‘Forbes’ Releases List Of The World’s Highest Paid Hip Hop Acts / Feature Dr. Dre & Nicki Minaj

Published: Tuesday 23rd Sep 2014 by David

jay-z-that-grape-juice-2014-800

Many a rapper may claim to make beaucoup bucks in their material, but very few can say they earn enough each year to catch the attention of business magazine ‘Forbes.’

Unimpressed by the smoke’n’mirrors some lyricists hide behind when the topic of money is brought up, the publication has released their ‘Cash Kings 2014‘ list, which reveals the names of Hip-Hop’s highest earning entertainers!

For a full break down of everyone’s earning click here. For the list itself?

Hit the link below!

Via ‘Forbes’:

To form this year’s Cash Kings list, we considered income from touring, record sales, publishing, merchandise sales, endorsements and other ventures. “Management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted. Earnings are calculated from June 2013 to June 2014 and based on data from Pollstar, the RIAA and Nielsen SoundScan, and from interviews with managers, lawyers, executives and some of the artists themselves.

1. Dr. Dre – $620 million
2. Jay Z – $60 million (tie)
2. Diddy – $60 million (tie)
4. Drake – $33 million
5. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – $32 million
6. Kanye West – $30 million
7. Birdman – $24 million
8. Lil Wayne – $23 million
9. Pharrell Williams – $22 million
10. Eminem – $18 million
11. Nicki Minaj – $14 million
12. Wiz Khalifa – $13 million
13. Pitbull – $12 million
14. Snoop Dogg – $10 million
15. Kendrick Lamar – $9 million
16. Ludacris – $8 million (tie)
16. Tech N9ne – $8 million (tie)
16. Swizz Beatz – $8 million (tie)
16. 50 Cent – $8 million (tie)
20. Rick Ross – $7 million (tie)
20. J. Cole – $7 million (tie)
20. DJ Khaled – $7 million (tie)
20. Lil Jon – $7 million (tie)
20. Mac Miller – $7 million (tie)

Any surprises?

Posted under:

Comments 66

Please Post Your Comments & Reviews

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Nicki is queen September 23, 2014

    Only rap b**** on the list QUEEN!

    • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

      Chiiiile she only made 14milli kii!! FLOOOP!!

      • Steezus September 23, 2014

        lmao she only made 14mil with no album, no tour sales, no profit from her perfumes & that modeling contract she just signed

      • SMH September 23, 2014

        ^^^Exactly. How much did iggy make? We’ll wait….

      • sinsxueda September 24, 2014

        .Are you still single ? You are not alone. JOIN FIND Black Men Dating White Women, Black Women White men dating on==
        ♥ BlackM e nDatingWhiteWomen . o r g ♥ == Thousands of Black Men, Black Women, White Men and White Women Free Join Here Everyday. This common interest will help make dating easier, more effective, and more successful. Have a try. You are not alone.
        xcbxcb

  2. Alex September 23, 2014

    Dre’s Beats deal with Apple just crushed everyone

  3. LB September 23, 2014


    2. Jay Z – $60 million (tie)
    2. Diddy – $60 million (tie)


    B*******!!!!!! Diddy has consistently topped Jay-Z in business prowess, where would Jay-Z get the clout to outdo P.Diddy who has a proven track record of successful business offerings and growth prospects?

    Exactly what growth prospects has Jay-Z undertaken in recent years in order to tie with P.Diddy who has achieved consistency?

    I disagree with this estimate.

    • Making that money September 23, 2014

      You really are a moron, you poor soul.

    • SMH September 23, 2014

      Most likely that’s the money Jay made off of pimping his wife.

    • SURPRISE……(DEC.13) September 23, 2014

      U do realize he is making money from ur FAVE A.K.A (RIHJECTION)
      Secondly, he has a tonnes of endorsement by himself and the ones by artist managed by ROC-NATION(shakira, rihanna,kanye west..e.t.c) Plus he went on tour this year….(MAGNA CARTER TOUR)
      ….Diddy is lucky dey did not add the ON THE RUN TOUR income, if dey did, jay will be over 100 million, because he and Bey made over 84 Million dollars upfront for that tour…#FACTSONLYBITCH

  4. LB September 23, 2014

    “Management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted”

    And that would cut into the supposed earnings of

    Drake
    Nicki Minaj
    Wiz Khalifa
    Kendrick Lamar
    J. Cole

    Specifically the Young Money/Cash Money crew IMO

    • TRUTH SERUM September 23, 2014

      You know the OTR tour was not tallied in those figures. I hate to debate about other people money. Well done, whoever would have thought hip hop would produce so many millionaires and moguls… Congrats

  5. tits mcgee September 23, 2014

    Congrats to all on the list, but damn Dr. Dre
    merked all of y’all. Lol.

  6. Jake September 23, 2014

    Nicki earned 14 million without releasing an album or having a tour. She also wasn’t apart of any film or television (The Other woman was filmed and counted for in 2013).

