Get unlimited access to everything VICE has to offer.

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

Turn off all ads on VICE.com

Exclusive New VICE Documentaries

Member Exclusive Features & Columns

4 Magazines Delivered to Your Door

Dr. Dre Joins Beyoncé and Jay-Z as 1 of Only 6 Musicians on Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires List

Dr. Dre is a music industry billionaire, along with Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, and Bruce Springsteen.

By Stephen Andrew Galiher

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

Dr. Dre once declared himself “hip-hop’s first billionaire,” and it’s actually true now. The rap legend has been revealed as joining Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires List. He’s now one of only six music artists on the list.

According to the announcement, Dre joins “an elite group of celebrities who have recently crossed the three-comma threshold.” The other music industry names that appear on the list include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Rihanna. Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen also make the list as well.

View this post on Instagram

Dre previously made billion-dollar waves when he and record executive Jimmy Iovine sold their Beats by Dre business to Apple for $3 billion in 2014. That company later merged with Apple Music. At the time of the sale, Dre said, “They need to update the Forbes list, s*** just changed.”

Notably, the global billionaires list is much longer than you probably expect. As for where Dre falls, he is tied for 3332nd. He shares that placement with Rihanna, Jared Kushner, steel magnate Richard Teets Jr., and many others.

For the second year in a row, Elon Musk tops Forbes’ Billionaires list ($839 billion) and is the richest person ever recorded

Dr. Dre has been a staple of the hip-hop industry for four decades. The Compton, California, native got his start rapping and producing in the mid-80s. He was part of N.W.A., one of the greatest hip-hop groups of all time.

In 1992, Dre dropped his debut solo album, The Chronic. It would go on to be considered one of the most iconic rap albums ever recorded. After spending years working behind the scenes with artists like Snoop Dogg and 2Pac, Dre dropped his second album. Released in 1999, the sophomore album, 2001, is also widely considered to be a hip-hop masterpiece.

In addition to his impressive work, Dr. Dre also helped get Eminem into the spotlight. He took the Detroit lyricist under his wing and, to this day, he believes Em is one of the best rappers to ever hold a mic.

Dr. Dre produced Eminem’s first four albums, with just two of them working together

During a 2024 appearance on This Life of Mine with James Corden, Dre recalled meeting Em for the first time. “Long story short, I met Eminem at Jimmy Iovine’s office, we slapped hands, went to the studio, and started recording,” Dr. Dre said of meeting Eminem.

He went on to share, “And I’m not sure if anybody knows this: I think the first four [Eminem] albums, was just me and [Eminem]. His writing and his delivery and his imagination is off the charts – and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that.”

Finally, Dre added, “I think he’s the best emcee ever.”

Share on X (Opens in new window)X

Share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Facebook

Share using Native toolsShareCopied to clipboard

(Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) Dr. Dre Joins Beyoncé and Jay-Z as 1 of Only 6 Musicians on Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires List 2 minutes ago By Stephen Andrew Galiher

Dr. Dre Joins Beyoncé and Jay-Z as 1 of Only 6 Musicians on Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires List

By Stephen Andrew Galiher

Photo by Erika Goldring/WireImage Modest Mouse Reveal More 2026 Tour Dates, Drop Rowdy New Track ‘Look How Far…’ 53 minutes ago By Nick Stockton

Modest Mouse Reveal More 2026 Tour Dates, Drop Rowdy New Track ‘Look How Far…’

K Camp Reflects on Finding Confidence As an Indie Artist, Balancing Music and Industry Mindsets, and the Current State of R&B 2 hours ago By Caleb Catlin

K Camp Reflects on Finding Confidence As an Indie Artist, Balancing Music and Industry Mindsets, and the Current State of R&B

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) Wiz Khalifa Had Harsh Words for This Notable Feature in ‘Scream 7’, Calling It ‘Forced’ and ‘Corny’ 3 hours ago By Caleb Catlin

Wiz Khalifa Had Harsh Words for This Notable Feature in ‘Scream 7’, Calling It ‘Forced’ and ‘Corny’

Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images Bleachers Debut New Song ‘dirty wedding dress,’ Reveal 2026 North American Tour Dates 3 hours ago By Nick Stockton

Bleachers Debut New Song ‘dirty wedding dress,’ Reveal 2026 North American Tour Dates

Pete Holmes (Photo: Jeremychanphotography/Getty Images) Pete Holmes on His New Stand-Up Special, Proper Q-Tip Usage, and How Audiences Have Changed (Exclusive) 3 hours ago By Tony Alpsen

Pete Holmes on His New Stand-Up Special, Proper Q-Tip Usage, and How Audiences Have Changed (Exclusive)

Screenshot: Epic Games Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Battle Pass Leaked – Bugs Bunny, Ice King & More Skins 3 hours ago By Brent Koepp

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 Battle Pass Leaked – Bugs Bunny, Ice King & More Skins

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 13: Nas performs onstage during Kenny "The Jet" Smith's FlyHouse Presented by Resorts World on February 13, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Kenny Smith) The ‘Corny’ Song Nas Regretted Putting On This 1999 Album 4 hours ago By Stephen Andrew Galiher

The ‘Corny’ Song Nas Regretted Putting On This 1999 Album

By Stephen Andrew Galiher

Peter Kramer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images I Only Listened to My Late 2000s iPod Library for a Week—These 4 Songs Make Me Want to Burn the Evidence 4 hours ago By Lauren Boisvert

I Only Listened to My Late 2000s iPod Library for a Week—These 4 Songs Make Me Want to Burn the Evidence

Photo by Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images Lucy Dacus Just Announced More North American Tour Dates for 2026 5 hours ago By Nick Stockton

Lucy Dacus Just Announced More North American Tour Dates for 2026

Add your account details

© Vice