Forbes has put together their annual list of Hip-Hop’s Biggest Earners and Jay-Z came out on top. Forbes says Jay pulled down an estimated $37 million in the year between May of last year and this past May. Diddy came in second with $35 million.
Here’s the complete Top 20:
1.) Jay-Z, $37 million
2.) Diddy, $35 million
3.) Kanye West, $16 million
4.) Tied: Lil Wayne and Birdman, $15 million (Birdman is more of an executive than a rapper. He runs Cash Money, the home of Wayne, Drake and Nicki Minaj.)
6.) Tied: Eminem, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, $14 million
9.) Akon, $13 million
10.) Ludacris, $12 million
11.) Tied: Wiz Khalifa and Drake, $11 million
13.) Pharrell, $10 million
14.) Timbaland, $7 million
15.) Tied: Swizz Beatz and Nicki Minaj, $6.5 million
17.) Tied: Rick Ross, 50 Cent and Pitbull, $6 million each
20.) Tied: T-Pain and B.o.B, $5 million each
To come up with their estimated earnings, Forbes compiled data on record sales, touring, digital downloads, films, merchandise sales, endorsements, books and “other entertainment ventures.”
