Here Are 2015's Wealthiest Artists in Hip-Hop

BY Alex HudsonPublished May 5, 2015

Between Dr. Dre's multibillion dollar Beats deal and Jay Z's Tidal launch, the last 12 months have been very eventful for hip-hop moguls. If you were wondering what impact this would have on the musicians' bank accounts, Forbes has now released its annual list, "The Forbes Five: Hip-Hop's Wealthiest Artists 2015."

The names in the top five aren't a surprise. In fact, they're the same people who have been on the list for several years. The order has shuffled around a bit, however, and the artists at the top have got a whole lot wealthier.

Number one is still Diddy, who is worth $735 million US thanks to his many business ventures (including that very raunchy new perfume ad he made with Cassie). After that, Dr. Dre has risen to second place with $700 million US — a huge number, although he isn't hip-hop's first billionaire, as he once claimed. Jay Z is in third with $500 million; we're guessing that number could change depending on how well his Tidal streaming service holds up under criticism.

Rounding out the top five are 50 Cent with $155 million and Birdman with $150 million. Of course, Birdman is embroiled in a very expensive lawsuit with his former buddy Lil Wayne, which could have a serious impact on his wealth.

Combined, the Forbes Five are worth almost two and a quarter billion.

The Forbes Five:

1. Diddy - $735 million
2. Dr. Dre - $700 million
3. Jay Z - $550 million
4. 50 Cent - $155 million
5. Birdman - $150 million

Latest Coverage