Wiz Khalifa Says He Will Earn Nine Figures in 2012

Wiz Khalifa landed on Forbes' annual Hip-Hop Cash Kings list last year, earning $11 million dollars and ranking in at No. 11 on the tally. Now, the Taylor Gang head honcho says he plans on making a total of nine figures in 2012.

While hosting a listening party for his upcoming project Taylor Allerdice over the weekend, Wiz chopped it up with Forbes Staff member Zack O'Malley Greenburg, revealing his plans of surpassing last year's earnings.

“Oh yeah, man, I’m going to make $100 million this year,” Khalifa said. “No doubt, $100 million. The new mixtape [will] get everybody ready and get their wallets open.”

The Pittsburgh native is expected to have an average gross of $100,000 per night, due to his constant touring and show appearances, according to Forbes.  Wiz’s mass appeal leads to his merchandise sales doubling fellow hip-hop artists, as his loyal fans contribute between $5-$15 per head, compared to the $2-$3 per head other rappers receive. Pop artists Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift generate similar merchandise sales, yet neither of the singers approached $100 million in 2011.

50 Cent, known for his business savvy, is the only rapper able to boast a nine figure yearly net-worth in the five years that Zack O'Malley Greenburg has tracked hip-hop earnings, due to the selling of his share of Vitamin Water, O'Malley writes in the blog post. According to an additional Forbes Report, in the past five years combined, only Jay-Z, Diddy, Kanye West, and 50 cent have surpassed the $100 million mark.

In related news, as XXL previously reported, Wiz published an open letter to his fans on his personal Tumblr account, apologizing for the quality of his debut album, Rolling Papers.

"No regrets though,” said the marijuana enthusiast. “We live and we learn. So for my fans sake and own personal enjoyment, Ive gone further into the world we’ve created and elaborated on our genre with the mixtape, Taylor Allderdice and of course my sophomore album, ONIFC.” —Christian Bonoan @chrisakachise