The race is on for the world’s first billionaire rapper. Meanwhile, many rappers have made a pretty penny by combining sheer talent and hit songs with good business sense. Which rappers are the richest in the world right now? Here are the top 20.

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20. will.i.am
Net worth: $75 million
will.i.am’s net worth is estimated at $75 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The Black Eyed Peas co-founder has also acted in several movies, has forayed into clothing and technology design and owns smart home technology company Wink.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The richest YouTubers by net worth.

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19. Kendrick Lamar
Net worth: $75 million
The rapper, songwriter and record producer is a fan favourite. While most folks know he's been able to pack arenas around the globe with his solo tour — he's also been making the big dollars through deals with Nike and American Express.RELATED: The best credit cards in Canada in 2020.

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18. Nicki Minaj
Net worth: $80
Worth $80 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, Nicki Minaj is the world’s richest female rapper and considered one of the most influential women in the genre’s history. She’s had minor film roles and major endorsement deals, has her own fragrance line and owns a stake in streaming service Tidal.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Celebrities loving the sheer outfit trend.

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17. Akon
Net worth: $80 million
Worth $80 million according to Celebrity Net Worth, Akon’s music covers not only the rap genre but also soul, R&B and even a Bollywood movie song. The Senegalese American has his own record label and clothing line, does a bit of acting and co-founded a project to provide solar energy in 14 African countries.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: The richest actresses on television by net worth.

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16. Ad-Rock
Net worth: $80 million
Beastie Boys guitarist Ad-Rock is worth $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In addition to royalties from his work with the Beastie Boys, Ad-Rock also makes an income from remixing songs for other artists and from acting.
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15. Timbaland
Net worth: $85 million
Timbaland’s net worth is estimated at $85 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He’s penned multiple hits and produced songs for artists as diverse as Missy Elliott, Chris Cornell, Madonna, Jay-Z and Björk.SEE ALSO: 20 richest singers of 2019, ranked by net worth.

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14. Birdman
Net worth: $100 million
Bryan Williams, better known as Birdman, may not have had a big hit for a while but he’s still raking in the cash as co-owner of one of hip hop’s most successful record companies, Cash Money Records. If he hadn't gone into Cash Money with his brother, Ronald, he may have extra dollars to his already high net worth.
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13. LL Cool J
Net worth: $120 million
LL Cool J is worth $120 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Known for pop rap, he has a clothing line, has written four books, owns record label and social networking site Boomdizzle and has a successful acting career, currently starring in NCIS: Los Angeles.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: 10 celebs who mastered the pivot — and their net worth.

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12. Lil Wayne
Net worth: $120 million
Lil Wayne was only nine when he joined Cash Money Records as an artist. He’s since become one of the rap label’s biggest selling artists, owns a stake in Tidal and released his Rikers Island prison memoir. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he’s worth $120 million.
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11. Snoop Dogg
Net worth: $135 million
Snoop Dogg’s net worth of $135 million, as estimated by Celebrity Net Worth, comes not only from his music but also from his movie and TV career. He also has a line of legal marijuana products, an app and a digital media business.RELATED: 10 times celebs rocked their pro-cannabis lifestyle.

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10. Pharrell Williams
Net worth: $150 million
The “Happy” singer launched multimedia creative collective I Am Other as an umbrella for his ventures, which include clothing design, a YouTube channel and a textile company. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Pharrell comes in at $150 million.
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9. Ice Cube
Net worth: $160 million
"The Check Yo Self" rapper makes this list with a net worth of $160 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. The gangsta rap pioneer and actor has also written the screenplays for some of the movies he starred in, has a clothing line and co-created 3-on-3 basketball league Big3.
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8. Usher
Net worth: $180 million
Yeah! The singer, songwriter, rapper's estimated net worth is $180 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. One of the biggest selling recording artists in history, Usher also has a record label and his own fragrance line, as well as stakes in companies like Tidal, Yoobi and Mass Appeal and the Cleveland Cavaliers NBA team.RELATED: The highest-paid NBA players of 2020.

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7. Drake
Net worth: $150 million
According to Forbes, Toronto native Drake was worth $150 million as of 2019. The Canadian Grammy Award-winner also has several endorsement deals and a sideline as producer to help keep the cash flowing.RELATED: Toronto slang and where it actually comes from.

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6. Master P
Net worth: $200 million
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Master P is worth $200 million. The rapper, producer and former basketball player used a $10,000 inheritance to open a record store which grew into a record label and eventually a business empire that has stakes in everything from telecommunications to real estate.
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5. Eminem
Net worth: $230 million
Eminem is still one of the world’s best-selling rappers and is worth $230 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. In addition from earnings from his albums, he makes money from his Shady Records record label and a bit of acting.
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4. Kanye West
Net worth: $240 million
Kanye West, worth $240 million according to Forbes, is one of the most awarded artists at the Grammys. Record sales, his own record and fashion labels and stakes in Tidal help keep the coffers filled. Lately, he's been selling church clothes and, y'know, running his Sunday services.SEE ALSO: The most outrageous gifts celebrities have given to each other.

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3. Dr. Dre
Net worth: $800 million
Forbes estimates Dr. Dre’s net worth at $800 million. Most of this money comes from Beats Electronics, the company Dr. Dre co-founded and then sold to Apple for $3 billion in cash and stock.
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2. Sean Combs
Net worth: $820 million
Diddy or Puff Daddy: Sean Combs, once the world's richest rapper, has an incredible net worth of $820 million, according to Forbes. The multi-talented artist may write, rap, produce, act and more — but his wealth comes mainly from his clothing line and stakes in companies like Cîroc Vodka, Revolt TV and Aquahydrate.YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Top 20 countries with the most billionaires.

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1. Jay-Z
Net worth: $1 billion
As of 2020, Jay-Z takes the title as the first billionaire in the hip hop industry. Of course, on top of being a legendary artist, the rapper brings home the bacon in other ways — his business career and smart investments are what help make up his billion dollar net worth.RELATED: Celebrity power couples with the highest net worth.
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