Birdman net worth: Birdman is an American rapper, CEO and entrepreneur who has a net worth of $170 million. Birdman, also known as Bryan "Baby" Williams is the CEO and founder of Cash Money Records. Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Birdman founded Cash Money Records with his brother Ronald "Slim" Williams in 1989. The multi-talented Birdman went multi-platinum as both an artist and a producer, helping craft albums for many huge artists includingLil Wayne and Juvenile. In 2000 Birdman was even nominated for two Grammies for his song #1 Stunna which he released with Mannie Fresh as part of the rap duo Big Tymers.

But you already knew all that. What you want to know is how much cash money does Birdman have. Well consider this: Cash Money Records is the most commercially successful label in the history of hip-hop music with 50 million records sold and annual revenues in excess of $100 million. By the time Birdman was 22 he had already amassed a net worth of $40 million. Eventually Cash Money signed a distribution deal with Universal Music which would net the company a minimum of $30 million before a single record is even printed. But in the boldest move of all, when Cash Money signed with Universal they negotiated a deal which would allow them to own their masters, a deal that not even The Beatles ever had! So instead of getting a few pennies for every record sold the company gets several dollars of the profits generated per unit.

Birdman owns a $30 million condo in Miami. He claims that every 6 months he buys 100 new cars and gives away all the "old" ones. At any given time he is wearing millions of dollars worth jewelry including a 15 carat black diamond ring and matching earrings and a $500,000 grill on his teeth. He personally lost 20 houses and 50 cars including 2 Maybachs and 4 Ferraris during hurricane Katrina. In early 2010, Birdman launched a oil and energy venture under the name "Bronald Oil" with his brother. "Bronald" is a combination of his name, Bryan and his brother's name Ronald. Their plans were to explore and develop oil resources in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Oklahoma Osage County.

T.I. net worth: T.I. is an Atlanta-based rapper, producer, author, actor and CEO who has a net worth of $40 million. T.I. was born Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. on September 25, 1980. Since entering the music business in 2001, T.I has released nine studio albums. T.I. is also the founder and CEO of Grand Hustle Records and a successful actor. He has starred in several films and television shows including "Takers", "ATL", "American Gangster" and "Boss". His recent music hits include "Got Your Back", "Dead and Gone", and "Live Your Life". T.I. is also no stranger to controversy. He has been arrested several times and served two jail sentences for gun charges and probation violations.

Lil Wayne net worth: Lil Wayne is an American rapper, producer and music executive who has a net worth of $135 million. Whether you call him Lil Wayne, Mr. Carter or Weezy F. Baby, the New Orleans born rapper has reached stardom in ways other musician's only aspire to Growing up in the 17th ward of New Orleans, Wayne started his career at only 15-years-old with Cash Money Records rap group Hot Boys and soon debuted his solo album The Block is Hot, which went double platinum and reached #3 on the Billboard charts.

Despite seemingly continuous controversy Wayne's success hasn't faltered. His fourth and fifth studio albums Tha Carter and Tha Carter II featured a more thorough sense of self, evident in his lyrical style. In 2005 he became the president of Cash Money Records and founded Young Money Entertainment, an imprint of Cash Money.

Following the drop of his sixth studio album Tha Carter III in 2008 he was nominated for eight Grammy's, the most for any artist that year taking home four awards. Wayne dropped his first Rock album titled Rebirth this month and was named #2 on MTV's list of hottest MC's in the game behind Brooklyn bred rapper Jay-Z. Wayne's documentary, Tha Carter, was featured at the Sundance film festival in 2009. Wayne has collaborated dozens of musicians like Birdman, Ludacris, Chris Brown,Akon, T.I. Keri Hilson and T-Pain. Some call him the best rapper to ever live others say he's self-destructive but whatever you believe Lil Wayne has become a staple in American music and will remain there, indefinitely.

Jermaine Dupri net worth: Jermaine Dupri is an American songwriter, rapper, and record producer who has a net worth of $2 million. Jermaine Dupri was born on September 23rd, 1972 in Asheville North Coralina. His father was a Columbia record executive. Dupri used his father's connections to become a dancer for performers like Diana Ross. By the time he was fourteen he began producing for young artists around Atlanta. His first stab at producing came when he made a record for the female rap trio Silk Tymes Leather. The group was unable to produce a successful record but the venture helped Jermaine meet many important contacts. His big first success came after discovering two teenage rappers at mall. JD would eventually christen the duo "Kriss Kross" and produce their debut album "Tottally Krossed Out". The album eventually went multi-platinum thanks to the singles, "Jump" and "It's a Shame"..

