Diddy Replaces Ye in Billionaires Club on 2022 List of Wealthiest Hip Hop Artists

The list is in for the wealthiest hip-hop artists in 2022. Former entertainment editor at Forbes, Zack O’Malley Greenburg’s list, which had a few changes from earlier this year, reveals that the five richest hip-hop acts have amassed a combined wealth of $3.8 billion. However, the most noticeable change is that the artist formerly known as Kanye West has been booted from billionaire status amid all the drama building up over the past few weeks. Diddy now replaces Ye in the billionaires club with Jay Z and more.

Check out the list below:

Jay Z: $1.5 billion 

Jay Z has continued to be at the top of the list, year after year, since 2019. The “Family Feud” rapper was the first hip-hop billionaire the world has ever seen, partially due to his music but mostly to entertainment company Roc Nation and Armand de Brignac champagne. Jay Z has turned into one of the world’s leading businessmen. In August, Diddy’s son, King Combs, said he would take dinner with Jay Z over a six-figure paycheck any day.

Diddy: $1 billion 

Speaking of Diddy, the Bad Boys Records founder comes in second place, beating Kanye West, who previously held the second-place spot. The value of his Ciroc partnership continues to be the bulk of his net worth.

Kanye “Ye” West: $500 million 

Ye previously held the second spot behind former best friend Jay Z, but since Adidas cut the partnership with the disgraced artist, his net worth plummeted within a day. He posted on Instagram that he lost $2 billion in a day. Kanye’s net worth now comes from his 5% in his ex-wife’s shapewear brand, SKIMS ane rights to his master recordings and music publishing. He also still owns the Yeezy brand, although Adidas is “the sole owner of all design rights to existing products as well previous new colorways under the partnership.”

Gilbert “Berner” Milam: $410 million 

According to Greenburg, rapper Berner’s majority net worth comes from Cookies cannabis empire, which “sells 70 strains of weed and 2,000 different marijuana-related products across its 48 stores in seven countries and 20 U.S. states.” The rapper signed to Wiz Khalifa’s record label, Taylor Gang Entertainment, and still holds a 30% stake in his cannabis company, allowing him to buy out possible partners in the future in a different business model.

Andre “Dr. Dre” Young: $400 million 

Dr. Dre has slightly fallen down the list, even though he self-proclaimed himself as the first “billionaire in hip-hop” before dropping the first ever Apple Beats about a decade ago, he’s never reached billionaire status. That being said, his Apple Beats are his main income.