Rappers and hip-hop artists are notorious for being showy with their wealth from the enormous houses, jewelry, flashy clothes, and fast cars.
So you may wonder who the richest rappers are, how much are they paid and what their net worth is. This article looks at 12 of the highest-paid rappers in the world and their income streams.
1. Kanye West
Kanye West is said to be one of the world’s highest-paid rappers. And according to Forbes, his net worth is estimated to be in the range of billions. His brand, Yeezy, is racking in millions of dollars, thus increasing his net worth.
Kanye West works as a rapper, record producer, fashion designer, songwriter, and businessman. He is a billionaire who knows how to make his money work for him by investing in various sectors. The latest estimates show that West has a net worth of $6.6 billion. Two of his most popular songs are Stronger and Gold Digger.
2. Jay-Z ( Shawn Corey Carter)
Shawn Corey Carter going by the name Jay Z is among the highest-paid rappers this year, and he doubles as a songwriter, record producer, media proprietor, and businessman. Apart from making money from music, Jay-Z also has investments in major clothing lines, record companies, and nightclubs.
He founded a record label by the name Roc-A-Fella in 1996 and helped a lot of people. This record company is where Kanye West gained fame as a producer by helping to produce singles for mainstream artists. Jay-Z was the richest rapper worldwide and the first to hit a billion net worth until April 2020.
As of 2021, Jay-Z’s net worth is approximately $1.3 billion.
3. Diddy ( Sean Combs)
Born in New York and brought up in the suburbs of Mount Vernon, Diddy is among the top highest-paid rappers in 2021. Before establishing his record label, Bad Boy Records, back in 1993, Sean Combs worked as a talent director at Uptown Records. Diddy’s income stream comes from his work as a record producer, rapper, record executive, and investment in big companies, such as Revolt T.V. and Ciroc Vodka, to name but a few.
Before Kanye West and Jay-Z emerged as the top paid rappers with various streams of income that catapulted their net worth, Diddy was the highest-paid rapper of all time. Sean Combs’s net worth is around $900 million.
4. Dr. Dre (Andre Romelle)
Dr. Dre is from Crompton, California, and is considered one of the best hip-hop artists. Andre Romelle was the co-founder of Beats Electronics, later sold to Apple for $3 billion, and is now known as Beat by Dre. His collaboration with Snoop Dogg for The Next Episode is became successful hit worldwide and gained fame ever since.
He started his career in hip-hop at N.W.A but later went solo. As of 2021, Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth to be around $780 million.
5. Percy Rober Miller
Also famously known as Master P is in the list of highest-paid rappers in 2021. This former basketball player makes his working as a rapper, author, philanthropist, producer, actor, and entrepreneur.
Master P received an inheritance of $10,000. He used it to establish a record store that grew into a record label and a commercial empire (P. Miller) tied to various sectors, such as telecommunication and real estate. That goes to show his entrepreneurial skills.
As of 2021, Percy Robert Miller’s net worth is estimated to be around $245 million.
6. Eminem
Eminem is among the highest-paid rappers globally, and his music resonates with many people who faced struggles in their childhood. Eminem moved a lot when he was a child and struggled to make friends, and was bullied. His story inspires him to write songs that condemn bullying and promote inclusion.
Being a white rapper in a field dominated by black Americans, Eminem faced racial discrimination. However, this did not deter him from making music, showing up, and performing at shows, and now he is known as one of the highest-paid white rappers worldwide. Apart from being a rapper, actor, and songwriter, Eminem is also the founder of Shady Records.
As of 2021, Marshall Bruce Mather’s net worth is estimated to be around $230 million. Eminem’s Rap God is one of the most repeated songs on ListenOnRepeat with over 1 million repeats.
7. Pharell Lanscilo Williams
Pharell William ranks 7 in the list of highest-paid rappers in 2021. Williams is an American Rapper who also makes money as a songwriter, record and film producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. He is the founder of the “I am OTHER” record label, encompassing entertainment, music, fashion, and art. Williams also has a YouTube channel and a textile company, Bionic Yarn.
In 2015, Pharell Williams also debuted his first-ever video game app, Battle For Big Blue, so you can also invest in video games to earn money.
As of 2021, Pharell Lanscilo Williams’s net worth is estimated to be around $200 million.
8. Aubrey Drake Graham
Popularly referred to as Drake, he is a Canadian rapper who has several Grammy, Juno, and B.E.T. Awards. Apart from being a rapper, Drake works as an actor, songwriter, and record producer.
He also runs a clothing line, a record label, a radio station, and a rich real estate portfolio. Drake’s acting gained recognition when he appeared on the teen drama series Degrassi. He is also an ambassador for the N.B.A.’s Toronto Raptors.
As of 2021, Audrey Drake Graham’s net worth is estimated to be around $190 million.
9. Ice Cube
Ice Cube is a rapper, songwriter, actor, record producer, and filmmaker. Ice Cube started his hip-hop career as a member of C.I.A, a hip-hop group, and later left to join N.W.A. In December 1989, Ice Cube left N.W.A and built a successful career as a rapper and actor.
It was that time when he immersed himself in acting and produced several popular blockbusters to date. Ice Cube featured in Ride Along, Barbershop, and Boyz N the Hood.
Ice Cube’s net worth is approximately $160 million.
10. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr
He is popularly known as Lil Wayne, an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He started his singing career at the age of 9, where he joined Cash Money Records. Since then, Lil Wayne has sold millions of records and collaborated with other famous artists.
He also works as a writer and writes columns for various newspapers, and has produced popular records for other artists.
Lil Wayne’s net worth is estimated to be around $158 million.
11. Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. is a rapper from Long Beach, California. He also works as an actor, songwriter, media personality, and businessman.
Snoop Dogg started his career as a rapper in 1992 when Dr. Dre gave him a chance and included him in his first solo album, The Chronic. Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg – Still Dre become a superhit collaboration in now time for both. He ranks 11 in the list of highest-paid rappers, and his net worth is around $150 million.
12. Ll Cool J
James Todd Smith is an American hip-hop artist and a double Grammy winner. LL Cool J had a tough childhood faced with domestic violence but emerged as a child prodigy. At the age of 11, he started writing music.
He works as a songwriter, actor, author, and entrepreneur. His net worth is around $120 million.
Final Thoughts
Rappers are an excellent source of entertainment, as they deliver great beats accompanied by meaningful messages. This article provides you with a list of the highest-paid rappers in the world. It would be great to look at the highest-paid female rappers, like Eve, Nicki Minaj, and Cardi B.
Who is your favorite highest-paid rapper, and why? Write your comment below.
