While Jay-Z topped Forbes.com’s inaugural Hip-Hop Cash Kings list of the top-earning people in the business last year, in 2008 he cedes the throne to Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, who raked in $150 million over the past 12 months–almost twice what Jay-Z made.
Fitty banked $100 million after taxes on one deal alone when his stake in VitaminWater’s parent, Glacéau, was bought by Coca-Cola as part of a $4.1 billion deal. The rapper’s business empire also includes the G-Unit clothing line and record label, plus films, videogames and platinum albums, including last year’s “Curtis.”
Also in the works is a partnership with South African mining billionaire Partrice Motsepe that would bring the rapper an equity stake in the mine–and 50 Cent-branded platinum to the world.
For the second year in a row, Sean “Diddy” Combs finished third on the list with $35 million from his revenue streams, including his clothing line Sean John, record label Bad Boy, premium vodka Ciroc and two reality-TV shows.
Kanye West clocks in at No. 4 with $30 million, while Andre “Dr. Dre” Young earned $15 million last year – based solely on his catalog of hits spanning two decades.
Tupac, who died 10 years ago, also made about $15 million, according to Forbes.
Click here to see the full list: http://www.forbes.com/media/2008/08/15/music-media-hiphop-biz-media-cz_zog_0818cashkings.html
