Jay-Z Tops Forbes List

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Jay-Z performs on the 4:44 Tour at Barclays Center on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP)
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Jay Z performs during The Meadows Music and Arts Festival at Citi Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)
Jay Z performs during The Meadows Music and Arts Festival at Citi Field on Friday, Sept. 15, 2017, in New York. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

He’s a rapper, music producer and entrepreneur. And now Jay-Z is also top of Forbes’ list of Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artists with a mega fortune of $900 million in 2017, the magazine revealed on Thursday. The 48-year-old seized top spot from his pal Sean “Diddy” Combs, also 48, who had held it since Forbes started compiling the list in 2011. Diddy came in second this year with $825 million.

Forbes put the rising fortune of Jay-Z, aka Shawn Carter, down to the rising value of his interests in Armand de Brignac champagne and D’Ussé cognac. That comes on top of nine-figure ownership stakes in his Roc Nation empire and Tidal streaming service.

Diddy increased his own worth in the past 12 months but what Forbes described as ‘tepid trends in the vodka and cable TV sectors have affected his interests in Ciroc and Revolt.’ Super-producer and entrepreneur Dr. Dre, aka Andre Young, came in third with $770 million. The 53-year-old benefited from the rising stock market boosting his nine-figure windfall from Apple’s $3 billion buyout of his Beats in 2014.

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