Diddy Loses Top Forbes Spot to Jay Z After 7 Years On Top

For the first time since 2011, Jay Z has surpassed Diddy on Forbes' list of wealthiest rappers.

March 1, 2018

Year to year, theForbes Five, which ranks hip-hop’s wealthiest artists, doesn’t really change. But on Thursday, when the magazine released its 2018 list, there was a noticeable difference: Jay Z beat Diddy. Diddy’s been number one on the list since Forbesbegan measuring rappers’ net worth in 2011.

For '18, Jay Z’s net worth leapt from $810 million to $900 million, in large part due to the growing values of his investment in Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Ussé cognac. Last year's Forbes list for America's Wealthiest Self-Made Women put Beyoncé at $350 mill, making headlines for pushing the Carters into the billionaire club with $1.16 B's. (The website Celebrity Net Worth says Queen B's worth $500 million.)

Diddy aka Love comes in at No. 2 with $825 million. His fortune has received a slight bump due to lukewarm trends in the vodka and cable TV markets, which impact his stakes in Ciroc and Revolt. But he’s seen considerable growth with DeLeon tequila—a collaboration between himself and beverage king Diageo—which has increased his net worth.

Dr. Dre, with $770 million at No. 3, can thank upward trends in Beats affecting his fortune. This summer, he’s also up for ownership of Apple stock, which is worth more than $100 million. The shares may permit him to jump past Hov and Diddy in 2019.

There’s always a considerable drop between the third spot on the list and the fourth and fifth. Drake and Eminem are tired for $100 million each, at No. 4 and 5, respectively. This is the first time Drake has broken through to $100 million, and this is also Eminem’s first time on the list, as he has surpassed Cash Money head Birdman.

Last year saw Diddy at No. 1 with $820 million, Jay Z at No. 2 with $810 mill, Dr. Dre at No. 3 with $740 mill, Birdman at No. 4 with $110 million, and Drake at No. 5 with $90 mill.