Dr. Dre has not released an album in over 10 years, but that hasn’t stopped him from topping the list of hip-hop’s top earners. The West Coast rap icon ranks No. 1 on Forbes‘ annual Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.
The rapper-producer, whose oft-delayed album Detox still remains without a release date, pulls in $110 million in pre-tax earnings thanks to his successful Beats by Dr. Dre headphones line. Handset maker HTC bought a 51% stake ($300 million) in the company last year.
Sean “Diddy†Combs follows a distant second with $45 million, thanks to his stake in Ciroc vodka, while last year’s top earner Jay-Z comes in third with $38 million, his lowest rank to date.
The Roc Nation mogul can attribute his earnings to his successful Watch the Throne album and tour with Kanye West and ownership stakes in the Brookyln Nets, Carol’s Daughter, and a joint venture with Duracell.
Kanye West and Lil Wayne round out the top 5. See the full list below.
Cash Kings 2012: Hip-Hop’s Top 20 Earners
1. Dr. Dre – $110 million
2. Diddy – $45 million
3. Jay-Z – $38 million
4. Kanye West – $35 million
5. Lil Wayne – $27 million
6 Drake – $20.5 million
7. Birdman – $20 million
8. Nicki Minaj – $15.5 million
9. Eminem – $15 million
10. Ludacris – $12 million
11. Pitbull – $9.5 million
12. Rick Ross – $9 million (tie)
12. Wiz Khalifa – $9 million (tie)
14. Snoop Dogg – $8.5 million
15. 50 Cent – $7.5 million
16. Swizz Beatz – $7 million (tie)
16. Pharrell – $7 million (tie)
16. Young Jeezy – $7 million (tie)
19. Mac Miller – $6.5 million
20. Akon – $6 million
20. Timbaland – $6 million
20. Tech N9ne – $6 million