Who are the richest reggae/dancehall artists alive today?
All mainstream music genres have their own mega stars who are raking in millions every year. The likes of Jay-z, Diddy and 50 Cent comes to mind. But Reggae/dancehall artists are making paper too. Urban Islandz readers have been asking who the richest persons in reggae/dancehall are. We have the answer to that question.
There are no doubts that if this list was for the all time richest reggae musician Bob Marley would top the list with an estimated worth of US$130 million. Marley, though is deceased is still richer than all the other reggae artists on the list combined. Bob goes down in history as one of the richest dead celebrity of all time.
Here is a list of the richest reggae/dancehall artists alive today.
1. Shaggy – Net Worth US$22 Million
Shaggy 2001 album “Hot Shot” sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, making him one of music’s top selling artist. The mega sales propelled Shaggy to arguably become Reggae’s Richest artist of the current generation. “Hot Shot” peaked at number one on the Billboard charts in the US and UK, and was certified X6 platinum in the US alone. Despite the huge success of “Hot Shot” Shaggy never release another successful album today and he really doesn’t need to. These days Shaggy is more known for his charitable work in Jamaica, after he launched the Shaggy foundation, which is responsible for the annual Shaggy and Friends concert. All profits goes to the Bustamante Children Hospital in Jamaica.
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2. Jimmy Cliff – Net Worth US$18 Million
Jimmy Cliff true net worth is not fully known as data we collected was limited, but from our estimate “The Harder They Come” star is worth in the region of US$ 18 million. Jimmy Cliff is no doubt the second most iconic personality in Reggae music to date, second only to the King himself Bob Marley. Jimmy Cliff hit movie “The Harder They Come” help propelled the worldwide Reggae music movement of the 1970ies. Bob Marley may need to credit Jimmy Cliff and his Blockbuster film for some of his success in the 1970ies. In 2010 Jimmy Cliff was also one of five performers inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cliff is also a full fledged entrepreneur with several businesses under his belt.
3. Sean Paul – US$ 11 Million
Sean Paul is no doubt the most internationally successful dancehall artist to date. His 2004 album “Dutty Rock” sold 6 million copies worldwide, which pushed him into the mainstream of music. “Dutty Rock” won Sean Paul a grammy award and several other nominations. Paul also did collaborations with mega stars such as Beyonce Knowles, Rihanna, Keyshia Cole to name a few. There is no surprise that Sean Paul is on the list of richest Reggae stars of all time.
4. Ziggy Marley – Net Worth 10 Million
Closing in on Sean Paul is the oldest son of the late King of Reggae Bob Marley. Ziggy Marley has always been regarding as the most successful of the Marley children. Some may speculate that the bulk of Ziggy worth comes from inheritance, but Ziggy Marley been recoding since he was a teenager. His 2006 album “Love Is My Religion” earned Ziggy his third grammy and sold millions of copies worldwide. Ziggy is a core figure at the helm of Tuff Gong Worldwide record label which is responsible for distributing Bob Marley music worldwide.
5. Sean Kingston – Net Worth US$ 7 Million
Some may argue that Sean Kingston genre is not reggae, but to be correct it is in fact Reggae or some would say Reggae pop or R&B Reggae, whichever you want to call it its still Reggae. Kingston is a new breed of reggae artist that is propelling Reggae music into the main stream. His 2007 self titled debut album was certified gold in the US. Kingston hit single “Beautiful Girl” made him a mega star. The song peaked at number one of the Billboard chart. Sean Kingston is now not only an artist but also an entrepreneur. He started his own record label “Time Is Money”, which is responsible for another break through reggae pop singer Iyaz from the Virgin Islands.
6. Damian Marley – Net Worth US$ 6 Million
Damian “Junior Gong” Marley is another highly successful Marley son. Junior Gong started recording since he was 13 years old and to day earned himself three grammy awards. His song “Welcome To Jamrock” was named the top reggae song of the last decade by New York Times. Both albums “Half Way Tree” and “Welcome To Jamrock” was certified Gold in the US. His collaborative album “Distant Relatives” with rapper Nas is also gaining much traction worldwide.
