P. Diddy Is Hip-Hop's Highest Earner

by Daniel Falconer | 26 September 2013

P. Diddy

P. Diddy has earned the biggest cash wedge in hip-hop according to a Cash Kings list by Forbes.

Making $50 million between June 2012 and June 213, the business magazine slate the 'Come With Me' hitmaker as the highest earner of the year, despite not releasing any music under his own name.

The rapper and businessman - who has previously accused Forbes of misjudging just how much he is worth - said: "You started learning how to count right, I see - thank God!"

Diddy's net worth mainly comes from his Bad Boy record label, Sean John clothing line and endorsement deal with Ciroc vodka.

Behind him is Jay Z, with a net worth of $43 million, amassed

Jay Z

from touring and his recent 'Magna Carta Holy Grail' album - for which technology giant Samsung paid him $5 million for one million copies to give away - as well as other interests, including his Roc Nation record label and management company.

Third is Dr. Dre - who topped the list last year - whose fortune can also largely be put down to his business interests, with his Beats by Dre line of headphones accounting for a large chunk of his fortune.

The magazine noted the top ten earners in hip-hop made a grand total of $256 million, $15 million more than its calculations for the ten highest-paid DJs in the world.

Diddy added: "I don't want my career to be defined on [whether or not] I was quote-unquote a billionaire. But to be honest, I'd be blessed to be a billionaire ... hopefully someday it'll come true and I'll be able to do some good with it."

Forbes Cash Kings 2013, highest paid people in hip-hop:

1. P Diddy, $50 million

2. Jay Z, $43 million

3. Dr. Dre, $40 million

4. Nicki Minaj, $29 million

5. Birdman, $21 million

6. Kanye West, $20 million

7. Lil Wayne, $16 million

8. Wiz Khalifa, $14 million

9. Ludacris, $12 million

10. Pitbull, $11 million

11. Drake, $10.5 million