BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 28: Recording artist Snoop Dogg attends the 2015 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards at Saban Theatre on August 28, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for BMI)
We’re diving into Snoop Dogg’s rise from the streets of Los Angeles to an illustrious career worth a net worth of over $100m.
As of February 2024, Snoop Dogg’s net worth is approximately $150 million. Don’t let Snoop Dogg’s melancholy and comical personality fool you.
The California-born rapper achieved his worldwide success through meticulous hard work and persistence. A true OG with well-documented ties to the streets, he experienced plenty of run-ins with the law in his early years.
His drug charges would lead to repeated stints in prison, where Snoop Dogg began to make music as a way to cope with his chaotic childhood. Over time, he would morph himself into one of hip-hop’s most reputable MCs and businessmen.
Dr. Dre And Snoop Dogg Formed A Power Duo
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Snoop Dogg proved himself just as much an intelligent businessman as he was a rapper. He utilized his coolheaded image to garner a worldwide fanbase, diving into industries that aligned well with his persona.
However, it was his debut solo album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre in 1993, that established his persona.
The project would catapult up to the Number 1 spot on the Billboard 200 with nearly 807,000 copies in its first week, largely propelled by iconic singles such as “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Gin and Juice.” The album is currently 4x platinum.
Snoop would continue to build off of his debut project. Three years later, he released The Doggfather, which also debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 with nearly half of the number of units sold compared to Doggystyle.
While the record wasn’t quite as well-received as his debut, he still solidified himself as more than a one-album wonder. Throughout his career, Snoop Dogg would continue to dive into a variety of sonic palettes. For example, he released Reincarnated, a focused detour into reggae, a year after traveling to Jamaica.
2015’s Bush saw him fully dive into the funk and R&B aesthetic of Los Angeles with Pharrell at the helm of production. While Snoop Dogg has made money in a variety of different fields, royalties from his music career remain as his primary source of net worth.
Legal Issues Threatened Snoop Dogg’s Net Worth
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Snoop Dogg’s rise to a $150 million net worth wasn’t linear. Even as his music career skyrocketed, he continued to have run-ins with the law.
In 1993, he plead guilty to possession of a lethal weapon. This would preface a significant legal battle that took place in 1996, in which he was accused of partaking in a drive-by shooting of a gang member in Los Angeles.
Snoop’s bodyguard, McKinley Lee, fired the shot that killed Philip Woldemariam. Snoop Dogg and Mckinley Lee (nicknamed Malik) were acquitted of all charges during the trial.
The overarching belief was that Lee shooting Woldemariam was an act of self-defense, as Woldemariam was going for a gun in his waistband.
After the trial, a relieved Snoop Dogg stated, “They made the right decision, you know what I’m saying? This has been an ordeal that has affected our lives for the past 2 1/2 years. I was just trying to figure out if I was gonna be here to raise my son.”
Stephen Erlewine of AllMusic stated that after the release of The Doggfather, Snoop began “moving away from his gangsta roots toward a calmer lyrical aesthetic.” His eventual departure from the streets would see him fulfill his potential as a businessman.
He’s Become An Engaging Film Personality
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Re-directing his energy toward business ventures, Snoop Dogg has become a culturally camouflaged icon. He’s joking about a horse Crip walking with Kevin Hart on NBC and headlining Corona commercials.
While diving into a variety of entertainment arenas can be a risk to an MC’s cohesive image, this certainly wasn’t the case for Snoop Dogg. According to the New York Times, he only has one criterion when starting a business: “It’s got to be fun. And it’s going to make funds. So long as the word ‘fun’ is involved, it’s cool.”
Snoop Dogg’s wholesome image has aligned with kids’ audiences, enabling him to appear in shows such as The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run. He even launched his own kid show, Doggyland, equipped with family-friendly nurseries.
Snoop’s also appeared in a number of television shows and films, such as Bones and Half Baked. Everywhere he goes, there’s a demand to get him in front of a camera no matter who the audience is.
He began to catch onto this after working with Master P at No Limit Records. Snoop stated, “He taught me how to be a better businessman, how to be more than just a rapper, but to be about my business.”
Snoop Dogg’s Endorsement Deals
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Outside of acting in films, he’s also appeared in a wide range of commercials as a part of endorsement deals. Most recently, he starred in Skechers’ Superbowl commercial, alongside Martha Stewart. Recently, he also collaborated with The Nelk Boys to create a Happy Dad x Death Row Records hard seltzer.
The move has generated some controversy, as the product is a direct competitor to Corona’s hard seltzer. Snoop Dogg is well-known as an endorser for Corona, where he’s appeared in a variety of hit advertisements. Later on in his career, endorsement deals have become one of Snoop’s highest sources of income.
He’s Leveraged His Image Into Cannabis Industry Success
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The most well-known of these organizations is Leafs By Snoop, his own cannabis product line. Launched in 2015 in Denver, Colorado, the product line contains various strains of Indica, Sativa, and Hybrid.
Snoop stated, “As a long-time connoisseur and cannabis expert, I knew it was time to give my people what they wanted – something they can trust.” The initiative became an instant success in the area, leading to an expansion in different legal states, as well as a partnership with Canadian weed producer Canopy Growth.
Along with spearheading his direct cannabis product line, Snoop also started a cannabis-themed media platform called Merry Jane.
The purpose of the platform is to spread awareness and continue the conversation surrounding cannabis use. This is primarily done through videos and editorials on its website and social media platforms.
From appearing on podcasts to selling products, his image surrounding marijuana is one of his primary sources of income aside from music.
Snoop Dogg’s Philanthropic Efforts
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Outside of his lucrative business ventures, Snoop Dogg has done plenty to give back to his community. He’s emphasized the importance of laying out a better path for the next generation.
He currently coaches a Youth Football League in Long Beach, with an overarching message to develop leadership and team-building qualities in kids. In addition, he’s donated to charities such as the Save a Life Foundation and The Healing Circle. Certain reports claim that Snoop Dogg donated an estimated $100M over the course of his career.
Snoop Dogg Recently Purchased Death Row Records
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Back in February of 2022, Snoop Dogg officially became in charge at Death Row Records. The move was a sentimental one, as Snoop started his career at the label with the release of Doggystyle.
In an official statement, Snoop said, “I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value.”
Conclusion/TLDR
From heavily diving into the NFT game to driving around in a golf cart for a Chrysler ad, Snoop Dogg has proved over the course of his career that there isn’t a business venture he won’t take on.
Often viewed as nothing more than a melancholic cannabis smoker who just happened to become successful, he’s gained a reputation within the industry as a reliable hard worker. Now 51 years old, it still feels like Snoop is only just getting started.
