South Africa is known for its vibrant and diverse music scene, and some of its most talented musicians have earned impressive amounts of money from their work. From pop stars to hip hop legends, here are some of the highest paid South African musicians.
Highest earning South African musicians
Cassper Nyovest
With over one million followers on Twitter, he has become one of the most successful South African rap artists. Over the past few years, Cassper Nyovest has earned millions of dollars from his various ventures, including music sales, streaming royalties, and touring. He is one of the top earners in the South African music industry, and also one of the most influential. He has showcased his wealth on social media and gave us a sneek peek at his multi -million rand mansion, Rolls Royce, Bentleys, BMWs, watches among many others.
Sjava
He has released several critically acclaimed albums and has become a household name in South Africa, with his music being streamed by millions of people every day. He has earned a fortune from his music sales and touring, and is currently one of the highest paid musicians in the country. Although he hasn’t flashed much of his wealth on social media but you can be rest assured, he is loaded.
AKA
He had been a leader in the South African hip hop scene since the early 2000s and had produced some of the country’s most popular tracks. He had earned a great deal of money from his music sales, streaming royalties, and touring and was one of the highest paid South African musicians before his untimely death in February 2023. AKA showed his many fans a glimpse of his lifestyle which included his mansion, his watches, cars, first class air travel lifestyle, international holiday destinations just to mention a few.
Makhadzi
Makhadzi is arguably one of the most famous musicians to come out of Limpopo besides Master KG, and has been dishing out hit after hit since entering the music scene. She is also one of the highest paid musicians in South Africa who has amassed millions from her shows inside and outside the country. She made so much money that she built her parents a lavish house and also purchased her own million-rand home.
Highest earning South African DJs
Black Coffee
Without a doubt he is the highest paid and richest DJ in the country, charging millions just for one set, DJ Black Coffee has made a bulk of his millions from performing in places like Ibiza, Miami among many other international destinations. According to various reports he has an estimated net worth of over $60 million.
Master KG
He has gained worldwide recognition for his smash hit “Jerusalema”, which has gone viral on YouTube and other streaming platforms, making it one of the most widely streamed South African songs of all time. His success has earned him a great deal of money, and he is now one of the most in-demand artists in the country.
Kabza
Under the stage name Kabza De Small, South African DJ and record producer Kabelo Motha is known as the “King of Amapiano,” a style of house music that combines jazz, lounge, and deep house components with light synth pads, bright piano melodies, and slow rhythms. The 2019 album Scorpion Kings, which he co-produced with producer DJ Maphorisa and sold diamond copies of, is credited with being a key contributor to the genre’s rise to popularity.
DJ Maphorisa
DJ Maphorisa is probably the face of amapiano that has been instrumental in pushing the amapiano genre to the world and ushered other talented musicians like Kabza De Small and so on.
Uncle Waffles
South African DJ Uncle Waffles is causing a stir in the music business. The DJ, a native of Swaziland, has always had a deep love for music and is one of the most well-known DJs in South Africa today. She is renowned for her dynamic performances and her capacity to energise any crowd especially with her hit Tanzania.
It is clear that South Africa has some of the most talented and successful musicians in the world. These four artists have earned a great deal of money from their work, and it is easy to see why they are some of the highest paid South African musicians.
There are many more artists and DJs that are not on this list that are also coining it in the music industry, names like DJ Tira, DJ Zinhle, Nkosazana Daughter, KO, Dbn Gogo just to mention a few.
