It’s not a hidden fact that rap as a genre of music has dominated the music scene in South Africa for a while now. It has some of the most important voices the country has exported to the world, including rappers like AKA, Nasty C, Cassper Nyovest, and Die Antwoord. Even though they have all gained a significant level of fame both at home and abroad, the question is – who are the richest rappers in South Africa and how rich are they?

DJ Black Coffee is considered the richest music executive in the country with a net worth estimated at over $60 million. When it comes to rap, AKA who has a net worth of $12 million is considered the richest but there are many others who have also cashed in big in the same genre.

How We Arrived At Our List of The Richest Rappers In South Africa

For most musicians and rappers, music is more of an avenue to fame rather than fortune. However, it serves as a key to wealth for many. Musicians, including rappers, get to make money directly from their career through sales from their songs, streaming, performances at shows and events, and signing music deals.

However, they even make more money from the endorsement deals they have to promote for brands or products, and how they are able to leverage their fame to start businesses or get involved in other endeavors.

We look at the successes of these music stars, the endorsement deals they have landed over the years, the businesses they own, other things they do apart from music, properties they own, including cars and houses, as well as various available data to give what we believe is the closest estimation of the worth of the rappers, thus arriving at the richest rappers in the country.

Meet The Richest Rappers In South Africa

1. AKA (Kiernan Jarryd Forbes)

• Net Worth: $12 Million
• Age: 33 years old
• Record Label: Sony Music Entertainment
• Famous Songs: Fela In Versace, All Eyes on Me, Anatii

Born Kiernan Jarryd Forbes, AKA is obviously one of the most talented South African rappers which explains why he has a net worth of $12 million. The rapper started his career professionally in 2002 and has since released four studio albums and an EP. Three of his albums sold platinum. In addition to the successes he recorded with his music, AKA has had many sold-out shows.

He has huge followership, making him one of the most marketable musicians in South Africa. He has tapped from this to land home endorsement deals with some important local and international brands. Supa Mega is also a businessman. He recently launched his restaurant, Cuba BLK in Durban. Before then, he was the co-founder and CEO of Beam Group.

Among the properties he has to his name are his cars, including a BMW i8 which he spent R1.3 million to get, a blue BMW X6 estimated at R1.3 million, a 2016 BMW X6 M valued at R2 million, and a Volkswagen Scirocco. He has a multi-million rand home in Bryanston.

2. Die Antwoord (Watkin Tudor Jones and Anri du Toit)

• Net Worth: $10 Million
• Yolandi: 46 years old
• Ninja: 36 years old
• Record Label: Zef, Interscope
• Famous Songs: Ugly Boy, Baby’s on Fire, Banana Brain

This hip-hop duo is not only one of the richest rappers in South Africa, but also one of the most fascinating. Formed in 2008, this group has gone on to become one of the biggest in South Africa and one of the recognized musicians around the world.

While the band has a net worth estimated at $3 million, Ninja and Visser each have a net worth that is estimated at an incredible $10 million, putting them above many other rappers in the country. Since 2009 when the group released its first album, it has since released four more, including House of Zef which is the latest.

Their first album was released for free download but they still made some significant amount from it and it opened doors for them to sign a deal with Interscope records. Unfortunately, this deal was terminated after a short while but it did not stop them from recording some significant successes with their subsequent albums. The pioneers of Zef culture, the group also made money from sold-out shows both in South Africa and other parts of the world. They have also won many awards in the process.

Among the properties they have is a home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. They also have some cars, including a Subaru WRX and a 1989 BMW 3.

3. Cassper (Refiloe Maele Phoolo)

• Net Worth: $3 Million
• Age: 30 years old
• Record Label: Family Tree Records, Universal Music Group
• Famous Songs: Doc Shebeleza, Mama I Made It

Hardly will there ever be a list in which AKA will feature alone without his nemesis, Cassper Nyovest, who is also among the richest rappers in South Africa. Born Refiloe Maele Phoolo in 1990, Cassper boasts a net worth that is estimated at a decent $3 million. He is yet another rapper who is extremely marketable.

He has made his fortune from his music career, endorsement deals, and businesses, including his own music label, Family Tree Records. He has been in the music business since the age of 12 when he started rapping before going professional in 2013.

