Flashing their extravagant mansions and posting selfies on luxurious travel destinations. Rappers like a lavish lifestyle. And you must be wondering who the richest rappers in the world are?
But rappers don’t earn only from their music and record labels but also smart investments and brand endorsement deals.
Today we are going to talking about the 15 richest rappers in the world but made stacks of throughout their careers.
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Nicki Minaj – $80 Million Net Worth
We start our list of the 15 richest rappers in the world in 2021 with Nicki Minaj. Before making it big, Nicki Minaj was struggling to become an actress. Instead, she rose to fame after being discovered by Rapper Lil Wayne. She released several mixtapes before her debut album “Pink Friday.” Pink Friday was Nicki Minaj’s ticket to fame and sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. Nicki Minaj is a ten-time Grammy-nominated rapper with over 100 accolades to her name.
She also earns a hefty amount from endorsement deals with brands like the MAC makeup line and her own successful fragrances business.
Fun fact: After noticing the popular smartphone apps created by her rivals Britney Spears and Katy Perry, she cashed on the trend too. In December 2016 ‘Nicki Minaj: The Empire’ smartphone game was launched.
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LL Cool J – $120 Million Net Worth
Rapper and actor James Todd Smith is known by his stage name LL Cool J hails from New York. His career began quite early when he recorded his own tracks and sent them out to record labels when he was just 16. He is known as a pioneering figure of the pop-rap revolution in the US because of his contributions.
His single “I need a beat” was an instant hit that sold over 100,000 copies. Because of the fame, he got from his single; he dropped out of high school to follow his calling. After dropping out, he released his debut album, which sold over half a million copies and went platinum. He is also a successful TV actor appearing on the crime drama ‘NCIS: Los Angeles’ for which he earns $350,000 per episode.
Fun fact: LL Cool J is also a writer. He has written two fitness books, a children’s book and also a memoir.
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Birdman – $163 Million Net Worth
Birdman is the founder and CEO of the record label Cash Money Records. He founded this record label in 1989 with his brother Ronald “Slim Williams.” Before launching his record label, Birdman was a group of DJ Mannie Fesh and Big Tymers. However, he bid farewell to the group and launch his record label.
In the following years, Cash Money gradually become a music empire because of discovering artists like Nicki Minaj, Drake, and Lil Wayne. His record label is also one of the most commercially successful hip-hop labels selling over 50 million records and counting.
Fun fact: Birdman has also been in the limelight because of his endless beef and legal issues, but he has evaded bankruptcy, unlike other hip-hop artists like 50 Cent.
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Snoop Dogg – $152 Million Net Worth
Snoop Dogg is an icon in the hip-hop and rap industry. This hip-hop legend hails from Long Beach, California. Like many hip-hop artists, Snoop Dogg was discovered by Dr.Dre in 1992. He was later featured in Dr.Dre’s first solo album “Chronic.”
He is also a successful businessman and investor. He loves smoking pot and invests heavily in startups in the CBD industry. Snoop D also owns a smartphone app, “Snoopify,” which earns $30,000 weekly in sales.
Fun Fact: He married his high school sweetheart Shante Taylor.
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Pharrell Williams – $150 Million Net Worth
Pharrell Williams is an American musician and entrepreneur. He is the lead singer for the rock band N.E.R.D. His solo career has also been quite successful. Pharell’s single ‘Happy’ shot him to the popularity and went 7x platinum. He is also a savvy investor and launched his record label I am OTHER. Apart from his record label, he also owns a textile business, ‘Bionic Yarn.’
Pharell is a fashion icon too. Esquire named him the best-dressed man in the world once. In addition, he is only the 12th artist to grab the number 1 and number 2 position on the Billboard hot 100 at the same time.
Fun fact: Pharell loves to skateboard and also has a half-pipe inside his home.
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Lil Wayne – $158 Million Net Worth
Lil Wayne has been a musician since he was nine and is also a Grammy award-winning singer. Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records at nine in 1991, making him the label’s youngest singer. After he spilled from Cash Money Records and Birdman, his career took off. Later Lil Wayne started his own record label Young Money.
Under his label, he launched superstar hip-hop artists like Drake and Nicki Minaj, who are now global superstars because of him.
Fun fact: He is the first-ever male artist to surpass king Elvis Presley’s record with the highest Billboard Hot 100 songs.
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Ice Cube – $160 Million Net Worth
Ice cube isn’t only a hip-hop artist but also a successful actor and filmmaker. He started his career with the hip-hop band C.I.A and N.W.A later on. His solo career as hip-hop and rap artist was path-breaking, releasing 10 solo albums in his illustrious career. He took the Hollywood road after his solo career appearing in comedies and children’s movies.
A lot of his net worth also comes from his entrepreneurial ventures. He owns a clothing line named Sole by Cube and a 3 on 3 basketball franchise, Big3.
Fun fact: He was a child protégé and wrote rhymes at the age of just 9. He sold his first single to Eazy-E when he was 16.
