Jay-Z
Candlefocus EditorJay-Z’s success in the rap and hip-hop industry was undeniable, as he quickly became known for creating beloved albums such as Reasonable Doubt, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, and The Blueprint. His records obtained countless certifications, winnings, and countless multiplatinum sales, and he was considered one of the most influential artists of the 21st century.
Outside of the music industry, Jay-Z was an influential businessman. In 2002, he acquired a partial stake in the urban apparel company Rocawear, and soon established his own entertainment label, Roc Nation. It was the beginnings of his multi-faceted business empire, which only grew with the launch of his own streaming platform Tidal in 2015, his purchase of fashion apparel brand Armand de Brignac in 2014, and Roc Nation Sports, a sports management agency, in 2013.
Jay-Z was also a philanthropist, having founded The Shawn Carter Foundation that provides college scholarships for low-income and disadvantaged youths. In 2018, he and his wife Beyoncé pledged to donate $1 million to protest relief efforts in Louisiana after epic floods swept away homes and possessions. His work was recognized and honored with multiple awards, including 22 Grammy Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, the Songwriters Hall of Fame induction, Billboard magazine’s “Legend of the Year” award and the TIME Magazine’s “Most Influential People".
On the Forbes Billionaire List released in 2021, Jay-Z was included as one of the wealthiest celebrities, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion. His wealth was calculated using the combined incomes of his business endeavors, catalog of recorded music and industry deals.
Jay-Z has solidified himself as one of the greatest hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs of all-time. His impact on music, business and popular culture are undeniable, earning a place amongst the world's wealthiest people and standing as an example of what can be achieved with hard-work and ambition. Despite his success, Jay-Z has openly stated that his real pride comes from being able to “bring something out of nothing” and build an empire from the ground up. His business acumen and influence have placed him on par with billionaires such as Bernard Arnault, Elon Musk, Gautam Adani, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates.