The 'Story of O.J.' rapper replaces the 'Can't Nobody Hold Me Down' spitter, who sat atop the list last year, after racking up $900 million over the last year.
- Mar 2, 2018
AceShowbiz - Move over P. Diddy! It's time for a new face topping Forbes' list of the wealthiest hip-hop acts of 2018. And the new face is none other than last year's runner-up Jay-Z.
The "4:44" rapper dethrones Diddy after racking up $900 million over the last year. It shows a major increase from last year's $810 million, thanks to his investment in booze. The husband of Beyonce Knowles bought a stake in Arman de Brignac and D'Usse cognac which contributes a lot for the big jump. In addition, the music mogul's income comes from his label Roc Nation and streaming service Tidal.
With Jay-Z being crowned as the richest hip-hop artist this year, he further solidifies his and Beyonce's status as a power couple. The "Halo" hitmaker was previously named 2017's highest-paid woman in music with a whopping $105 million salary.
Diddy, who sat atop the list for seven years in a row until last year, earned an impressive $825 million, making a $5 million increase from last year. His growing DeLeon Tequila contributes to his earning, in addition to his ventures with beverage company Diago, Revolt TV and Ciroc vodka line.
Trailing behind is Dr. Dre with $770 million. His earning comes mostly from Apple's purchase of his Beats headphone line from 2014. The magazine adds that it's possible for the 53-year-old N.W.A. alum to dethrone Jay-Z next year once he gets his next round of Apple stock.
Rounding out the list in No. 4 and No. 5 are Drake and Eminem. Both artists are said to be worth $100 million. A stake in Virginia Black whiskey and expensive estates in Toronto, Canada, and Hidden Hills, California, plays a big part in Drake's holdings. Meanwhile, Eminem, who isn't known as a businessman, earns big bucks from his best-selling albums. The rapper dropped a new album, his ninth studio album titled "Revival", on December 15, 2017.
