NICKI MINAJ—EST. $85 MILLION

After graduation, Nicki Minaj wanted to be an actress, but she gave up because of a lack of roles and a relationship with her agent. In 2001, she performed in Broadway drama In Case You Forget. In 2009, she signed up for young money, an American record company founded by rapper Lil Wayne. Nicki Minaj came onto the scene and immediately became a force to be reckoned with, not least because of the elements that make her a unique individual. Style? She’s got that. Talent? She’s got that. Ditto the personality.

And she’s got a slew of awards to back up her claims of being top-dog material, too; from Grammys to BET awards, she’s bagged them all. Her investment portfolio is also quite extensive; she has a fragrance and a clothing line that brings in more than enough money to take care of her bills long after she quits the music scene entirely.