Dr Dre has officially joined the ranks of the world’s billionaires, nearly 12 years after he first claimed the title following the sale of his Beats by Dre business.

According to Variety, the hip-hop mogul appears on Forbes’ 2026 Billionaires List, confirming that the music producer and entrepreneur has now crossed the billion-dollar threshold.

Dre had famously declared himself “hip-hop’s first billionaire” in May 2014 after he and business partner Jimmy Iovine sold Beats by Dre to Apple for US$3 billion. The company was later integrated into Apple Music.

Despite his new status, Dr Dre ranks relatively low on the global rich list, tying for 3,332nd place alongside figures including Jared Kushner, Rihanna and steel magnate Richard Teets Jr.

Forbes noted that Dre joins a small group of entertainers who have recently become billionaires.

The producer becomes the sixth musician to reach billionaire status, joining Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna.