Bad Boy Records CEO Diddy is making headlines this week with reports claiming he has earned the right to call himself the wealthiest hip-hop artist in the music industry.
Based on Forbes Top 5 list of 2012, Puffy tops close contender Jay-Z.
Diddy is the closest to becoming a billionaire, leading the pack with a net worth of $550 million. The Bad Boy Records founder has remained a mainstream mainstay for 15 years thanks to his knack for self-promotion. Next up is Jay-Z at $460 million. Unlike his fellow Forbes Five members, Jay-Z still churns out music and goes on tour–most recently with pal Kanye West–adding to his considerable war chest. He sold his Rocawear clothing label for $204 million in 2007 and signed 10-year $150 million deal with Live Nation in 2008, and also holds stakes in the New Jersey Nets, his 40/40 Club chain, ad firm Translation, cosmetics company Carol’s Daughter and other businesses. (Forbes)
Other close contenders include Interscope Records’ Dr. Dre and 50 Cent.
Dr. Dre ranks third with $270 million, doubling from a year ago thanks to a major sale. In August, handset maker HTC paid $300 million to buy a 51% stake in Beats Electronics, the company founded by Dr. Dre and Interscope chief Jimmy Iovine in 2008. Birdman clocks in at No. 4 with a fortune of $125 million. He cofounded Cash Money Records with brother Ronald “Slim” Williams two decades ago, inking very favorable $30 million distribution deal with Universal in 1998. Rounding out the Forbes Five is Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson at $110 million. The Queens-born rapper earned $100 million on the sale of his Vitaminwater stake in 2007–and tens of millions more from touring, record sales and clothing–but spent freely on cars and renovations to his mansion, formerly owned by Mike Tyson. (Forbes)
After getting named the first hip-hop artist to likely hit a billion bucks last year, Diddy downplayed the hype surrounding his buzz.
“To be honest, on that list, I was on the cover of Forbes back in ’98,” Diddy explained in an interview. “I been on that list. I don’t really get caught up into the list. I think people think that I have that money actually sitting at home in the basement…It’s really like if I sold all my companies, and I take pride in [building] something as a black man that’s worth that much…To everyone calling me for a loan today, I do not have that money today! … It helps inspire people and it shows the power of hip-hop.” (MTV)
Last spring, Cash Money’s Birdman slammed Forbes for projecting his wealth at $100 million.
“I don’t know how they tally up,” Baby said in an interview with Uptown Angela referring to Forbes’ list.”To my knowledge I thought it was down. They said I made a $100 million dollars. I don’t know where they get that sh*t from. I’m banking in more than a $100 million. That’s a low number for a n*gga like me. But it’s cool. For anybody to recognize anything is respected. We know what to do. The goal in our life and my life is to be a billionaire. I’m flipping hundreds. I ain’t that far. I’m about eight steps.” (Urban Radio NO)