7. Maxi Priest – US$ 4.6 Million
Maxi Priest is another hugely successful international Reggae singer, with some r&b influence. Priest has released some 9 albums since the mid 1980ies, most of which top charts in the UK. Although Maxi Priest was born in Jamaica his parents move him to the UK at a young age, which influence the r&b flavor in his music.
8. Buju Banton – US$ 4 Million
Just in case your wondering, the answer is yes, reggae/dancehall artist Buju Banton is rotten rich. Buju once use to be the richest reggae artist alive, but Banton suffer tremendous fall out from his beef with the gay community. Despite that fallout, Gargamel is still one of the biggest selling reggae artist today.
9. Beenie Man – US$ 3.7 Million
Beenie Man is rose to stardom in the early 1990ies and has since been rocking up the charts with his catalog of hits. The “Zim Zimmer” deejay has acquired a solid net worth over the years and can safely join the ranks of richest reggae/dancehall artists alive.
10. Bounty Killer – US$ 3 Million
Dancehall veteran Bounty Killer is regarded as the most influential artist in dancehall music today. Killer is responsible for the careers of some of dancehall top acts currently including Mavado, Busy Signal and controversial artist Vybz Kartel. Bounty has over the years acquired a net worth of around US$ 3 million putting him in the ranks of richest reggae/dancehall artists currently.
This list is compiled from data that were available to Urban Islandz online and Offline. We strive to make sure the content we published is fully accurate but we cannot always guarantee this. Therefore, we assumed that the above content is accurate unless otherwise specified by the persons named above.
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Would love to know how much Kartel makes in relation to the rest of this list.
I’m not sure Maxi Priest was born in Jamaica..I’m pretty sure it was Lewisham, South London, England.
Mi honestly think bounty have more than that, dem man dey nuh talk so you wouldn’t know… But platinum sales and over 20 years in the biz come on the man money loud. How him own some trailer trucks too.
bounty killer is the man of all
JR GONG THE TUFFEZT
try list
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well, Jamaican people never care about SEAN PAUL but they forgot tha Sean Paul represented dancehall genre to the world music industry & only person who keep making SUCCESSFUL tracks till now. He’s the man who never flop down & carrying his country flag worldwide before Usain bolt. Please grow up now & give him some respect….. SEAN PAUL IS THE REGGAE PRINCE & keep it lock in yuh mind.
well, Jamaican people never care about SEAN PAUL but they forgot tha Sean Paul represented dancehall genre to the world music industry & only person who keep making SUCCESSFUL tracks till now. He's the man who never flop down & carrying his country flag worldwide before Usain bolt. Please grow up now & give him some respect….. SEAN PAUL IS THE REGGAE PRINCE & keep it lock in yuh mind.
well, Jamaican people never care about SEAN PAUL but they forgot tha Sean Paul represented dancehall genre to the world music industry & only person who keep making SUCCESSFUL tracks till now. He’s the man who never flop down & carrying his country flag worldwide before Usain bolt. Please grow up now & give him some respect….. SEAN PAUL IS THE REGGAE PRINCE & keep it lock in yuh mind.
I also disagree with this list where is the likes of people like Elephant man, Morgan heritage and many more that people listen to there songs. I don’t think there is a place Morgan heritage will go and the house will not be fully packed.
I also disagree with this list where is the likes of people like Elephant man, Morgan heritage and many more that people listen to there songs. I don't think there is a place Morgan heritage will go and the house will not be fully packed.
seeing the comments from the younger folks just reinstate my belief that they don’t know money..kartel is popular n have a lot of songs but that don’t necessarily spell wealth..who is buying his songs, where is he touring, who endorses him. most of kartel’s songs are circulated through burnt cd’s..no royalty…think on these things.
seeing the comments from the younger folks just reinstate my belief that they don't know money..kartel is popular n have a lot of songs but that don't necessarily spell wealth..who is buying his songs, where is he touring, who endorses him. most of kartel's songs are circulated through burnt cd's..no royalty…think on these things.