The Doc Shebeleza hitmaker has many assets, including a home in Kyalami, Johannesburg, valued at more than R10 million. He has fancy cars like Mercedes-Benz, a V-class, a BMW 428, and a Mercedes-Benz microbus. He also has a Bentley GT Continental and a Rolls Royce Phantom.

4. Nasty C (Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo)

• Net Worth: $2 million
• Age: 24 years old
• Record Label: Def Jam Recordings
• Famous Songs: Send Me Away (SMA), Hell Naw, Said

Born Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo in 1997, Nasty C is in a class of his own, in spite of his young age. He has a net worth that is now estimated at $2 million through his consistency as a rapper and the hard work he put into the game. The highly intelligent rapper started rapping as a nine-year-old, following in the footsteps of his older brother. By the time he was 15, he had already released his EP, One Kid A Thousand Coffins. It was after this that he released the project that shot him to fame, Price City. His start in music was thanks to his older brother who first taught him how to spit bars and rhymes.

Nasty C started making money from music at the age of 16 when he made $300 from recording someone and also featuring in the music. From then, he has moved significantly to charging as much as $100,000 for a feature by 2020. His music has become a big source of his wealth, but like others, he has cashed in on endorsement deals. Some of his lucrative deals are with brands like Mercedes Benz, Puma, and Axe among others.

The plan of the young rapper is to become a billionaire and retire from music by the age of 30. For now, he is still on the rise and owns a few cars, including a Mercedes AMG GT and a Mercedes AMG C43. He also has a multimillion-rand home in Johannesburg.

5. Khuli Chana (Khulane Morule)

• Net Worth: $2 million
• Age: 38 years old
• Record Label: Mythrone Records
• Famous Songs: Hape Le Hape, Ichu, Mnatebawen

Khuli Chana has sustained for a very long time in the music industry, having made his entry at an early age of 10. He began by rapping the Southern African version of hip hop known as Motswako and then he went on to become a part of the group, Morafe before going solo after the group broke up. He met his fame with the release of his first album, Motswakoriginator in 2009. Since then, he has continued to make great strides both in South Africa and other parts of the world, sharing the stage with big names like Drake.

His music has contributed immensely to his net worth of $2 million, however, his business sense and many endorsement deals have also given him an edge. He is in charge of music recording companies, Raux studios, and Mythrone Records. Beyond that, he has built himself into a brand so versatile that he has partnered with many big companies, including Vodka and Jeep Apparel for their first Grit stories series.

Together with his wife DJ Lamiez Holworthy, they have a multimillion-rand home in Pretoria and he has fancy car brands, including Jeep, Aston Martin, and Volvo. In 2018, he was shot by the South African police in a case of mistaken identity after which he dragged the force to court and made R1.8 million in compensation.

6. Da Les (Leslie Jonathan Mampe, Jr.)

• Net Worth: $2 million
• Age: 35 years old
• Record Label: SME South Africa
• Famous Songs: Heaven, Lifestyle, Ballers Freestyle

Da L.E.S is another interesting rapper who is famous both in South Africa and the United States, thanks to his amazing talent and unbending spirit. Born Leslie Jonathan Mampe, Jr., he has been active as a rapper since the early 1990s. Nonetheless, it was in 2012 that he became a very big sensation when he released his hit single Heaven where he featured AKA and Maggz.

He has recorded and released seven studio albums with some that were very successful. But then, that is not the only thing that made him as rich as he is today. Da L.E.S is also a music producer and a major brand ambassador for Sovereign Brands. He promotes Luc Belaire and Bumbu Spirits for the company which has also had big names like Rick Ross and DJ Khaled amongst its ambassadors. The exact thing he makes from this deal is not known, but if the guesses are anything to go by, he walks away with a good amount of money.

Da L.E.S has not so much let fans into the properties that he has, but it is known that he owns a number of expensive cars and an expensive mansion in Bryanston.

7. Riky Rick (Rikhado Makhado)

• Net Worth: $1.5 million
• Age: 33 years old
• Record Label: Makhado Makhado Agency
• Famous Songs: Boss Zonke, Nafukwa

Riky Rick is loved by his fans because he is great in music, rich in fashion, and smart in business. The combination of these three talents has given him a net worth estimated at over $1.5 million. He was born in 1987 as Rikhado Makhado and got a start in his music career rather early, but it was in 2014 that he got the fame he craved for after the release of his hit single, Nafukwa. By the time Boss Zonke was released in 2015, he had already made a name for himself in the industry as a good rapper and fashionista.

