Seven-time Grammy Award-winning rapper, record producer and entrepreneur Dr. Dre is not only a hip-hop legend, he is also a savvy entrepreneur and investor.

Dre, real name Andre Romelle Young, has an estimated net worth of $500 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Dre’s fortune comes largely from the sale of his headphone company Beats Electronics to Appleand the Apple shares he received as part of the deal. It also has a sprawling real estate portfolio valued at approximately $80 million.

From his illustrious music career to his smart investments, here’s how Dr. Dre built his empire.

Music

Dr. Dre is widely considered one of the most influential hip-hop rappers and producers of all time. Not only was he one of the co-founders of the hip-hop group NWA, credited with making West Coast gangsta rap popular, but he also helped launch the career of Snoop DoggEminem, 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar, among others. Dre has won seven Grammys and has been nominated for the award 26 times.

Dr. Dre left NWA in 1992 and co-founded Death Row Records with former record executive Suge Knight, rapper and record producer The DOC, and the late record producer Dick Griffey. Dr. Dre released his first solo album, “The Chronic,” with the label, which also housed artists Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Nate Dogg and Warren G.

Entertainment after the consequences

In 1996, Dr. Dre founded another label, Aftermath Entertainment. Aftermath is currently the home label of Dr. Dre and also produces music for artists Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Anderson .Paak. Dre sold part of Aftermath Records to Interscope Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, for $35 million in 2001.

Dr. Dre sells part of his musical catalog

In 2023, Dre sold part of his catalog, including music revenue streams and other music assets, to Shamrock Holdings and Universal Music Group. This sale was valued at more than $200 million, according to Variety. The assets generate approximately $10 million per year, Variety reported.

Electronic Beats and Music Beats

Much of Dr. Dre wealth comes from his audio company, Beats Electronics, which he co-founded with former record executive Jimmy Iovine in 2006. In 2014, Dre sold Beats Electronics and Beats Music (a music streaming service) to Apple (AAPL) for 3 billion dollars. The agreement provided for 400 million dollars which vest over time, netting Dre and Iovine approximately $700 million from the transaction when the shares were acquired in August 2018, according to Variety.

Beats had (and continues to have) sponsorship deals with major celebrities, including LeBron James, Serena WilliamsAnd Kim Kardashian.

Dre and Iovine donated $70 million to the University of Southern California in 2013 to create the Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation.

Always GIN

In 2024, Dr. Dre launched a gin brand with his longtime friend and collaborator, Snoop Dogg. Gin & Juice by Dre and Snoop is a play on two of their biggest collaborations, Snoop’s “Gin & Juice” and Dr. Dre’s “Still DRE.” The drinks company offers ready-to-drink craft gin cocktails and premium bottled gin, called Still GIN. Each bottle of Still GIN sells for a suggested retail price of $34.99.

Real estate portfolio

Dr. Dre also has a large real estate portfolio valued at around $80 million. Dre purchased properties, all located in the Los Angeles area, for amounts ranging from $2 million to $40 million. His biggest real estate purchase to date is from a former NFL quarterback Tom Brady and the Brentwood area of ​​his ex-wife Gisele Bundchen property for $40 million in 2014.