Top 20 richest rappers in the world in 2022
Rap is a profit-making profession through which many artists have become extremely wealthy over the years. These international artists have one thing in common: the idea of increasing their wealth on a daily basis not only through music, but also by investing in promising industries. Most of the popular rappers are also very good businessmen. Discover in this article, the 20 richest rappers in the world in 2022.
1- Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is one of the most popular rappers in the world and also the richest. The famous American business magazine Forbes states that the native of Chicago in the state of Illinois in the USA is worth several billion dollars. In 2020, Kanye West presented Forbes with all the documents justifying his percentage of shares in the Yeezy sneaker brand and how much they were valued at.
In 2021, he changed his artist name to Ye. Since then, he is worth exactly $3.2 billion or €2.7 billion. Kanye West is an American rapper, artistic director, composer, but also a designer born on June 8, 1977 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a shareholder in many companies around the world and several of his albums have been exceptionally successful. The famous American has won several titles including 24 Grammy Awards.
2- Jay-Z
Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Corey Carter, is one of the most successful and highest paid rappers in America. His albums Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, and The Black Album have all achieved impressive success. Jay-Z is an American artist born on December 4, 1969 in New York City. Much of Jay-Z’s fortune comes from his various strategic investments: a clothing line called Rocawear, nightclubs, bars, and of course record labels.
Jay-Z was the first rapper to reach the $1 billion mark in net worth and held the title of the world’s richest rapper before being dethroned by Kanye West in April 2020 thanks to the success of his sneaker brand YEEZY. The net worth of Jay-Z is estimated today at 1 billion dollars or 850 million euros. He is still one of the richest American musicians and rappers.
3- P-DIDDY
Sean Combs commonly known as P-Diddy is a rapper, record producer and entrepreneur known in the business world. Born on November 4, 1969 in New York City, P-DIDDY began his music career as a talent manager at the legendary Neighborhood Records in the United States where he created his own label called, Bad Boy. Today, P-DIDDY is one of the most influential and wealthy rappers in the United States and the world.
Outside of the music world, P-DIDDY has not hesitated to move into the business world. He remained on the throne of the world’s best rapper for many, many years before being caught up in the success of others through their various businesses. Combs’ fortune has only grown over the years. In 2020, it was estimated at $885 million.
4- Dr Dre
Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Romelle Young, is one of the best producers and composers of hip-hop of all time. Born on February 18, 1965 in Compton, Dr. Dre began his career with the group N.W.A in the 80s before later going solo. He is the co-founder of Aftermath Entertainment and the former CEO of the famous headphone brand Beats by Dr. Dre.
In 2014, Dr. Dre sold his headphone company to Apple. Dr. Dre is the 4th richest rapper in the world with a net worth of $820 million. He has been the producer of several albums for other American artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem and the famous 50 cent. Being a lover of movies, Dr. Dre has also appeared in films such as “Training Day, Set It Off”.
5- Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III known as Eminem is an American rapper, actor-songwriter and record producer. He was born on October 17, 1972 in St. Joseph and is named the best white hip-hop artist of all time, selling over 170 million albums. Eminem did not have a simple career, as he was a victim of racism when he started doing Battle Rap in Detroit.
Eminem’s success has been impressive, he has won 15 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. Eminem appeared in 2002 in “Eight Mile” which was also a big commercial success. Marshall is the 5th richest rapper in the world with a net worth of $230 million.
6-Master P
Master P., whose real name is Percy Robert Miller, is a former American basketball player who pushed the envelope by becoming a rapper, actor, songwriter and record producer. Master P began his career with his own label “No Limit Records” in the early 1990s.
Eight years later, he came out with his album “MP Da Last Don” which was designated a diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America. This album went on to become one of the best-selling albums of all time. Master P’s net worth is estimated to be $200 million in 2020.
7- Usher
Usher Raymond IV is an American RnB singer, dancer, songwriter and actor. He was a coach in a show The Voice US in 2013. Born on October 14, 1978 in Dallas, Texas, Usher’s albums have been very successful with over 40 million copies sold.
Music generates most of his wealth, but the income from Usher’s appearance in commercials for major brands such as CoverGirls, Mercedes and Pep is not insignificant. His wealth is estimated to be worth $180 million in 2020.