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Drake – $180 Million Net Worth
Unlike other hip-hop artists on this list, Drake’s career began differently. Before making it big in hip-hop, Drake was a beloved child actor on the Canadian teen soap opera “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” His talent was discovered by Lil Wayne in 2009, who instantly signed him for his record label. His debut album was a rave across the globe. The album debuted at the number 1 spot on the charts across several countries and also went platinum. His single One Dance was a hit and led the Billboard charts for eight weeks.
Drake isn’t just a successful rapper and hip-hop artist but an entrepreneur as well. He is a global ambassador for the Toronto Raptors and a co-owner of a whiskey brand “Virginia Black Whiskey.”
Fun fact: He has a portion of Jay Z lyrics inked on his leg.
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Usher – $180 Million Net Worth
Usher has been actively working in the music industry for over two decades. His albums have sold over 43 million copies thus far. His 1997 album ‘My Way’ rose him to stardom selling eight million copies worldwide. This was the album that won him his first 2 Grammys as well. In 2004 Usher released the album Confessions.’ Confessions weren’t just a successful album but solidified Usher as one of the best-selling artists of all time too.
Aside from music, Usher stays busy with his Philanthropy ventures. His charity ‘New Look Foundation’ works to provide aids for children in foster care, camps for at-risk youth, and more.
Fun Fact: As a kid, he was a part of a church singing choir in Chattanooga.
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Master P – $200 Million Net Worth
Master P hasn’t released an album in over a decade but still grabs a spot on our list. How is that possible? Master P is an intelligent businessman and investor and earns a hefty amount outside his musical pursuits. He started making stacks of cash when his record label No Limit Records was cashing in on the hip-hop trend around the US.
Now No Limit Records is not only a music label but a money-making empire. No limit is also a film production company, travel agency, clothing line, and much more.
Fun fact: He didn’t graduate because he had a contract to play for the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Rappers in the 1999 pre-season.
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Eminem – $230 Million Net Worth
Who isn’t familiar with the Rap God himself? Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known by his stage name Eminem is the ultimate underdog story. He is a true example of how dedication can take you from rags to riches. He was a freestyle rapper on the streets until he met Dr.Dre in 1997, and the rest is a tale of legends.
Most of the rappers on our list have won a Grammy. No big deal, right? But Eminem always seems to stay ahead of the game. He is the first-ever rap or hip-hop artist to win an Oscar for Best Original Song for the movie 8 miles.
Fun fact: He was bullied in school and got a severe head injury once. He talks about this incident in his song ‘Brain Damage.’
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Dr. Dre – $820 Million Net Worth
Next up on our list of the richest rappers in the world in 2021 is Dr.Dre. Dr.Dre earns most of his income from his business ventures. However, he also collects millions in royalties launching stars like Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, and even Eminem. Andre Young, aka Dr. Dre, began his career in the ’80s with the band N.W.A.
After an illustrious career, Dr. Dre built a headphone brand ‘Beats by Dr.Dre.’ In the following decade, Beats took over the globe by storm – from footballers to pop stars, everyone had a beats headphone. Finally, apple took notice of the growing popularity and bought the company from Dr. Dre with a whopping price tag of $3 billion.
Fun fact: Rolling Stone magazine ranked Dr.Dre at 56 spots on their round-up list of “100 Greatest Artists of All-Time”.
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Diddy – $ 885 Million Net Worth
Diddy hails from New York and is also known by his fans as Puff Daddy. Early on in his career, he started working at Uptown Records and later launched his own record label Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993. His label launched hip-icons like the Notorious B.I.G and mase.
Diddy is a smart businessman and investor with the nickname ‘Money Making Mitch.’ His Sean John clothing company and a line-up have both been successful business ventures. He also had a reality TV show Making the Band which was widely popular on MTV.
Fun fact: Like other wealthy people on the planet, he is also a college dropout.
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Jay Z – $1 Billion Net Worth
If you are familiar with hip-hop history, then you know how talented and not to mention wealthy this man really is. Sean Carter, aka Jay Z, has won over 20 Grammy in his illustrious career and selling a record-breaking over 100 million records thus far.
A huge chunk of his over 1$ billion net worth comes from his entrepreneurial ventures and investments. He has made investments in sports teams, record companies and owns clothing lines, nightclubs, and more. But number 1 is remaining on our richest rappers in the world 2021
Fun fact: Jay Z holds the record for the most number #1 albums on the Billboard 200 charts, 14.
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Kanye West – $3.2 Billion Net Worth
This controversial rapper is always making the headlines because of his opinions and outspoken comments. But, Kanye West has been an influential figure in the hip-hop industry breaking barriers throughout his career. A large portion of his net worth comes from his successful fashion business ventures. His net worth grew from $175 million to almost $3 billion in a few years because of the right partnerships and investments.
His Yeezy collaboration with Adidas is a brand that generates over $1 billion in revenue per year. Because of this collaboration, Adidas pays him a whopping $100-115 million in royalties per year. His Yeezy lineup has also collaborated with other big brands like Nike and LV.
Fun Fact: He recorded the track ‘Through the wire’ while his jaw was wired shut because of a car accident.
Summary
And that was the list, guys. I hope you enjoyed this blog post on the 15 richest rappers in the world. You can check other cool lists on our site.
Did we miss any hip-hop stars? If yes, then let us know in the comments below.
