he buy his new jet?

 

[Recon]

Regarding wiz, the guy is always on tour, so he his making a good chunk doing that.

 

[nns3d]

I don't see soulja boy on the list... So how did he buy his new jet?

Story was fake.

 

[Blackface]

I don't see soulja boy on the list... So how did he buy his new jet?

He didn't. it came out it was a lie.

Most of this money is also not annual, and it's also mostly spent already on taxes, and payments for all the cars/houses etc.,

 

[DominoKid]

last years list for reference
http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/16/jay-z-diddy-akon-business-entertainment-hip-hop-cash-kings.html

#1 Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter – $63m
#2 Sean “Diddy” Combs – $30M
#3 Aliuane “Akon” Thiam – $21M
#4 Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter – $20M
#5 Andre “Dr. Dre” Young – $17M
#6 Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges – $16M
#7 Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus – $15M
#8 Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley – $14M
#9 Pharrell Williams – $13M
#10 Kanye West – $12M
#11 Aubrey “Drake” Graham – $10M
#12 Clifford “T.I.” Harris – $9M (tie)
#12 Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean – $9M (tie)
#14 Marshall “Eminem” Mathers – $8M (tie)
#14 Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson – $8M (tie)

 

[MrHicks]

didn't even know diddy was still around looooool
WTF how?

 

[DominoKid]

didn't even know diddy was still around looooool
WTF how?

cant stop wont stop?

Diddy's a good businessman.

 

[Dastardly Jerks]

Not pictured: Souljah Boy.

EDIT: Beaten.

 

[mysticwhip]

What has Eminem done lately? Did that Royce da 5'9 album do great or something?

 

[Vice]

didn't even know diddy was still around looooool
WTF how?

He's a very good business man and the artists he signs have very bad deals.

 

[Recon]

What has Eminem done lately? Did that Royce da 5'9 album do great or something?

About 400,000 moved right now, not too bad for what it was.

 

[nns3d]

Surprised to see Akon on the list, he hasn't really done alot music-wise outside of Kush with Dre.

 

[Yo Gotti]

Snoop must make the easiest money ever.

All he does is show up in a pimp ass outfit and spit a verse he probably wrote in 15 minutes.

On another note, why do these lists only come out for hip hop artists? I'd like to see what a rock star/country/pop star makes in comparison.

 

[FormallyFamicom]

Surprised to see Akon on the list, he hasn't really done alot music-wise outside of Kush with Dre.

Getting that Lady Gaga money.

 

[DominoKid]

Also, if you're curious how rappers make money, this is a good series of articles

Your Favorite Rapper Is Poor

As if being a rapper could be more unappealing.

 

[Complex Shadow]

Damn. Thougt 50 would be higher. The again, all he's done is troll random twitter followers.

 

[thekad]

Nas lost.

 

[Baby Milo]

Surprised to see Akon on the list, he hasn't really done alot music-wise outside of Kush with Dre.

lady gaga

 

[Gaaraz]

I've never heard of half of those, but the ones I googled look like utter twats, quite sad they've managed to accumulate so much wealth

 

[jtb]

Damn. Thougt 50 would be higher. The again, all he's done is troll random twitter followers.

He basically cashed out on the Vitamin Water deal for a couple hundred million dollars, iirc. Never has to bother with another major promotion/sponsorship deal ever again - let alone make new music.

 

[JABEE]

I always question of the validity of these lists. I mean, 14 mil for Snoop? Yes, I know he does endorsements, but 14 mil worth?

He probably makes a lot through royalties.
Edit:

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.”

I guess he makes a lot off endorsements and that Katy Perry single.

 

[RC]

Is this the soft ass rappers list?

 

[DominoKid]

Is this the soft ass rappers list?

theres probably a lot of overlap.

 

[overcast]

Does it not include the ridiculous amounts 50 makes from Vitamin Water?

Good to see Kanye is making dough, now he can buy more ridiculous clothing items.

 

[Pein]

theres probably a lot of overlap.

Niicki minaj probably has a really soft ass

 

[mysticwhip]

Akon on making music

 

[FantasticMrFoxdie]

Cntrl+F "The Roots" "Nas"

"Not found."


