Back in 2007, Sean “Diddy” Combs teamed with Jay Z and 50 Cent to create a song titled “I Get Money: Forbes 1-2-3 Billion Dollar Remix.” Less than a decade later, rappers are closing in on ten-figure fortunes, and he’s the nearest of the bunch.
Diddy leads the pack with an estimated fortune of $700 million, an increase of $120 million over his net worth last year. The change comes largely from the addition of Revolt TV—the new, music-focused, multi-platform channel of which he’s the majority owner—to his already-hefty portfolio.
Diddy has plenty of competition in the race to $1 billion. His top challengers are Dr. Dre, who ranks second with $550 million, and Jay Z, in third place with an estimated $520 million. The former leapfrogged the latter on this year’s Forbes Five thanks to a large stake in Beats By Dr. Dre, which he cofounded with Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine in 2008.
The company controls an astounding two-thirds of the premium headphone market, with annual sales reportedly in excess of $1 billion and growing. Private equity firm Carlyle invested $500 million for a minority stake last year, pushing Beats’ value past $1 billion and likely closer to $2 billion.
“Beats has a unique brand—it speaks to a nice young demographic, which is really interesting to marketers,” says Peter Csathy, former president of Musicmatch, an early digital music purveyor acquired by Yahoo YHOO +0.11% in 2004 for $160 million. “When I think about Beats, I think about it as a lifestyle, I think of it as a media company, not just a hardware and music-focused company.”
Jay Z’s fortune continues to grow at a healthy clip, too. He’s made multiple nine-figure deals in the past, including his $204 million Rocawear sale in 2007 and his $150 million pact with Live Nation in 2008. But much of his recent growth comes from Roc Nation, his record label and management firm that recently added a sports agency. The outfit gets a single-digit cut of pacts like Robinson Cano’s $240 million monster agreement.
Bryan “Birdman” Williams, whose net worth would be over $300 million if he didn’t share his fortune with brother Ronald “Slim” Williams. The duo cofounded Cash Money Records two decades ago; Cash Money continues to grow with a roster that includes Drake, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne. Birdman has also diversified with Cash Money Content, GT Vodka and the YMCMB clothing line.
Rounding out the list is 50 Cent, who owes most of his fortune to his $100 million haul from the sale of Vitaminwater in 2007. Now he’s trying to repeat the feat with companies like SMS Audio and SK Energy beverages. In the meantime, he’ll reboot his music career by taking his G-Unit Records independent and releasing new album Animal Ambition in June.Culled from Forbes.
Note: This story is an expanded version of a piece that ran in the May 5, 2014 issue of FORBES magazine.
91 comments:
First. Anyone who need my nude picture hit mai name
Good for their women!
Well deserved
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Congrats to them.
Surprised BirdMan made this List.
Much Respect to Dr Dre! He's the Oga at the Top in Rap-Beat Production.
Good to know but all this ones don't have money compared to our politicians. Ths is then kind of money they steal at once. 9ja tins
How can these story have run on May 5 2014 and today is April 18 2014. Did I travel back in time or Linda you got these story from the future.
Wow wow wow....dis guys are loaded
Money talks
Viva LA Hova. "I'm not a businessman,I'm a business mehn"
~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA3310
50cent nwa abakaliki........, diddy eze ogu, jay z onu ikputu, dre agadi ekwenka, birdman wit ur face I dnt need a blackboard. Now that's 4 d anony dat called me a psychopath. Hehehehe! Though u didn't get d spelling well.
Wooow...
Libers umune'm, Pls who has a full Video of Kim Kardashian's sex tape. I tried downloading it but can't get a real video. Pls if u do send me ur no, so I can forward my Mail or bb pin. I seriously need dat video for smtn. Thanks lovers.
This thing is really starting to get boring, for many yrs nw this five men has always been the richest artiste in the game.... I need new faces abeg even though ojoro go dey involve abeg make e dey.....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
So upon all the money i think say jayz get pop daddy rich pass am..... This serious..
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
this guy get the money too
Libers guess what? Just guess.....
2000 years ago, that fool JudasIscariot just received a credit alert for selling our lord and only Saviour Jesus christ.
Linda May 5th 2014 Ke??? Hw possible is that wen we are still in April 2014!
Why Eminem's name is not on the list? Maybe is the list of the wealthiest African-American Hip-hop artists.
............PRAY4NIGERIA............
Wow 50 at the bottom?
Too much moni
Illuminati Money, Illuminati thins. No be only through music the cash they pump in ooh....Congrats to only those their hard work paid
Yeah , they have been working for long . Love dem all.
Wow! No wonder all them girls want diddy
Where is Alibaba, come nd mk a case too, afterall u mk a case for show off, nw mk a case for investments...
Ricky and lil tunchi, didn't make first five? With all these their plenty talking about $
Big boys for real! But where's ma Kanye? Like wtf am vexing o. Lol congrats u guys. Hardwork pays!
Am back to address those gay guys on ds blog always hiding behind anonymous. I beg u to show ur face so that we can move u to ur permanent residence (14 years rent paid in full). I dare u!