Vybz kartel nd that’s it babiiiii!!!!
Y do most musicians lyk 2 song with rehana
how sean kingston fi have that kind a munny ova kartel ennuh man!
how sean kingston fi have that kind a munny ova kartel ennuh man!
Ringtones…. Sean K made his first million offa him first chune when it turned into a ringtone
still nuh mek it
sean kingston is bigger than you think..hes more international that vibes kartel..i have friends over seas who dont even know who vibes is…and vibes not selling more records than sean..check soundscan
COME ON NOW SIZZLA IS A POOR MAN???
dem nuh shabba dem nuh shango.
dem nuh shabba dem nuh shango.
dem nuh shabba dem nuh shango.
what about vybz kartel he got nuff money than other people. He buy a benz for a 4 million and nuff other thing
Well the Smiling Killa will be on this list shortly.
Well the Smiling Killa will be on this list shortly.
come on is this accurate n where does vybes fall.
come on is this accurate n where does vybes fall.
ww wacha ufala vybz bado hana any
killer long tym ina business keep up man dem u holding it down.warlord miz a rebel angry, warning to dem.
killer long tym ina business keep up man dem u holding it down.warlord miz a rebel angry, warning to dem.
weh di f–k do you tichawona look how long boutny killer deh bout how di hell vybz kartel fi have money like dem man yah? a when since you start listen dancehall music? wahday because if you were checking boutny killer has been around since 1991 until now so little kartel cyaa half have the money weh dem man yah have no day!
I <3 Shaggy, Damian Marley n Beenie Man.
I <3 Shaggy, Damian Marley n Beenie Man.
I find it hard to belive shabba ranks with his international success in the 90’s isn’t on this list.
I find it hard to belive shabba ranks with his international success in the 90's isn't on this list.
Shabba suffered greatly when his shows and contracts were cancelled due to the infamous imbroglio with the gay community
THIS IS AN OUTDATED LIST..
THIS IS AN OUTDATED LIST..
Shaggy is the richest dancehall artist alive…cn u dig it*Dj~Fyn*.
Shaggy is the richest dancehall artist alive…cn u dig it*Dj~Fyn*.
RESPECT!
RESPECT!
Where is shabba?
Where is shabba?
cul
cul
Rudebwouy ge em..
Rudebwouy ge em..
Heavy Heavy
Heavy Heavy
Interesting
Interesting
dis sh-t is a lie…loooool.
no its true who in the world did you expect… vybz kartel or movado who cant even get a tour?
nah but der shuld b in e top ten, kartel does get money
Romario Anderson Best answer…… Bounty is the man…
Tichawona Wilbert Chireya Twc . Yes baby. Money is different from MONEY. Kartel and de rest ah de likkle bwoy dem ave …change – pocket money. Dem nah ave de real bullion.
dis sh-t is a lie…loooool.
NO ONE MADE MENTION OF KARTEL ON THIS LIST HE’S ONLY GAZA RICH.LOL..NOW THAT THE GULLY GOD CAN TRAVEL HIM AGO GET HIM MONEY UP ……..
bounty them was then kartel is now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! stop hating
Sean Kingston is far from being a reggae/dancehall artist. This list is totally wrong because Beenie Man has been around for more than 20 years and his albums are popular in Asia, Europe, and U.S. He might have made $3 million from one album. Writer and editor need to check their sources.
Sean Kingston is not a reggae artist ok!!!
He is an American with Jamaican background..and he is using the “I’m a Jamaican guy” thing for publicity… duuuhh! obviously the rest of the world thinks Jamaica is cool…so yea, take him off the list please!
