Jay-Z Named Rap's Biggest Earner

Fri, 17 August 2007 12:00:00 ET

Jay-Z is placed at #1 as hip-hop icon with biggest earning this year in a chart compiled by Forbes.

Jay-Z has been crowned Hip-Hop's Cash King after raking in a staggering $34 million last year. The '99 Problems' star topped a list of rap's biggest earners, compiled by Forbes, beating a host of stars, including 50 Cent and P. Diddy.

Jay-Z raked in the cash from his two million selling comeback album 'Kingdom Come', his role as president of Def Jam records, as well as numerous business ventures which include his own sports bar franchise. The 37-year-old also owns a stake in the New Jersey Nets basketball team. He also boasts lucrative advertising deals with huge companies such as Budweiser, Hewlett-Packard and General Motors.

Second on the rich list was 50 Cent, who earned $32 million last year despite not releasing a record. The 'Candy Shop' singer features in adverts for Reebok and owns his own money-spinning G-Unit clothing company.

Diddy came third, pulling in $28 million with the help of his Bad Boy World Entertainment Group, and other business ventures including his fragrance Unforgivable. Producer Timbaland was next on the list with $21 million, while Dr. Dre rounded off the top five with $20 million.

Forbes Associate Editor Lea Goldman said: "These musicians share a distinct entrepreneurialism, they also market themselves as global brands, and they have the fame, power and influence to make them a dominating cultural force."

Forbes' Top 20 Hip-Hop Cash Kings: