Jay-Z, Kanye West and Diddy revealed as highest-paid rappers of 2021
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Jay-Z, Kanye West and Diddy revealed as highest-paid rappers of 2021

It’s been revealed that Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Diddy were the three highest-paid rappers of 2021.

The list has been compiled by ‘Hip Hop Cash Kings’ creator Zack O’Malley Greenburg, who formerly edited Forbes. At the top of the pile is Hov, who reportedly earned $470 million last year, the most lucrative of his career so far. 

A chunk of his income came from the sale of TIDAL to Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey’s Square for $297 million. Jay was also appointed to Square’s board of directors as part of the deal.

He also sold a 50% stake in his champagne brand, Armand de Brignac, to LVMH for a reported $600 million. Forbes states that the deal earned the rapper around $300 million.

Greenburg explained: “Even if you assume he paid the capital gains rate of 20% on the bulk of his income after selling centimillion-dollar stakes in Tidal & [Armand de Brignac], he’ll pay Uncle Sam more than any hip-hop act earned (other than Ye).”

West was listed at number two and accumulated $250 million in 2021, thanks mainly to his Yeezy footwear business and his collaboration with Gap.

Meanwhile, Diddy pocketed $75 million thanks to his eight-figure salary from his deal with Cîroc, as well as partnerships with luxury brands including Pandora and Dolce & Gabbana.