* IslandBoyAce *
Shaggy have the whole a di money
Kingston album i heard went gold which mean him make less than a mill off his album. give mi some figures fi seh how him mek the other six mil. Maybe off the label i heard him have. but juss no si how him mek 26 mil
Mi did surprise seh Mavado and Kartel no de pon di list but then again dem still have a long way to go. 15k per tour date naan go put him inna dem man yah league. how much show him woulda need fi do fi make a mil. simple logics yo see it
mi know, but sean kingston make tone's of money on endorsement and tour in 2k8, plus beenieman was making money in the early days like bounty
Movado packing money right now, because he have him visa to do tour right now, him was up here 2 time back to back at club and he take like 15k us for that sh-t couple hr
NEVER MIND ME JUST MONITORING THE COMMENTS
NEVER MIND ME JUST MONITORING THE COMMENTS
@knowner but you no idiot sean kingston not even sell one platinum selling album mi not even tink him so rich. Mi personally know one a sean paul close relative who told me the data seems true. plus its not how popular you are is how much album you sold and howw much you earn from tours and endorsement. so what data can you say to say bounty and beenie richer than wha dem people yah seh. mi no si how sean kingston mek 26 million and mi check on the net and everywhere confirm 7 mill.
bounty and beenie kinda look wrong could be more or less but a no how popular u r is how much music yo sell. cuz kartel popular but him naan sell nuff music him only a sell condom and rum.
Kingston album i heard went gold which mean him make less than a mill off his album. give mi some figures fi seh how him mek the other six mil. Maybe off the label i heard him have. but juss no si how him mek 26 mil
Mi did surprise seh Mavado and Kartel no de pon di list but then again dem still have a long way to go. 15k per tour date naan go put him inna dem man yah league. how much show him woulda need fi do fi make a mil. simple logics yo see it
@knowner but you no idiot sean kingston not even sell one platinum selling album mi not even tink him so rich. Mi personally know one a sean paul close relative who told me the data seems true. plus its not how popular you are is how much album you sold and howw much you earn from tours and endorsement. so what data can you say to say bounty and beenie richer than wha dem people yah seh. mi no si how sean kingston mek 26 million and mi check on the net and everywhere confirm 7 mill.
bounty and beenie kinda look wrong could be more or less but a no how popular u r is how much music yo sell. cuz kartel popular but him naan sell nuff music him only a sell condom and rum.
Beenieman,bounty, sean kingston and sean pual money wrong them man have made more money that, where you guys get this r#$s from, with a set of lie, sean kingston had made over 26 million in his four years span, sean pual is stinking rich he was once consider the most popular reggae artist of all time,
for me to believe this it have to come from FORBES that have in side scule from IRS and many tax place, you guys belly full and feel like write sh#$ about people
nosa mi no tink bounty so rich cuz look wha gwaan wid di tax ting
mi think bounty killa richer than that,i need you guys to double check,trust me.
Fool stop hating because you don’t have what it takes to compare.
yow you mean fi tell me seh SEAN KINGSTON just buss weh day and come richer than WAYNE WONDER,BUNNY WAILER,TOOTS,SHABBA RANKS and beenie man and killer bway life realy mystic sah the amount of fight all SEAN PUAL get who would expect that he would be the third richest on the list mmm…praise GOD and you may join them one day
mi think bounty killa richer than that,i need you guys to double check,trust me.
nosa mi no tink bounty so rich cuz look wha gwaan wid di tax ting
yow you mean fi tell me seh SEAN KINGSTON just buss weh day and come richer than WAYNE WONDER,BUNNY WAILER,TOOTS,SHABBA RANKS and beenie man and killer bway life realy mystic sah the amount of fight all SEAN PUAL get who would expect that he would be the third richest on the list mmm…praise GOD and you may join them one day
Shaggy money tall… stinking rich. jah know mi no tink bounty so rich still
Shaggy money tall… stinking rich. jah know mi no tink bounty so rich still
bounty probably have more dan dat!
how did you guys get these figures
how did you guys get these figures