Top Richest Rappers in the World: There is no doubt that the rap and hip-hop industry has produced and continues to produce some of the wealthiest artists in history, despite being plagued by controversy and the target of severe criticism for decades. In addition, the rise of social media has enabled both contracted and independent artists to generate additional income streams. As rappers have a propensity to flaunt their wealth and possessions, we are familiar with expensive items such as Drake’s $20 million YOLO estate, Jay-Z’s $28 million Rolls Royce Boat Tail convertible that he purchased with his wife Beyonce, and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ fleet of fast cars. Here is a ranking of the ten wealthiest musicians of 2022.
1. Ice Cube
Net Worth- $160,000,000
With a net worth of $160 million, O’Shea Jackson, better known as Ice Cube, follows closely behind Young Money Millionaire. Cube also started composing raps at age fourteen. Prior to the formation of N.W.A., he sold his first rap to Eazy-E at the age of sixteen. Cube then created his own group, C.I.A., and released “My Posse,” a song produced by Dr Dre. Approximately at the same time, they founded the N.W.A. group, contributing lyrics to Dr Dre, Eazy-E, and half of the other members.
Subsequently, he departed the group in 1988 after payment issues arose for his lyrical and writing contributions. Shortly thereafter, he pursued a solo career, publishing the platinum-selling albums AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Kill At Will. In addition to his burgeoning hip-hop career, he starred in John Singleton’s 1991 criminal drama Boyz n The Hood, alongside Cuba Gooding Jr., Morris Chestnut, Nia Long, and Regina King.
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2. Lil Wayne
Net Worth- $170 Million
Lil Wayne, a rapper from New Orleans, began his career at the tender age of twelve after being signed to the Cash Money Records label by Birdman. He is as influential and lucrative as the former Louisiana rapper. As the youngest lyricist on the record label, he would become one of his generation’s most influential rappers.
Under Cash Money Records, he became one of the best-selling musicians in history and even surpassed Elvis Presley in terms of Billboard Top 100 chart appearances. His solo career has accounted for the majority of his over 100 million record sales worldwide.
3. Master P
Net Worth- $200,000,000
Master P is one of the most multitalented and business-savvy musicians on this list. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Percy Miller has always possessed a keen business sense, even entering the hip-hop industry. The city of Louisiana is renowned for its musical talent, which has produced, among others, the idiosyncratic rapper Lil Wayne, C-Murder, Juvenile, Kevin Gates, Boosie Badazz, and NBA YoungBoy. Master P’s first investment, made with $10,000 bequeathed from his grandfather, was in No Limit Records, a record store-turned-record label.
The rest, as they say, is history. Together with his two siblings, C-Murder and Silkk The Shocker, he founded the label. He would sell more than seven million albums during his rap career.
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4. Eminem
Net Worth- $230 Million
Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem, is one of the finest talents in the history of rap. After his parents’ divorce, he would move to a predominantly black neighbourhood in Detroit, despite being born in Missouri. In 1996, he released his debut album titled Infinite under the alias Slim Shady, which he adopted in the late 1990s when he began his career under various aliases.
In 1999, he signed with Dr Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, which catapulted his notoriety into the mainstream. After publishing several successful albums with Dr Dre, he made his acting debut in the 2002 musical drama 8 Mile, which also starred Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Kim Basinger, Michael Shannon, and Anthony Mackie.
5. Drake
Net Worth- $250 Million
Drake, a Canadian-born rapper, has become synonymous with both hip hop and R&B. Drake, however, began his career as an actor on the Canadian television series Degrassi: The Next Generation, in contrast to the majority of those on this list whose rise to prominence was through a career in hip hop. In 2010, he released his chart-topping studio album, Thank Me Later, which featured artists such as Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, and T.I. He began his transition to music in the mid-2000s.
After releasing multiple successful albums, he would earn tens of millions of dollars annually. He even retains the record for most digital singles sold, numbering more than 163 million.
6. Pharrell Williams
Net Worth – $250,000,000
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, as well as for some time afterwards, Pharrell Williams introduced a new era of music by introducing a new form of hip-hop that was infused with R&B and pop. In the early 1990s, he created the hip-hop group Surrounded by Idiots with his cousin and fellow producers Timbaland and Chad Hugo, but they disbanded before recording any music.
Afterwards, he founded the Neptunes, who were discovered by producer Teddy Riley at a high school musical performance. A few years later, they began to collaborate with the rap duo Clipse, comprised of Pusha T and Malice. Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, and Beyonce are among the artists for whom Pharrell and The Neptunes have produced compositions. His current net worth is $250 million.
7. Dr Dre
Net Worth- $500 Million
Dr Dre, one of the founding fathers of the west coast form of rap, can be found on the West Coast after leaving the East Coast. Along with rapper/actor Snoop Dogg, Ice-Cube, Ice T, and other members of the N.W.A. rap ensemble including Eazy-E, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, he helped pave the way for “gangsta rap.” Although he has collaborated on a few classic rap compositions with the late Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, he truly excelled as a producer.
8. Sean “Diddy” Combs
Net Worth- $900 million.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, P. Diddy, or Diddy Love – whichever one you prefer – is another name that has been resonating in hip hop circles for decades. At 53 years old, the native of Harlem, New York appears to have tried his hand at everything. A large portion of Combs’ success and renown can be attributed to The Notorious B.I.G., also known as Biggie Smalls, whom he discovered and founded his own record label, Bad Boy, in 1993. Bad Boy also signed rappers Lil’ Kim, Craig Mack, Bow Wow, and Machine Gun Kelly, as well as singer/actress and erstwhile wife of the late Biggie Smalls, Faith Evans.
9. Jay-Z
Net Worth- $1,300,000,000
Jay-Z is well-known for much more than his marriage to Beyonce Knowles, the pop queen and actress. The rapper, record producer, and entrepreneur from Brooklyn, New York has established himself as one of the greatest rappers in history. Multiple artists, such as Savage x Fenty CEO and vocalist Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Megan Thee Stallion, and rapper Big Sean, have become famous as a result of his founding of the talent and entertainment agency Roc-Nation.
10. Kanye West
Net Worth- $6.6 Billion
A man who can certainly place his money where his mouth is is about to cross off the list. Over the past few months, Kanye West has taken centre stage in the headlines owing to the controversies he remains engaged in, despite the fact that he has been a topic of conversation on a worldwide scale for more than a decade. According to Best Selling Albums, West has sold close to 36 million records over the duration of his solo rap career, establishing himself as one of the most diverse and unique rap artists in hip hop.
While he continues to release music, he is also active as a fashion designer, having previously collaborated with Nike, Gap, Louis Vuitton, and A.P.C. and releasing his Adidas-collaborated Yeezy fashion wear. His net worth is currently $6.6 billion.
