Dr Dre is now officially a billionaire
Dr Dre has officially become a billionaire.
The Compton legend’s elite status was confirmed on March 10th following the release of Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires list.
In doing so, the 61-year-old ranks at 3,332nd on the world’s rich list alongside Rihanna, Jared Kushner, Richard Teets Jr, and many others.
The announcement claims that Dre has joined “an elite group of celebrities who have recently crossed the three-comma threshold.”
Dre previously claimed to be a billionaire in 2014 after selling Beats by Dre to Apple for a reported $3.2 billion.
In a video posted online, singer/actor Tyrese Gibson said, “Billionaire boys club for real. The Forbes list just changed. It came out like two weeks ago. They need to update the Forbes list. Shit just changed.” In response, Dre said, “In a big way. Understand that. The first billionaire in hip-hop. Right here from the motherfuckin’ West Coast.”
At the time, his net worth was estimated to be between $550m and $800m, but his billionaire status was never confirmed by Forbes.
Following Apple’s purchase, CEO Tim Cook said, “Music is such an important part of all of our lives and holds a special place within our hearts at Apple. That’s why we have kept investing in music and are bringing together these extraordinary teams so we can continue to create the most innovative music products and services in the world.”
As well as Beats Electronics, Dre owns his record label, Aftermath Entertainment, as well as various properties in Los Angeles.
The only other rappers to become a billionaire in the past are Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. Of those three, only Hov remains a billionaire. His wealth can be credited to his music career, Roc Nation entertainment company, TIDAL streaming service, alcohol brands, and other investments.