8- Drake
Aubrey Drake Graham commonly known as Drake or Champagne Papi is also a rich and famous rapper. Born on October 24, 1986 in Toronto, Canada, Drake is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. In 2000, Aubrey appeared in a teen television series called Degrassi: The Next Generation.
He began his career with the release of his first mixtape entitled, Room for Improvement in 2006. Drake has won four Grammy Awards, three Juno Awards and six BET Awards. With an estimated fortune of $180 million, Drake is commonly referred to as the number one hot rap singles Songs.
9- Ice Cube
Ice Cube, whose real name is O’Shea Jackson, is an American rapper, record producer, actor and director. He was formerly a member of the hip-hop group CIA, where he began his career. He then joined the leading gangsta rap group Niggaz Wit Attitudes (NWA).
After leaving NWA in December 1989, rapper Ice Cube built a successful solo music career. In addition to being well known for his talent in rap, Ice Cube has also made great achievements in the film industry. His fortune is estimated at $160 million.
10- Pharrell Williams
Pharnell Lanscilo Williams known as pharnell Williams is an American songwriter, rapper, record producer, film producer and fashion designer. He is one of the richest American rappers of his generation. Pharnell Williams’ fortune is estimated at $150 million, which puts him in 10th place in the TOP 20 richest rappers in the world.
11- Snoop Dogg
Known as Snoop Dogg, Calvin Cordozar is a legendary American rapper and actor from Long Beach. His music career began in 1992 when he was spotted and featured on Dr. Dre’s first solo album from NWA. Since then, Snoop has sold over 23 million albums in the United States and over 35 million worldwide. His music is still relevant today. Rapper Snoop Dogg’s fortune is estimated at $150 million.
12- Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., is an American rapper and author. Born on September 27, 1982 in New Orleans, California, Wayne began his career at a young age in 1991 at the age of 9 with Cash Money Records. Since then, millions of his records have been sold around the world. The rapper Lil Wayne’s fortune is now estimated at $150 million.
13- LL Cool J
James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J is an American rapper, actor and entrepreneur born on January 14, 1968 in Queens, New York. He has been very successful in his musical career. The fortune of the rapper LL Cool J is now estimated at 120 million dollars.
14- Birdman
Professionally known by his stage name Birdman, Bryan Williams is an American rapper, record producer and entrepreneur. Together with his brother Ronald, Birdman actively participated in the creation of the label Cash Money Records. Thanks to his success, the rapper occupies the 14th place in the TOP 20 richest rappers in the world with a fortune amounting to 100 million dollars in 2020.
15- Swizz Beats
Professionally known as Swizz Beatz, Kasseem Dean is an American rapper, producer and entrepreneur. His music career began when he was still young and played DJ at local parties in the neighborhood. He then made a name for himself as a producer for Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Felle Records.
He has produced many other artists of his generation. In addition to rap, Swizz Beatz is also involved in the commercial sector. He is the co-founder of the Puma SE brand and the Beats Electronic headphones company. The fortune of this rapper is estimated at 100 million dollars.
16- AD-Rock
Adam Horovitz aka AD-Rock is an American musician, rapper, guitarist, self-composer and actor. He is best known for his membership in the hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. AD Rock is the 16th richest rapper in the world with a net worth of $90 million.
17- Michael Diamond
Mike D, whose real name is Michael Diamond, is a rapper and one of the most famous members of the hip-hop group the Beastie Boys. Indeed, formed in the 80s, the hip-hop group the Beastie Boys was composed of only three people. They are Mike D, MCA and AD-Rock. The net worth of the rapper Mike D is 90 million.
18- Pitbull
Armando Christian Pérez aka Pitbull is an American rapper who has been rapping for about twenty years now. He once topped the Billboard charts which is a weekly American magazine dedicated to the music industry. The rapper Pitbull has been very successful in his musical career internationally. His net worth is 90 million dollars.
19- Timbaland
Timothy Zachery Mosley known as Timbaland is an American rapper, record producer, singer, songwriter and DJ. He is ranked 19th in the world’s TOP 20 richest rappers with a net worth of $85 million.
20- Akon (Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam)
Akon is an American rapper, businessman, record producer and actor. He is one of the richest rappers in the world with an estimated fortune of $80 million. On the global ranking of the TOP 20 richest rappers in the world, Akon occupies the 20th place.