Forbes has just released their annual "Hip Hop Cash Kings" list Monday and it comes as little surprise that 50 Cent is on top with $150 million in earnings from the past 12 months. Most of that came from his now famous Vitamin water deal with Glacéau who was then bought out by Coca Cola for $4.1 billion.
Jay-Z came in second with $82 million due to his last album American Gangster and his stakes in the New Jersey Nets and endorsement deals with Dell and Budweiser.
Sean "Diddy" Combs landed at number three with $35 million. While at one time most of his money would have come from Bad Boy Records, Diddy's fortune now comes from his Sean John clothing line and reality TV shows.
It is interesting to note that while not being included on this list due to being life-challenged, the late Tupac Shakur earned $15 million over the last twelve months, which would place him at number 9 tied with Dr. Dre and ahead of the likes of Ludacris, T.I., Lil Wayne, Eminem, Akon, Common, Lil John, Outkast, The Game and more.
Here is the complete list of the 20 top living hip-hop earners of 2008:
01. 50 Cent - $150 million
02. Jay-Z - $82 million
03. P Diddy - $35 million
04. Kanye West - $30 million
05. Timbaland - $22 million
06. Pharrell Williams - $20 million
07. Swizz Beatz - $17 million
08. Snoop Dogg - $16 million
09. Dr. Dre - $15 million
10. Ludacris - $14 million
11. T.I. & Lil Wayne - $13 million [Tie]
12. Eminem, Akon & Common - $ 12 million [Tie]
13. Jermaine Dupri & Lil Jon - $13 million [Tie]
14. Outkast, The Game & Chamillionaire - $10 million [Tie]
Jay-Z came in second with $82 million due to his last album American Gangster and his stakes in the New Jersey Nets and endorsement deals with Dell and Budweiser.
Sean "Diddy" Combs landed at number three with $35 million. While at one time most of his money would have come from Bad Boy Records, Diddy's fortune now comes from his Sean John clothing line and reality TV shows.
It is interesting to note that while not being included on this list due to being life-challenged, the late Tupac Shakur earned $15 million over the last twelve months, which would place him at number 9 tied with Dr. Dre and ahead of the likes of Ludacris, T.I., Lil Wayne, Eminem, Akon, Common, Lil John, Outkast, The Game and more.
Here is the complete list of the 20 top living hip-hop earners of 2008:
01. 50 Cent - $150 million
02. Jay-Z - $82 million
03. P Diddy - $35 million
04. Kanye West - $30 million
05. Timbaland - $22 million
06. Pharrell Williams - $20 million
07. Swizz Beatz - $17 million
08. Snoop Dogg - $16 million
09. Dr. Dre - $15 million
10. Ludacris - $14 million
11. T.I. & Lil Wayne - $13 million [Tie]
12. Eminem, Akon & Common - $ 12 million [Tie]
13. Jermaine Dupri & Lil Jon - $13 million [Tie]
14. Outkast, The Game & Chamillionaire - $10 million [Tie]