    • I’m Just Saying September 23, 2014

      Don’t get me wrong, Nicki made good money, but don’t forget that she was on practically every feature, performed shows, magazines, her “first” perfume line, Myx, Beats and clothing line. Considering all of that, 14m is surprisingly low.

      • I’m Just Saying September 23, 2014

        Also, 14m is not considering the overhead deduction. I mean, hey, she has more money than me but she must now realize that selling $5.00 clothes, even in large amounts, will not give her a huge profit. Now that she has the buying market, she needs to step up her clothing line to at least $49.00+ w/o being marked down and placed in a bin.

  7. Theman September 23, 2014

    “The Other Woman” made money this yr, so how didn’t it count?

  8. Mark111 September 23, 2014

    Dre shitted on everyone this year and is always top 5. 50 Cent really fell off and it’s crazy how Em is the highest seller, yet is nowhere close to his boss and artist most of the time. Give it up for Tech N9ne, cause he’s inde and has a very loyal fan base. Diddy is king cause NON of this is from music. That man knows the business.

  9. LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

    That $14 million will be used to pay for the nuthouse fees that schizophrenic bipolar Flopnika Garbaj will be living in after a few more years.

    Karma is a BIATCH!!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vll8aUALTOs

    • TRUTH SERUM September 23, 2014

      The irony of your post… No need for a punch line, you already shaded yourself. I wish Kim would take a page from Mary’s now that’s a true hip hop/ R&B lrngend from our generation.

      • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

        Shut up, b****.

    • Roman September 23, 2014

      How do you have something to say when you’re idol didn’t make the list this year, last year, year before that.. And so on? No one gives a damn about lil s*** face.

      • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

        B****! Lil’ Kim is the cocaine queen. Cocaine money don’t show up on no list, ho. All you see is the Queen Bee dressed in Versace from head to toe looking like a million bucks.

        Stay mad, ho!

    • SMH September 23, 2014

      Did Kim even make 14 dollars in that time period? *sips tea

      • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

        $14 is the amount your crack w**** mother made in the past 3 years slinging her s***** p**** all over the hood at every street corner to every homeless bum who collected enough coins. Know your role, ho!

  10. DRB September 23, 2014

    These are no where near as accurate as people liked to think.

    Unless the artist is attention whorey enough to give over their own numbers,
    it’s all estimated and guesstimates. They’re not looking at private contracts
    and deposit receipts.

  11. Stephon Maurice Jackson September 23, 2014

    Congrats to Dr. Dre & Nicki Minaj. Also, I agree with you MarkyMark. Why is it that Eminem outsells EVERYONE but is no where near 50 Cents & Dr. Dre’s overall net worth?. Or any of his peers. Must not be good in business ventures.

    • Making that money September 23, 2014

      Because Eminem is an idiot.

  12. TRUTH SERUM September 23, 2014

    Queen Nicki is the only woman on that list… Felicitaciones !!!

  13. truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

    14milli kii!!!! Didnt this ho say her STANKN ass had a 250milli deal in the making MONTHS ago kii!!! Insteada superbass she a superFLOP KII!!!

    • TRUTH SERUM September 23, 2014

      The real kii is that your fave didn’t make the too 100. Muah jizz head.

      • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

        Lolol hush ho lol

    • GEEZUS September 23, 2014

      If something is in the making why are you worried about it now? Dumb ass. The education system failed you. And she said and I quote “Forbes should be worrying about WHEN I sell MYX Fusions for 250Million”.. That could be 2 years from now , 5 years from now or 10 years from now. Which have nothing to do with this years Forbes list. So what’s your argument about?

      • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

        (Put one leg over the sun and the other over the moon) eat this p****

    • PEOPLE R IDLE September 23, 2014

      Nicki hardly did anything this year and still made some millions good for her. You arguing about somebody making 14 mil in a year, the average person would never ever make that in their lifetime even you. Stop it and get something to do with your life instead of coming on a blog everyday to hate and troll

      • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

        Goto hell (continues watchn tv)

    • Tisha September 23, 2014

      Poor dumbass truth, fell out of her mama’s loose p**** and cracked your skull years ago.

  14. Career Ender September 23, 2014

    last time I checked, I dragged p**** juice lover ans his flop crew ( slayriah, rihicon, rodriguez, kelly kelly) to exile and now you back trying it wirh me again????
    .
    even that hooee cake like gaga wouldn’t dare . Lb we no longet talk about him
    .
    and that fagggg Faf is gonna have some
    .
    I am Career Ender, amd it shalt remain so lessors!!!!!!!

