Every year the top business and finance magazine in the world, Forbes, calculates the amount of earnings each individual in the Hip-Hop makes in their music and business dealings, they comprise a list of the Top 20 biggest earners in Hip-Hop. This year, the three heavyweights of the Hip-Hop business world reign supreme once again for the second year in the roll. Jay-Z, Diddy, and 50 Cent rank in as the top 3 on the list as they respectively did last year. However this year 50 Cent is at the top of list ranking in as number 1 above Jigga and Diddy.

The G-Unit Leader gross earnings for the year of 2007 equaled a total of $150 million. It was apparent that the Vitamin water sale to Coca Cola for $4.1 billion is still holding weight on his hefty bank account. To add to that, you also have to put into effect his investments in video games, his G-Unit clothing line, his record sales from both his solo album plus his group album, and his recent partnership with South African Patrice Motsepe, which is still in a pending status at present time.

Even with the immense deal with Live Nation, the ex-Def Jam CEO still ranked in at number 2 with gross earnings equaling $82 million for the year of 2007. Comprise his platinum selling ‘American Gangster’ album and his 10 year contract with that of Live Nation at $150 million, all inclusive sums up to the amount gross for the year.

With all the reality shows on MTV, his Sean John clothing line, his investments with Ciroc Vodka, the Bad Boy Mogul still ranked in at number 3. With all that he’s involved him you would assume Diddy’s gross earnings would equal higher than what was tallied. For the year of 2007, his total gross earnings equaled the amount of $35 million.

Here is the list of Forbes – Hip-Hop Cash Kings of 2008:

1.50 Cent $150 Million

2.Jay-Z$82 Million

3.Diddy$35 Million

4.Kanye West$30 Million

5.Timbaland$22 Million

6.Pharrell Williams$20 Million

7.Swizz Beatz$17 Million

8.Snoop Dogg$16 Million

9.Dr. Dre$15 Million

10.Ludacris$14 Million


11.T.I. (Tied)$13 Million

11. Lil Wayne (Tied)$13 Million


12.Eminem (Tied)$12 Million

12. Common (Tied)$12 Million

12. Akon(Tied)$12 Million

13. Jermaine Dupri (Tied)$11 Million

13. Lil Jon (Tied)$11 Million

14. Outkast (Tied)$10 Million

14. Chamillionaire (Tied)$10 Million

14. The Game (Tied)$10 Million