Funny thing is that none of them make their most money from music.
Dem ogbogen artist try oo See the artist dey dance for here
All Men?
Hit my name to read on HOW TO HANDLE THE TIMES WHEN THE BED IS SO SHORT YOU CAN HARDLY STRETCH YOURSELF
Oscourfe I know my JayZ wouldbe there. Luv me some JayZ.
woooow... diddy now worths a whole lot of money... sorry jay for dropping to third.
www.legitstuffs.com
Money talks, angry at my self right now
Linda..it would be nice if u publish the top ten or five popular commenters on lib, ten most stupid commenters like ed Dreams, funny commenters like Bona and Onyx and best Anonymous commenters with tags like nwunye emi. U know, we are now like a family...lols. #IndispensableSTAR#
We r still in April. Linda dn fastfoward to may hahahaha
Are you looking for a sugar mummy or daddy please call dis line 08132333771 please be mature
Who cares??
Dis guyz speak money mehn... The product of hardwork. Congrats @Sean Combs 'Diddy'
Mehn, see figures! This guys are more of businessmen now, making money through owning record labels. I can't remember listening to a recent song by Diddy, Dre or 50. I don't even know this Birdman.
Nigeria Gossip News
Good for them ooooo
hmm
With all kanye's gragra......... 50 even pass am........shiorrrrr
With all of kanye's gragra......50 even pass am.....shior
puffy always topping the chart......first hip hop billionaire in the making.
puffy always topping the chart......first hip hop billionaire in the making.
No be beans
Yeah..nice taught. Anonymous 9:19AM
O boy yeee Pigdin tori
Na turn by turn..
Dr. Dre's making mad money even in extinction. Lmao.
I second that motion!
Jay Z is behind Dr. Dre nw, nice1 Dre.
Rich Ni**as makin' Rich decisions
Congrats to dem,may God bless all our hustles this year
###################GOD###################################################punish#####################################################devil##################
Artists? They are businessmen, since no one here made the money from record sales.In fact, no-one can these days.
Where is rick ross ind is list, after he wil b callin himself 'BOSS'.
Is only a fool dat bear such a name, yinotinto. See ur face like shark wen wear gurgle
Most musicians here don't have other things doing aside music that is y at their old old age or when their music stop selling they become cashless.
wherz the real slim shady on dis list?
Jay Z money don drop sha...congrate to them all...I will meet you guyz at the top also.
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Man Caught with another Mans wife in their Matrimonial Bed
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Thank you Linda, you such an amazing woman you can.... with you blog i can travel to the future ( May 5 2014) and be back as well. lol
Young man, whts crious abt dat, get some senses in2 ur brain o, if u don't av buy...
Grrrr! Diddy keeps being on top *angry* oh well, proud of Jigga. From selling coke to making legit money and being on Obama's speed dial(lol) nor easy.
"No doupt" sorry doubt"!
If u cnt beat dem chris, u join dem shuuuuuu? Envy much!
"No doupt" sorry doubt"!
Mr Bonario! You have upgraded o, stop using Nokia3310, abi u want make Nokia sue u for not being a good ambassador. Lol
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What caves do you people live in? Don't you know that magazines are published with a future date. If it's weekly, it's a week ahead and if it's monthly, it's a month ahead. Gees!
Hmmmmmm good
Bonario I nevr upgrade to Nokia lumia?? Nwanne drop dis 3310 jor
*You
Bona bona,don't telme nokia has nt given u ur lumia yet,abi y avnt u upgraded ur signature??no mind nokia dem just follow u do april Fool ni**winkz*i loff u like soko milo*kisses!
I have it.... send me ur numba or BlackBerry pin
how come dr dre is still making money??
WORD...4rm carter
Fool@11:45.. For the simple fact you replied to her comment. Shows you are a full blown Gay.. Heaven will strike you dead.
Hehehe.. Anonymous 9:19am. Good thought.. Linda
Pls give it a thought ..
Good for them.
Super rich entertainment moguls. Why the hell didn't Kanye and Drake make it? Oh well! Diddy is still da best
Show ur face!
Dr. Dre has always been ma man since 2pac's demise. Congrat Dre!
Bona no cHange am till u collect d lumia shikina
Anonymous gay ode, kindly show ur face n let us show u ur new abode.
U don't read.. Bird man was deir ever since...... Still dsame guys.. Dey just added to deir fortune
See you at the top.
Your a horrible person. You derive joy in talking shit..
u pple lied jor.. my boyfreind olamide is richer than them.
My thots exactly...
Lol......I can't stop laughing. I've been moody since morning but I feel much better now after sighting your write up . If beyonce catches you, hmmmmm you will be hot soup for calling her man "onu ikputu" hahaha hahaha. ....ochi atogbu gom
Lol. .....I can't stop laughing .I've been moody since morning but I was much better on sighting your write up. If beyonce catches you, you will be in hot soup for calling her man "onu ikputu". Haha hahaha. ......ochi atogbu gom
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