With his new found success Dupri launched his very own record company, So So Def Recordings. He soon singed on the group Jagged Edge whose self titled debut album went platinum. Next he signed on a young female Chicago singer named Da Brat who would become the first female rapper to ever sell over 1,000,000 units. Around this time Dupri began to experience success beyond his wildest imagination. This success allowed him to collaborate with superstars like Boys to Men, Luther Vandross, Jay-Z, Lil Bow-wow, Baby Face and more. Bow-wow's first record alone went triple-platinum. So So Def Recordings eventually earned twenty gold and platinum records. In 1998 Dupri launched a music career of his own when he released "The Party Continues" and "Jermaine Dupri Presents Life in 1472: The original soundtrack".

Jermaine Dupri's Financial Problems:

Despite having earned $11 million in 2008 and having an net worth of $60 million in 2006, recently Jermaine Dupri has fallen on difficult financial times. In May 2011, Jermaine was on the verge of bankruptcy thanks largely to the debt his company So So Def had taken on over the years. Dupri barely avoided the foreclosure of his Atlanta home on two separate occasions. Dupri owed over $500,000 to the state of Georgia and $3 million to the IRS. He eventually paid back most of his tax debt, but in 2010 was forced to put his company up as collateral to secure a $4.8 million personal loan from SunTrust bank. As of May 2013 he has paid back roughly half of the loan but has not made a payment in many months. If he does not make a payment soon, the bank will take ownership of JD's entire catalogue of music, including the albums from Da Brat, Bow Wow, Kriss Kross and Xscape.

Eminem net worth: Eminem is a multi platinum selling American rapper who has a net worth of $140 million. Eminem spent his youth moving around Missouri with his single mom before settling in Warren, Michigan where he became interested in hip-hop after obtaining Licensed to Ill by the Beastie Boys. Between participating in freestyle rap battles and creating his own amateur performances throughout his teen years, Marshall gained recognition and respect from the local hip-hop scene. After dropping out of high school at age seventeen, Marshall joined Bassmint Productions, which was later renamed Soul Intent. He recorded music with Mashin' Duck Records and FBT Productions, all while holding down a minimum wage job as a cook and dishwasher. Under Web Entertainment, Eminem released his debut album, Infinite, in 1996.

Infinite was followed by the 1997 release of The Slim Shady EP, which earned Eminem the attention of Dr. Dre, who executive-produced the major-label release of The Slim Shady LP. The album was an instant commercial and critical success, earning Eminem a Grammy for best rap album. 2000 and 2002 saw the releases of The Marshall Mathers LP and The Eminem Show, respectfully, both successes, with The Marshall Mathers LP on record as the fastest selling hip-hop album in history. Eminem has achieved twelve #1 singles worldwide, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, eight number one albums on Billboard Top 200, and was named Artist of the Decade by Billboard Magazine in December 2009.

Ice Cube net worth: Ice Cube is an American rapper, actor and producer who has a net worth of $120 million. Ice Cube has transitioned himself from one of the originators of the West Coast gangsta rap to one of the most powerful people in Hollywood today. Born O'Shea Jackson in South Central Los Angeles, he developed an interest in hip-hop as a teenager and began writing rap songs in his high school keyboarding class. During a year studying architectural drafting, he formed the rap group N.W.A and began performing at parties hosted by group member and influential hip-hop producer Dr. Dre.

He performed with N.W.A until 1989, when he departed to begin his solo career. Ice Cube released both AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Kill at Will in 1990, and Kill at Will became the first hip-hop EP to go both gold and platinum. His 1992 release, The Predator, was recorded during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and became the first album in history to debut at the top of both the pop and R&B charts. It remains his most popular album. Ice Cube made his acting debut in John Singleton's Boyz in the Hood, and has since appeared films such asThree Kings, Higher Learning, and XXX: State of the Union. Beginning in 1995, he has also written, directed, and produced numerous films, including Friday and its two sequels, Barbershop and its sequel, and Are We There Yet and its sequel.

What is Soulja Boy's net worth? Born DeAndre Cortez Way but better known as rapper and record producer Soulja Boy Tell Em, this Chicago native has a net worth of $23 million. In 2010 alone Soulja Boy earned over $7 million which was enough for Forbes to name him one of the Hip Hop Cash Kings for the year. Soulja Boy took an early interest in rap music and at the age of fourteen, his father gave him a recording studio to pursue and practice his music. Soulja used social media networking websites such as SoundClick, Myspace and YouTube as a way to popularize his music and gain feedback from a steadily growing audience.

