Dr Dre Tops Forbes List of Highest-Paid Hip-Hop Artists

Rapper and record producer Dr. Dre has topped the Forbes list for the highest paid hip hop artists in 2014, with estimated pre-tax earnings of $620 million. The 49-year-old Dr Dre toppled Sean "Diddy" Combs, 44, who is a long way down at $60 million in earnings and is tied at the second spot with Jay Z, 44.

Dre's estimated annual earnings for the 12 month-period between June 2013 and May 2014 is the highest annual total of any entertainer ever evaluated by Forbes.

"It's more than the combined earnings of all 24 of his companions on the 2014 Hip-Hop Cash Kings list," Forbes said.

Apple's $3 billion buyout of high-end headphone company Beats, co-founded by Dre along with music executive Jimmy Iovine, helped the 49-year-old top the 2014 Hip-Hop Cash Kings list.

Jay Z's earnings, his highest since 2010 were "bolstered by a diverse list of ventures including his growing Roc Nation empire; 68 concerts in our scoring period, D'Usse cognac and his latest album, which was certified platinum before it was released due to an agreement with Samsung to buy 1 million copies," Forbes said.

The bulk of Diddy's earnings came from his agreement with Diageo's Ciroc vodka. But, his other ventures like DeLeon tequila, Blue Flame marketing, Sean Jean clothing, and Revolt TV also provided a boost, the publisher said.

Drake, 27, came in fourth on the list with $33 million with earnings from his fourth studio album "Nothing Was the Same," that sold 4 million copies worldwide, an endorsement deal with Nike's Jordan line and a concert tour.

Grammy-winning duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis rounded out the top five with $32 million.
Pharrell Williams, famous for the "Happy" song made it to the top 10 at ninth spot with $22 million earnings. (See Full List)

Forbes compiled the list considering income from touring, record sales, publishing, merchandise sales, endorsements and other ventures. Management, agent and attorney fees were not deducted. The earnings were calculated based on data from Pollstar, the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) and Nielsen SoundScan, and from interviews with managers, lawyers, executives and some of the artists themselves.