The world’s richest rapper worth £2bn – more than Kanye West and Drake combined

Rap music often lionises success and opulence. Luxury lifestyles and material indicators of wealth are commonplace in rap videos.

Several of the genre’s biggest players , but some are worth billions.

In fact, the richest rapper is actually the wealthiest musician of all time according to reports.

The UK’s richest rapper is widely regarded as Stormzy. However, despite a net worth of around £26m, the Croydon-born musician doesn’t come close to the planet’s richest rap stars.

Top of the list is Shawn Corey Carter, known worldwide as Jay-Z. The superstar released his first studio album Reasonable Doubt in 1996, but had been in the New York rap scene since the 1980s.

Twelve albums followed his first, during which time he established himself as one of the genre’s greats. The 55-year-old is the husband of pop icon Beyonce. The pair married in 2008.

All told, Jay-Z’s total net worth is estimated at £2bn. Besides his musical exploits, Carter owns entertainment company Roc Nation as well as venture capital firm Marcy Venture Partners.

Kanye West meanwhile is worth £324 million according to Forbes. The rap legend, however, could have been wealthier than Jay-Z.

His contract with Adidas for the Yeezy trainer was as reported £1.2 billion according to the same outlet.

Drake, the Canadian star known for hits such as Hotline Bling and God’s Plan, is worth a reported £200 million.

Nevertheless, the megastar still has expensive real estate in his name, besides his highly valuable muscial output.

Dr Dre, another rap hero, is worth markedly more than Kayne West. According to Forbes, he is the second richest rapper in the business.

His net worth is estimated at £689 million. His career includes founding N.W.A and Death Row Records, which signed Snoop Dogg. But his biggest money-spinner was launching Beats Electronics, which he sold to Apple in 2014.