The incredible fortune of Dr. Dre

How rich is Dr. Dre?

US rapper Dr. Dre in the 80s story. NWA established gangsta rap, hard beats and titles like “Fuck Tha Police” made the musicians as famous as they were notorious. Eventually, the paths of the members, who pursued solo careers from now on, parted ways. Dr. Dre was successful as the producer and protégé of the rapper Eminem. However, he achieved the greatest success with his headphones series Beats by Dr. Dre and her sale to Apple in May 2014 for. Dre earned $ 750 million (pre-tax) on his 25% stake in Beats sales. So about $ 500 million net. That is the equivalent of 441.5 million euros. If you add to this his previous income of around 247 million euros from his musical activities, you get an unbelievable amount Assets of 730 million euros. Only super-rich rappers like Diddy (2nd place) or Jay-Z (1st place) can keep up. The fortune is in danger, however, because his wife Nicole Young wants to get a divorce after 24 years of marriage and according to the US media there is no prenuptial agreement.

Dr. Dre’s childhood and adolescence

Dr. Dre as Andre Romell Young on February 18, 1965 in Compton, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. His mother was married three times. Through her 3rd marriage to Warren Griffin, his son Warren Griffin III – later rapper Warren G – became Young’s stepbrother. In 1976 Young attended Vanguard Junior High School in Compton. Due to gang fighting in the traditionally dangerous part of the city, he switched to a school in a safer suburb. A later change of school took place due to his poor performance. The attempt at training at the aircraft manufacturer Northrop Corporation also failed because of the school results.

First successes as a rapper

Young, who joined Dr. Dre, celebrated first successes with the hip-hop pioneers of the World Class Wreckin ‘Cru. In 1985, a $ 100,000 record deal with CBS Records caused internal musical and financial disputes, so that Dr. Dre left the band that same year. After he met the rappers Ice Cube and Eazy-E in 1986, the three founded NWA, whose music and content were decidedly harsh. The violent and criminal milieu of Compton was deliberately thematized and stylized as a trademark. The 2nd album “Straight Outta Compton“Brought the group the commercial breakthrough in 1988 and sold two and a half million copies. Two more albums followed before the NWA disbanded in 1991.

producer

From then on, Dr. Dre on solo paths. In addition to his own career, he also pushed the careers of other rappers as a producer. In 1991 he founded Death Row Records with Suge Knight and signed the then unknown Snoop Doggy Dogg. Disputes with Knight and the artists of Death Row Records led to the exit from the label in 1996. From the late 90s, Dr. Dre appears less and less as a musician. Instead, he produced budding up-and-coming stars. To his greatest discoveries include the rappers 50 Cent and Eminem.

Aftermath Entertainment

After leaving Death Row Records, Dr. Dre founded Aftermath Entertainment in January 1996. From the beginning, the production of a clear but first-class series of publications was pursued with the motto “quality before quantity”. Rappers like 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Eminem have released albums through Aftermath Entertainment. Of the total of 20 albums that were released, 16 received platinum or higher awards. A real success label! In 2001, Dr. Dre 30 percent of his label share for around $ 35 million to Interscope Records.

Beats Electronics

In 2006, Dr. Dre together with Jimmy Iovine Beats Electronics. The company is best known for the production of exclusive headphones under the Brand Beats by Dr. Dre Tobe offered. There is also a music streaming service called Beats Music. In 2011, the Taiwanese telecommunications company HTC bought shares for $ 300 million and held the majority of Beats with 50.1 percent. Just one year later, HTC sold back 25 percent of the shares and in September 2013 said goodbye to the deal. In the same month it was announced that the renowned Carlyle Group had participated with an investment of $ 500 million. Estimated sales of Beats in 2013: more than $ 1.2 billion.

Sold to Apple

In early May 2014, rumors circulated that Apple was planning to take over Beats Electronics; Bid Price: $ 3 billion. This paved the way for the largest takeover in Apple’s corporate history. Even before the contract was signed, Dr. Dre, however, through a video in which he confidently called himself the first rap billionaire. The deal, which had already been planned for May 12, was finally confirmed by Apple on the 28th of the month. It actually paid 2.6 billion in cash and $ 400 million in participation. Dre earned, as already mentioned, with his 25% share in the sale of Beats $ 750 million before tax. That is the equivalent of 660 million euros.

The hip-hop cash king Dr. Dre

Musical talent and a flair for the up-and-coming youngsters paved the way for Dr. Dr’s career the way, which is expressed in numbers as follows:

• 2001: According to Rolling Stone magazine, Dr. Dre is the second highest paid musician of the year, with an income of nearly $ 52 million.
• In 2004 he was ranked 44th among the top 50 earners with an estimated $ 11.4 million.
• In 2012 Forbes magazine estimated the producer’s net worth at $ 270 million. With an income of $ 110 million, he is ranked number one in the world highest paid musician of the year.

In 2014 Forbes crowned Dr. Dre became the undisputed king of the “Hip-Hop Cash Kings“. The magazine sent in afterwards that this was the highest sum it had ever estimated for an entertainer. Not only that: even if all 24 other listed rappers pooled their income, they would not come close to that $ 620 million.

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