It's been some year for Jay-Z. In the past year, the hip-hop demigod released a platinum album, signed a 10-year deal worth $150 million with concert promoter Live Nation and finally got married to longtime girlfriend Beyoncé. He really did his thing. But with all that considered, it was still only good enough for a silver medal.
While Jay-Z topped Forbes.com's inaugural Hip-Hop Cash Kings list of the top-earning people in the business last year, in '08 he is dethroned by 50 Cent, who raked in $150 million over the past 12 months - almost twice what Jay made.
Here is the complete list:
1. Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson: $150 million
2. Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter: $82 million
3. Sean "Diddy"Combs: $35 million
4. Kanye West: $30 million
5. Timothy “Timbaland” Mosley: $22 million
6. Pharrell Williams: $20 million
7. Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean: $17 million
8. Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus: $16 million
9. André “Dr. Dre” Young: $15 million
10. Christopher “Ludacris” Bridges: $14 million
11. Clifford “T.I.” Harris: $13 million
11. Dwayne “Lil Wayne” Carter: $13 million
12. Marshall “Eminem” Mathers: $12 million
12. Lonnie “Common” Lynn Jr.: $12 million
12. Aliaune “Akon” Thiam: $12 million
13. Jermaine Dupri: $11 million
13. Jonathan “Lil Jon” Smith: $11 million (He's still alive???)
14. OutKast: $10 million
14. Hakeem “Chamillionaire” Seriki: $10 million (REALLY?!)
14. Jayceon “The Game” Taylor: $10 million
13. Jermaine Dupri: $11 million
13. Jonathan “Lil Jon” Smith: $11 million (He's still alive???)
14. OutKast: $10 million
14. Hakeem “Chamillionaire” Seriki: $10 million (REALLY?!)
14. Jayceon “The Game” Taylor: $10 million