In February of 2007, Soulja Boy released "Unsigned and Still Major: Da Album Before da Album" under his independent label Stacks on Deck Entertainment, which he founded in 2004. Just three months later he was signed with Interscope Records. Soulja's previously recorded single "Crank That" was reproduced and released in August of 2007. Crank That topped the U.S. Billboard chart for eight consecutive weeks and has been certified platinum four times by the RIAA. It also went on to earn Soulja a Grammy nomination. In October of 2007, his first major label album Souljaboytellem.com was released and reached number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and has since been certified platinum by the RIAA. Fourteen months later, he released his follow up album, ¡SouljaBoyTellem. He released his third studio album, The DeAndre Way in 2010 and is currently working on his fourth studio album. Soulja Boy has collaborated with several other hip-hop artists such as Gucci Mane, Sammie, Shawty Lo, and Arab.

Master P net worth: Master P is an American rap mogul, entrepreneur and film producer who has a net worth of $350 million. In the late 90s Master P built a well diversified business empire empire that included several rap labels, a clothing line, a management company, a high end travel agency, a film production company, a video game company and even a phone sex line. His most notable and likely most successful endeavor has been No Limit Records which pioneered the Southern Rap sound and has sold over 80 million records worldwide. In 1998 alone, Master P's business empire generated more than $160 million.

Master P has so many careers it would be difficult to narrow it down to two or three.. His net worth has been accumulated through many different revenue channels, including his work as a rapper, an entrepreneur, and sometimes an actor. P is best known for his hit single "Make 'Em Say Uhh!". P has been fairly prolific in the world of hip-hop, having been releasing music pretty consistently since his debut album back in 1991 entitled Get Away Clean. Since then, P has released a variety of albums to varying degrees of success. Some of the more popular albums include Mr. Ice Cream Man, Ghetto D, and MP Da Last Don. In addition to his rap albums, Master P has had a little bit of success as an actor. He remains most well known in the acting world for his work on the Nickelodeon children's sitcom Romeo! which he starred as the titular character's father. This was especially fitting considering that Romeo was played by P's real-life son, rapper Lil Romeo. Master P has also had a large measure of success as an investor, including as the founder and CEO of No Limit Entertainment.

Jay-Z is a rapper, songwriter and businessman who has a net worth of $500 million. Jay-Z has earned his net worth through his career in the music industry, beginning as co-founder (with Damon Dash and Kareem Biggs) of Roc-A-Fella records, where he began his recording career. In 1996, released his first album, Reasonable Doubt, with Priority Records. It ranked 248 on Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of all Time. After that, he signed with Def Jam and released his next album, "In My Lifetime, Volume 1." This album had much to do with Jay-Z's life in his earlier years. It won platinum status. A year later, he released "Volume 2, Hard Knock Life," which has sold over five million copies and is five times platinum. With continued success, Jay-Z's net worth is expected to reach $1 billion or more within his lifetime. A truly incredible achievement for any celebrity. Here are the facts:

Clothing: Jay sold Rocaware clothing, which he co-founded, for $204 million back in 2007. If Rocaware met certain performance milestones he could pull down an additional $35 million in Iconix (the buyer) stock.

Records: Every single album he's ever released (over 15) have gone platinum.

Endorsements: Chevy, Budweiser, Armadale Vodka, Hewlett Packard

Concerts: His recent deal with Live Nation is reportedly worth $150 million

Miscellaneous: Jay's ownership stake in the New Jersey Nets, Arsenal Football Club, 40/40 nighclubs, Def Jam Records

His success as a solo artist is well known, but he has also performed with other recording artists, such as, The Edge, Mariah Carey, U2′s Bono Rihanna, and more. Jay-Z also has produced a musical titled, "Fela," along with Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, in celebration of Nigerian political activist, Fela Kuti. Jay-Z is known for his rythym and ryhme technique to him that perfect flow in his performances. He is also known for his ability to create lyrics in his head. Along with his musical career, Jay-Z has also appeared in films, such as, Back Stage, State Property, Streets is Watching, Paper Soldiers and Fade to Black. Fade to Black is a documentary about Jay-Z's career. There are many other performers in the cast of Fade to Black. Performers such as, Bleek, Beyonce, Funkmaster Flex, and many more talented artists.

Jay-Z is also a very successful entrepreneur with investments in clothing and record companies, as well as, being the co-owner of the 40/40 Clubs, in New York City, Atlantic City, and Chicago. He is the co-director of Budweiser Select and part owner of NBA's New Jersey Jets. Jay-Z has also been involved with helping to make people aware of the global water shortage. He has contributed $1 million to help with the victims of Hurricane Katrina, through the American Red Cross.

