Dr Dre named hip hop’s highest earner

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