Dr. Dre has been named the highest-paid act in hip hop, with earnings of $620 million.
The rap mogul’s staggering pre-tax profits come largely thanks to the sale of his Beats Audio headphone range – which Apple bought for $3 billion earlier this year – and see him total the highest annual earnings of any star ever and topping more than the other 24 acts listed on Forbes magazine’s annual Hip Hop Cash Kings list.
DJ Khaled, who placed 20th, noted to the publications: "It’s safe to say headphones is a good business".
In joint second place on the list were Diddy and Jay Z – who both have a number of business ventures outside of their music careers – with a relatively modest $60 million, while
Drake and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis complete the top five with $33 million and $32 million each.
Nicki Minaj was the only female to make the list, taking 11th spot with earnings of $14 million.
Forbes magazine’s Hip Hop Cash Kings 2014:
1. Dr. Dre – $620 million
2= Jay Z – $60 million
2= Diddy – $60 million
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
16= Tech N9ne – $8 million
16= Swizz Beatz – $8 million
16= 50 Cent – $8 million
20= Rick Ross – $7 million
20= J. Cole – $7 million
20= DJ Khaled – $7 million
20= Lil Jon – $7 million
20= Mac Miller – $7 million
Dr Dre named hip hop’s highest earner