His recognition by Gucci which invited him over for an event has got many people believing he got a deal with the fashion brand. Even though he didn’t get an endorsement deal with the famous brand, he has a good number of deals with big names, including Kiwi, Vaseline, and Remy Martin which all send good money to his account.

Beyond the endorsement deals, Rick has also added to his net worth through the businesses that he runs. He started his barbing salon under the Legendary Barber after he went to buy a chain and realized that it was very expensive and he could use the money to start his own business. He has his music label, Cotten Fest Records, and being a fashion enthusiast, he has also invested in the sector.

Riky has a number of cars, including a Mercedes AMG GTS coupe valued at R2 million, a Porsche which is believed to be in the R1.5 million range, and a Mini Mercedes Benz. He rose above alcohol addiction to maintain his career and fortune.

8. Jack Parow (Zander Tyler)

• Net Worth: $1.2 million
• Age: 39 Years Old
• Record Label: Parowphernalia
• Famous Songs: Cooler as ikke, Bang Babbaless, P.A.R.T.Y

Jack Parow is the top Afrikaan rapper only after Die Antwoord. A very fascinating individual who has taken advantage of his own style and character to build a very interesting brand and business out of almost everything he lays his hands on, he has a net worth that is estimated at $1.2 million. He started his career professionally in 2009 and the next year, he released his first album, Jack Parow. Before then, he released his EP, Cooler as Ekke in 2009, which was successful. His music career has been a successful one thus far, helping him earn from sales and shows, including his ParowFest.

Parow is making money from some businesses he has built. He is the brain behind Parow Brandy which he has put so much effort into promoting. Parow produced his line of shoes to celebrate his 10th year as an entertainer, selling the first 100 pieces that were made. The Afrikaner rapper’s resume also has an impressive list of endorsement deals with different brands.

As regards his assets, Jack Parow has cars such as Land Rover Discovery. He calls his home a Parowdise; it is a tri-storey property. Next, he owns his own music label which, like many other things he owns, he named after himself; Parowphernalia.

9. JR (Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior)

• Net Worth: $1 Million
• Age: 34 Years Old
• Record Label: Feel Good Music
• Famous Songs: Make The Circle Bigger, Gata Le Nna, Show Dem

Born Tabure Thabo Bogopa Junior, JR has a net worth that is put within the $1 million range. Although it may not be as much as others above him herein, it still earned him a place on the list. A very versatile and creative individual, he has found a way of making money from most things that come his way.

Jr was raised in Pretoria which was where he first started his musical career. He is now known for Motswako rap and has been into the music business professionally since 2007. He won Best Hip Hop Record at the 2008 MTV Hype Awards, as well as Best Hip Hop album at the 2008 Metro Awards.

He makes his money from his music, but beyond that, he also has a number of endorsement deals, the most popular of which is with Renault SA and the rapper once signed a deal with MTV which saw him headlining two editions of MTV Base Nights. In addition to this, his Feel Good Sessions YouTube series later ran on MTV as a TV series. Back in 2011, he won the Tropika Island of Treasure season 3 challenge, cashing out R1 million in the process.

JR might have a lot of cars, but he has not revealed anything about the brand or model.

10. KO (Ntokozo Mdluli)

• Net Worth: $900,000
• Age: 31 years old
• Record Label: Cashtime
• Famous Songs: Caracara, Swagganova

If you had ever believed that KO was only good as a rapper without having the financial prowess to back it up, you are very much wrong. He has a net worth that is estimated at over $900,000. A pioneer of urban street culture, the rapper who was born Ntokozo Mdluli in 1989 has been in the music business for close to two decades, having started out in the group known as Teargas. Four albums later, he joined forces with Ma-E, another member of Teargas, to start a music company, Cashtime Life, under which the talented rapper started his solo career. 

Music is what many have known him for, but that is not the only thing that has given him his generous net worth as he is also a businessman and has had a number of endorsement deals. He partnered with Japanese sportswear brand Asics Tiger and to add to that, he also makes money from his Merch. He revealed that he was not the guy people would see dropping 100,000 bucks on Gucci because he believes there is so much more he can do with that amount.

He is the brain behind Skhanda World Clothing, as well as the Skhanda World Record Label, and Skhanda World Management. He has built his brand and his efforts are now contributing to his wealth. Among the properties he has are his cars, Mercedes AMG, Jeep, and BMW among others.