I'm out! Peace.

 

[ampere]

There's a reason Jay-Z didn't retire

 

[overcast]

There's a reason Jay-Z didn't retire

He can, and probably should retire as far as rapping goes. Dude can live off the empire he has built. Plus he has Beyonce at his side.

 

[Salazar]

04. Birdman: $15 million

I ain't heard of this dude, so I assume he's making it from business not from tracks.

 

[GodfatherX]

sadly this list proves that mainstream+ring tone revenue still trumps the biggest and hardest working Indies, for reference top tour revenue the past 4 years or so goes 1. Jay Z, 2. Kanye West, 3. Lil Wayne, 4. Tech N9ne...an indie with zero mainstream push who does 200+ sold out shows a year, and doesnt come close to cracking this list (think he took in 2 mil last year)

I ain't heard of this dude, so I assume he's making it from business not from tracks.

Co-owner of Cash Money Records, label home of Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj, also a rapper himself best work was when he was being carried by Mannie Fresh in Big Tymers

kind of a douche the couple times I met him way back in the day

 

[Ominym]

01. Jay-Z: $37 million

Well theres a shocker.

17. 50 Cent: $6 million

 

[Oblivion]

Why is Dr. Dre so high up there? He hasn't come out with any songs in like a decade.

 

[Pickles the Firecat]

Why is Dr. Dre so high up there? He hasn't come out with an songs in like a decade.

Production + Record Label + Endorsements.

 

[DominoKid]

Cntrl+F "The Roots" "Nas"

"Not found."


I'm out! Peace.

Nas cant even afford his child support payments.

 

[Ephemeris]

Remember seeing Akon on the list last year and being surprised.

Dude is doing his thing .

 

[PhoenixDark]

Jay-Z made more than Beyonce this year

 

[TheOddOne]

Akon on making music

Lady Gaga and T-Pain bringing in that money.

 

[GodfatherX]

Why is Dr. Dre so high up there? He hasn't come out with an songs in like a decade.

residual pay for:
Dr. Dre - Nuthin But A G Thang (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
Dr. Dre - Deep Cover (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
Dr. Dre - Xxplosive (Feat. Hittman, Kurupt, Nate Dogg & Six-Two)
50 Cent - In Da Club
Snoop Dogg - Gin and Juice (Feat. Jewell)
Dr. Dre - Fuck Wit Dre Day (and Everybodys Celebratin) (Feat. Snoop Dogg, Jewell & RBX)
Dr. Dre - Still D.R.E. (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton
2pac - California Love(Feat. Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman)
Snoop Dogg - Bitch Please (Feat. Xzibit)
Eminem - Guilty Conscience (Feat. Dr. Dre & Richard segal Huredia)
Eve - Let Me Blow Your Mind (Feat. Gwen Stefani)
Dr. Dre - Let Me Ride (Feat. Jewell & Ruben)
Game How We Do (Feat. 50 Cent)
N.W.A. - **** Tha Police
Dr. Dre - Forgot About Dre (Feat. Eminem)
Dr. Dre - The Next Episode (Feat. Snoop Dogg)
Eminem - My Name is (Feat. Dr. Dre)


to name a few

 

[George Claw M.D.]

Why is Dr. Dre so high up there? He hasn't come out with an songs in like a decade.

Production + Record Label + Endorsements.

Yup. I wonder how much he makes off the Beats by Dre headphones. It's amazing how many I see out there, at their price point.

As for 50, he doesn't make as much, year to year, but he made $400M off his 10% investment in Vitamin water, when Coca-Cola bought it out for $4.1B. Unless he's foolish with his money, the guy is set for life.

 

[Zizbuka]

Not sure I know the difference between hip hop and rap, but it doesn't look like rap really sells all that great. I'm guessing the hot pop/rock acts make a lot more?

 

[RC]

Not sure I know the difference between hip hop and rap, but it doesn't look like rap really sells all that great. I'm guessing the hot pop/rock acts make a lot more?

Weak ass shit sells. The mainstream's dominated by ringtone and novelty rappers.

 

[ShinobiFist]

With all the business ventures that Diddy has, I assume he would be number 1. Good hustling Jay.