  15. GEEZUS September 23, 2014

    The real kii is Iggy Azalea booked all them stages last year and payed for that other Billboard article and she’s nowhere near this list. Something’s not right. ☕️

    • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

      Giiiirl shut up

    • CATFISH CAREY September 23, 2014

      DONT BE AN IMBECILE DUDE SHE HAS HER FASHION LABEL
      HER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE AND BEATS BY DRE ENDORSEMENT
      DONT FORGET THE LITTLE FESTIVAL GIGS AND ROYALTIES FROM HER MUSIC EH

  16. GEEZUS September 23, 2014

    14 Milli and she didn’t do s*** from June 2013 to June 2014. Pills and Potions and Anaconda were just released. She’s going to be top 10 next year.

    • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

      Omg u funky ho STFU!!

  17. Corey September 23, 2014

    Where’s Iggy?

  18. mhud September 23, 2014

    Damn…Jayz is f****** ugly for real.Just look at those lips and nose with his elephant thick ugly skin.Big sorry to trash thiefyonce

  19. NOLIES September 23, 2014

    Congrats to ALL, but poor Beyoncé. IDC how much she loves him, it still must be HARD waking up to that face

  20. Metzo September 23, 2014

    Oh at Beyonce making more than her hubby! $115M. #GirlPower
    Who run this motha? Girls!

    But wait, Em’s album sold 4M WW, why isn’t he way up there?

  21. The Great Lacefronce. September 23, 2014

    Onigger is a broke h**!!!:) 🙂

    • Barbie’s World September 23, 2014

      Let’s compare your bank statements to Nicki’s sis.

    • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

      Flopnika Garbaj is a proper broke ho! She is a s**** working for bosses who give her s**** trinkets like designer clothes. That b**** ain’t no boss! She ain’t making money. Her time is up. That b**** is a burning match. Iggy is about to take her spot and bump her out the industry.

      Queen Bee Lil’ Kim is already solidified.

      Lil’ Kim been that rich b****. Her money old like wine in a cellar! The Queen Bee done told y’all on the Black Friday mixtape.

      • Tisha September 23, 2014

        LMAO.

        Damn, your mind is more fcked up than Lil Kim’s weave.

        Yeah, she got all that money and ain’t paying no one for anything, broke as hell with a punk who steals from her.

  22. P**** Juice – Returns September 23, 2014

    Slay Nicki!! Damn Jay Z is a one UGLY ass creature.

    • SURPRISE……(DEC.13) September 23, 2014

      BUT HE IS FUCKKING UR FAVE’S THO……
      RIHJECTION IS STILL TAKING THAT C*** INSIDE HER…LOL

  23. SMH September 23, 2014

    Kim and iggy fans, just hush. There’s nothing you can say about Nicki’s place on this list. Diddy gets props because he hasn’t really done anything high profile and he is constantly placing in the Top 3. The surprising one to me is Pharrell. As a songwriter/producer, you would think he would be much higher on the list. And Dre is in a class by himself.

    • LIL’ KIM IS THE G.O.A.T. September 23, 2014

      Shut yo momma’s p**** lips, b****.

  24. RDK September 23, 2014

    gratz to everyon, and a special gratz to queen nicki. keep doing your thing sista.

    • truth (icki is the QWEEN OF PUSHBACK!! Iggy got her scuured honey. #IckiAFlop) September 23, 2014

      Biitch

  25. Nicki is QUEEN September 23, 2014

    I find it funny that y’all worried about Nicki, nd since the forbes list, has been out..yo fav ain’t even on it.. She made bank at the end of the day, it wasn’t a couple of thousands, but 14 mill.. How much did she make last yr, nd what number did she place??? Ooh I wait. Lowkey I think that’s the real Lil Kim behind “lil kim the GOAT” lbvfs my thing is, this lady ain’t thinkin about u. She’s not gonna mention your name, nd u bringin old s*** up that’ happened how many yrs ago!? U need to be worried about how ppl tlkn about u nd gave yo mixtape all them bad reviews.

  26. Garçon September 23, 2014

    The real kii is Dre made more than the Top 2-20 combined!!!

  27. bibi93 September 23, 2014

    King Dre and queen nicky

  28. Junior in Jamaica September 23, 2014

    Wiz? What he doing to earn? 50 stay on the list yet he aint doing anything prime time.

  29. Xoxo September 24, 2014

    All i see are peasant stans bragging about they fave bank account as if it’s their own.

  30. Mingxxx September 24, 2014

    Well deserved to Mr.DR Dre he is top and the artist he signed. Em 50 and Snoop are on the list

  31. Jawan September 24, 2014

    Queen Nicki will most definitely be higher next year after her album is released and the tour is completed. #ThePinkPrintNov.24

  32. mastering star trail photography video course September 30, 2014

    Now go back towards the layers tab and highlight the
    duplicate layer and look at the top layer. For professional photography
    the initial digital camera you ultimately choose should have
    interchangeable lenses having a high resolution. Now I have not a clue what this diffuser is termed,
    I simply refer to it as a bounce card but I’m unsure if this sounds like technically correct.

Recommended Posts
..**