Jay-Z, along with fellow minority owner Bruce Ratner and majority owner Mikhail Prokhorov, have announced the official move of the New Jersey Nets to Brooklyn, with the team being renamed the Brooklyn Nets.

Jay-Z was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1969 and had a tough upbringing, with a father who abandoned him and getting mixed up in selling drugs. He attended Whitney High School, George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School, and Trenton Central High School, in Trenton, New Jersey. Jay-Z had a love of music and rythym, even as a child. After his mother bought him a boom box for his birthday, Jay-Z became creating his own style of hip hop. In 2002, Jay-Z worked with Beyonce in the song, "03-Bonnie & Clyde," as well as her hit single, "Crazy in Love," and "That's How You Like it." He made appearances in several of Beyonce performances. In 2008, Beyonce and Jay-Z were married, and have been named the top earning couple in the music industry. The power couple welcomed their first child Blue Ivy on January 8th 2012.

Kanye West net worth: Kanye West is an American producer, rapper, fashion designer and actor who has a net worth of $100 million. Kanye West was born in Atlanta but raised by his mother first in Chicago and then Oak Lawn, Illinois. He dropped out of college to pursue his career in the music industry, starting out initially as a producer for Roc-A-Fella records. Kanye eventually persuaded label head Jay-Z to sign him on as a rapper.

Kanye West spent four years honing and perfecting what would become his debut album, The College Dropout, which came in at number two on the Billboard 200 and is still Kanye West's best-selling album in the US to date. Subsequent albums, Late Registration, Graduation and 808s & Heartbreak and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy were also chart-toppers that received critical and commercial success. His production credits include an impressive role call of talent including: Jay-Z, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys and Janet Jackson. West is also a seasoned businessman with a chain of Fatburger restaurants designated for the Chicago area, a line of athletic shoes for Nike called Air Yeezy, and another shoe line with Louis Vuitton. His philanthropic ventures include his the Kayne West Foundation which benefits education for African American and Latino children, in addition to contributing time, talent and money to Hurricane Katrina relief, World Water Day, and Live Earth, among other organizations. To date, Kanye West has won more than 40 significant awards, among them fourteen Grammys, seven BET awards, and two American Music Awards. Kanye is currently dating and expecting a child with girlfriend Kim Kardashian.

Diddy net worth: Diddy is a rapper, actor, record producer, and men's fashion designer who has a net worth of $580 million dollars. Diddy, AKA Sean Combs or Puff Daddy, was born on November 4, 1969 in Harlem, New York. While attending Howard University in Washington, D.C., Combs gained recognition as a party promoter and eventually earned an internship at New York's Uptown records. For a time, Combs would commute from DC to NYC by train several days a week until he dropped out of Howard to devote himself full time to music. Diddy was soon promoted to a position as a top executive at Uptown where he discovered and managed artists like Mary J Blige and Jodeci. After being fired from Uptown records, Diddy created his own record company, Bad Boy records, with clients such as The Notorious B.I.G and Craig Mack, Carl Thomas, Father M.C., and Faith Evans. Diddy also began producing records for artists such as Boys II Men, Usher, Mariah Carey, and Aretha Franklin.

Diddy's solo debut "Can't Nobody Hold Me down" was number one for six weeks on Billboard's hot 100. His debut album "No Way Out" followed, winning him a Grammy award in 1998 for best rap album. In 2001, Combs changed his stage name Puff Daddy to P Diddy and eventually shortened it to just "Diddy". Combs has appeared as an actor in a number of film and stage productions. His business ventures, which are part of his Bad Boy Entertainment Worldwide company, include a movie production company, and two restaurants, Bad Boy Records and the clothing lines Sean John and Sean by Sean Combs.

$325 Million

Russell Wendell Simmons was born on October 10, 1957 and is a very successful American entrepreneur, the co-founder (with Rick Rubin) of the pioneering hip-hop record label, Def Jam. His personal net worth is reputed to be $500 million. Simmons is one of the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the world of hip-hop and is a man with varied interests. In addition to his music empire, Russell Simmons also is owner and operator of three clothing lines that he founded. They are Phat Farm …Argyleculture … and American Classics. Simmons is also well-known for his strict adherence to a vegan lifestyle. As a strict and orthodox vegetarian, he will not eat meat and is opposed to the slaughter of animals for food. In the last couple of years, Russell Simmons has shifted his focus from records to political commentary and other literary pursuits.. He is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and is also editor-in-chief of GlobalGrind.com, a website that reviews the world of hip-hop.