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DIDDY tops Forbes’ Cash Kings 2013: The World’s 20 Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artistes, with estimated earnings of US$50 million thanks to income generated from Ciroc Vodka, Bad Boy Entertainment and the Sean John clothing line among his other businesses, according to Forbes.com. This is the first time Diddy has topped the list, the site says.
Jay Z is #2 on the list, with estimated earnings of US$43 million. Jigga earned double-digit millions from his concerts and his Roc Nation label and management company.
The majority of Dr Dre’s US$40 million in estimated earnings comes from his headphones line, good for #3 on the list, one spot better than Nicki Minaj, who earned an estimated US$29 million and remains the only female on the list.
The Cash Kings list counts pre-tax earnings for all living artistes whose work is primarily classified as hip-hop or rap, as per forbes.com. The site says it considers income from touring, record sales, publishing, merchandise sales, endorsements and other ventures, though management, agent and attorney fees are not deducted from the tally.
Earnings for the Cash Kings are counted from June 2012 to June 2013 and are based on data from Pollstar, the Recording Industry Association of America and Nielsen SoundScan, and from interviews with numerous managers, lawyers, record executives and some of the artists themselves, forbes.com says.
Forbes’ Cash Kings 2012 list was also topped by Dr Dre, Diddy and Jay-Z, but in that order.
Dr Dre held the top spot on the 2012 list with an estimated US$110 million in pre-tax earnings thanks to the sale of his Beats By Dr Dre headphones to handset maker HTC, which paid US$300 million for a 51 percent stake in the company in 2011.
In 2012, Diddy scored the #2 spot with US$45 million in earnings due to profits from Diageo’s Ciroc vodka, while Jay Z was #3 with US$38 million thanks to investments in Carol’s Daughter and the Brooklyn Nets, among other ventures.
The full Forbes’ Cash Kings 2013: The World’s 20 Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artistes is as follows:
1. Diddy (US$50 million)
2. Jay Z (US$43 million)
3. Dr Dre (US$40 million)
4. Nicki Minaj (US$29 million)
5. Birdman (US$21 million)
6. Kanye West (US$20 million)
7. Lil Wayne (US$16 million)
8. Wiz Khalifa (US$14 million)
9. Ludacris (US$12 million)
10. Pitbull (US$11 million)
11. Drake (US$10,5 million)
12. Snoop Dogg (US$10 million)
12. Eminem (US$10 million)
14. Kendrick Lamar (US$9 million)
14. Pharrell (US$9 million)
14. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (US$9 million)
17. Swizz Beatz (US$8,5 million)
18. Tech N9ne (US$7,5 million)
19. 50 Cent (US$7 million)
20. Lil Jon (US$6 million)
20. Rick Ross (US$6 million)
20. Mac Miller (US$6 million)
20. Jeezy (US$6 million)
20. Questlove (US$6 million). — www.hiphopdx.com.
Online Reporter