JAY-Z made the ultimate self-prophecy on his hit collaboration with 50 Cent in "I Get Money."
"I'm already the GOAT, next stop is the billi," he rapped on the 2007 track.
Twelve years later, the "Family Feud" rapper is rap's first billionaire. Though only one hip-hop artist joins him in that tax bracket, there's a decent amount of rap representation in the millionaires category.
On Wednesday, Forbes released their 2020 list of the 100 highest-paid celebrities and seven rappers found themselves in good company. Thanks to the longevity of their music and their savvy business intelligence, most of their earnings come from various partnerships, real estate properties and apparel lines.
Scroll on to see the rappers who made the cut:
Kanye West
Kanye West soared to No. 2 of Forbes' highest-paid celebrities roster thanks in large part to his lucrative Yeezy footwear brand, manufactured and sold through Adidas. According to the publication, Yeezy raked in an estimated $1.9 billion in revenue in 2019. West is also the only rapper to crack the top 10 this year, with athletes occupying most of the top 10's real estate.
Sean Combs
Coming in at No. 37 is Sean "Diddy" Combs, who earned $55 million over the last year. If you're a Cîroc drinker, you can get like Snoop Dogg and thank you for helping propel Diddy to this ranking. The New York native has been locked in a partnership with the brand since 2007. The rapper turned businessman also owns stake in DeLeón tequila and Aquahydrate alkaline water, per Forbes.
JAY-Z
Crowned hip-hop's first billionaire in 2019, Hov trailed Diddy by seven spots on this list. Since releasing his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996, JAY-Z has only expanded his resume to include ventures outside of rapping. Beyoncé's husband's $53.3 million salary this past year came largely from sales of his champagne Armand de Brignac and D'ussé cognac. Outside of monetary capital, Forbes notes much of JAY-Z's wealth stems from his entertainment empire Roc Nation and extensive art collection.
Drake
With an estimated net worth of $150 million, Drake
earned the No. 5 spot on Forbes' list of the highest-paid rap artists in 2019. Thirty-two years old at the time, he became the youngest rapper on that ranking by a decade. Unlike the aforementioned names, many of Drake's fortunes as of late have been accrued by producing a steady flow of new music. His studio album, Certified Lover Boy, is scheduled for release later this year. OVO, the lifestyle brand the Toronto Raptors ambassador co-founded with Oliver El-Khatib, also reportedly brought in an estimated $50 million in sales last year.
Travis Scott
The whimsical Astroworld tour proved to be a huge cash grab for Travis Scott,
making $53.5 million in 2019 and holding the distinction of being hip hop's top-earning production last year. Quarantine was also a busy time for the Houston-born songwriter. Scott hosted a free "Fortnite" concert series, accruing over 27 million viewers. Per Forbes, that number surpassed the audience who attended his shows, also bringing in profits for the 28-year-old's Cactus Jack merchandise line.
DJ Khaled
Rounding out the list is famed record producer DJ Khaled, who came in at No. 95 on Forbes' list. The father of two reportedly earned $36.5 million. Though some of the game's most coveted artists have been featured across his 11 studio albums, the 44-year-old also earned a hefty salary through partnerships with Apple, Weight Watchers, T-Mobile and Ciroc.
