Jay Z is richest man in hip-hop

Updated 11.38 Fri Aug 17 2007
Keywords: Diddy, Timbaland, hip-hop, 50 Cent, Beyonce, Jay Z

US music mogul Jay Z is officially the richest man in the world of hip-hop.

The rapper, who is dating R&B diva Beyoncé, pulled in an estimated £17 million last year according to Forbes.com's Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.

The rapper, who is dating R&B diva Beyoncé, pulled in an estimated £17 million last year according to Forbes.com's Hip-Hop Cash Kings list

G-Unit star 50 Cent came in a close second with £16 million, followed by P Diddy who bagged £14 million.

Uber-producer Timbaland and Dr Dre also cleared the top five but Kanye West - who will be playing at the V Festival - only managed to scrape in at number eight.

But it's no surprise that Jay Z, real name Shawn Carter, is raking it in, as he is the president of super successful Def Jam Records and has a stake in a number of lucrative business ventures.

Jay Z sold two million copies of his eleventh studio album Kingdom Come, in 2006, and is part owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, where he is often pictured court-side with his beau Beyoncé.

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