Photos: Dr. Dre may become hip hop’s first billionaire with Beats sale to Apple
May 9, 2014
This May 15, 2013 file photo shows hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre as he announces a $70 million dollar donation to create the new "Jimmy Iovine and Andre Young Academy for Arts and Technology and Business Innovation," at the University of Southern California, in Santa Monica, Calif. The audio cable company Monster was in a coveted position as the decade began after launching what would become the hottest headphones on the market, Beats by Dre. The audio devices had hip-hop/production legend Dr. Dre as its namesake and soon became synonymous with headphone chic. The audio cable company was in a coveted position as the decade began after launching what would become the hottest headphones on the market, Beats by Dre. The audio devices had hip-hop/production legend Dr. Dre as its namesake and soon became synonymous with headphone chic. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) ( Music-Monster's Mojo )
Beats headphones made by Beats Electronics are seen on display in Los Angeles, CA on May 9, 2014. Tech giant Apple is reportedly close to purchasing the audio equipment maker and music-streaming service co-founded by rap artist Dr Dre. In a deal that could be worth some 3.2 billion USD, Dr. Dre is poised to become the first billionaire hip-hop artist. A (ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images) ( Was8587037 )
In this April 1, 2013 photo, a man leaves an Apple store with an iPhone and an iPad in his hands in central Beijing, China. Apple is orchestrating a $3.2 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics, the headphone maker and music streaming distributor founded by hip-hop star Dr. Dre and record producer Jimmy Iovine, according to a Financial Times report published late Thursday, May 8, 2014. (AP Photo/Alexander F. Yuan) ( Apple Beats Acquisition )
This Feb. 10, 2013 file photo shows music industry entrepreneur Jimmy Iovine, left, and hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre at a Grammy Party in Los Angeles. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, and Iovine have donated a combined $70 million to create a new institute at the University of Southern California, the school announced Tuesday, May 14. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP, file) ( Dr Dre-Iovine-USC Gift )
This undated photo provided by Beats by Dr. Dre shows the Beats Pill wireless, portable speaker. Headphones, wireless speakers and sound bars are flying off the shelves this holiday season. (AP Photo/Beats by Dr. Dre) ( Holiday Shopping-Audio Gifts )
Artist and producer Dr. Dre before he takes batting practice before the opening game of the baseball season between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees Sunday, April 4, 2010, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ( Yankees Red Sox Baseball )
Dr. Dre and singer Lady Gaga, pose for pictures at a press conference announcing, Heartbeats by Lady Gaga, the latest addition to the Beats by Dr. Dre family of headphones from Monster Cable, in New York, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) ( Lady Gaga Heartbeats Launch )
Dr. Dre thanks his fans as he receives the Bill Graham Lifetime Achievement award during the California Music Awards at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Saturday, March 13, 1999. (AP Photo/Randi Lynn Beach) ( BAMMIES )
This photo provided by Beats by Dr. Dre shows Beats Studio Wireless plush set of over-ear headphones that almost exactly mirror Beats' popular Studio line, updated this summer, but comes with wireless ability. It's an outstanding way to bliss out during a noisy commute or wander around your home with music in your head. (AP Photo/Beats by Dr. Dre) ( TEC-Digital Life-Tech Test-Wireless Audio )
Dr. Dre attends the 2009 Victoria's Secret fashion show in New York, on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Peter Kramer) ( Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Arrivals )
Rapper and producer Dr. Dre, left, and his wife Nicole Threatt arrive at the 23rd Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Friday, June 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) ( ASCAP Music Awards )
FILE-- A June 25, 2010 file photo shows rapper and producer Dr. Dre at the 23rd Annual ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. The Coachella Valley Music and Art Festival announced Monday Jan. 9, 2012 that Dr. Dre will be one of the headliners at the festival in April. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg) ( ASCAP Music Awards )
Dr. Dre, left, and Nicole Threatt arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "American Masters Inventing David Geffen" at The Writers Guild of America on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) ( LA Premiere - American Masters Inventing David Geffen )
Dr. Dre poses in this Feb. 21, 2001 photo, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Dre's lawsuits against the cities of Detroit and Auburn Hills have been settled, the rapper's attorney said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) ( PEOPLE DRE )
Dr. Dre on the sidelines before the NFL football NFC Championship game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) ( NFC Championship Football )
Rap legend Dr. Dre, who co-stars with Snoop Dogg in the new film "The Wash," is photographed at Le Meridien Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., Monday, Nov. 12, 2001. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) ( DR DRE )
Cast members, from left, Snoop Dogg, Angell Conwell, and Dr. Dre, pose as they arrive at the premiere of the film "The Wash," Monday, Nov. 12, 2001, at the Egyptian Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson) ( THE WASH PREMIERE )
Producer/musician Dr. Dre accepts the Sammy Davis Jr. award for Male Entertainer of the Year at the 16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 20, 2002. (AP Photo/Lucy Nicholson) ( SOUL TRAIN AWARDS )
Toby Keith, left, Cheryl Crow, second from left, Carly Fiorina, Chairman and CEO of HP, third from left, Dr. Dre, fourth from left, record producer Jimmy Iovine, fifth from left, and Edge, from U2 appear together during a keynote address of the Consumer Electronics Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center Hilton Hotel Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. The artists and the company spoke about stopping music piracy. (AP Photo/Joe Cavaretta) ( GADGET SHOW )
Dr. Dre appears with Quincy Jones in Coors Brewing Company's latest commercial. Dre also produced the music for the spot. (PRNewsFoto/Coors Light) ( COORS LIGHT COMMERCIAL 'MUSIC BUS' FEATURING DR. DRE )
Rappers Andre Young, better known as Dr. Dre, left, and his protege Marshall Mathers, known as Eminem, perform during a stop on the Up in Smoke Tour at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Thursday, July 6, 2000 in Detroit. Eminem, who hails from Michigan, faces a court date in Michigan tommorrow on pending weapons charges. (AP Photo/Paul Warner) ( UP IN SMOKE TOUR )
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 29: Rapper Dr. Dre performs during the Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole, Miguel and SchoolBoyQ concert during the 2013 BET Experience at Staples Center on June 29, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for BET) ( 171952091ZD00051_2013_BET_E )
The Special Edition Headphones by Beats by Dr. Dre & GRAFF Diamonds on January 31, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Beats by Dr. Dre) ( 466538881NG00015_Beats_By_D )
Categories: News, Science and Technology, Syndicated, U.S. National
Tags: photos