6th: Jay Z
Successful entrepreneur and business man, Sean Corey Carter, has holdings such as clothing lines and record companies. Jay Z is his stage name, an American rapper known internationally and one of the most successful and respected artists in the music industry. He has been repeatedly ranked as the greatest rapper ever over the years, selling more than 100 million records and awarded 19 times at the Grammys.
Record companies
“My brands are an extension of me”, said the former president of Def Jam Records. In 2004, Jay Z took over both record companies, Def Jam Records and Roc-A-Fella Records.
The album “American Gangster” portrays the artist’s life in addition to the movie “American Gangster”. Another noteworthy music video was “Blue Magic” in which Jay Z flashes 500 euro, a moment which made a turning point in American music culture that served as a reaction to globalization, selling 1 million copies in the United States.
Under Jay Z’s watch, Def Jam would flourish, launching rappers such as Rihanna, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy and having credits for Kanye West’s album “Graduation”. In 2007, Jay Z left his president position at Def Jam Records vacant.
When announcing that he was leaving Def Jam he came across the occasion of a multi-million dollar deal by signing with Live Nation, which helped the rapper to start his Roc Nation imprint, a company which would serve as a record label, talent agency and music production. He also took production team Stargate as a partner in order to start the record label StarRoc.
Succeeds in every field
Rocawear is Jay Z’s clothing line and accessories for men, women and children since 2006 and sold its rights to Iconic Brands Group for $204 million retaining his stake in the company. He is the co-owner of 40/40 Club, a sports club which extended quickly from New York City to Tokyo and Singapore.
The mogul can’t let a company out of his hands, slowly dominating on every field he finds to be investment friendly, like Budweiser Select for whom he is a co-director of the brand and constantly offers direction for the brand’s programs and commercials.
He invested in the J Hotels, a real estate development and is part owner of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team but it was reported in 2013 that Jay Z will start his own sports agency, named “Roc Nation Sports” where he plans to be a sports agent of baseball, basketball and football and he would have to resign from Brooklyn Nets in order to represent clients. His latest acquirement was of Armand de Brignac, a popular champagne in the high profile artists’ events.
Since 1990, this amazing man has dominated and helped the pop culture to evolve, making until this day an impact over artists and rappers. Where is an investment to make, he will make it and quitting is not an option for this born entrepreneur that succeeds in every field he gets involved and brings the success along with every future artist that trust their career in the hands of Jay Z, making the risk worth it all the way.
5th: Jessica Alba
As every celebrity who has self-transformed itself, Jessica Alba is not just an actress, as most of us know her. She is a model and a business woman. You might recognize her from the “Dark Angel” series from 2000. She has been in the movie industry since she was 13 years old, being well acquainted in this area. But her major breakthrough was in 2012 when she launched, alongside business partner, Chris Gavigan, “The Honest Company”.
Significant roles
She entered Hollywood life, when she was casted for the comedy-horror “Idle Hands” in 1999. Jessica was very quickly absorbed into the film industry and she portrayed as the Hollywood sweetheart.
Her perception as both sexy and cute got her significant roles in movies such as “Sin City”, “Honey”, “Good Luck Chuck”, “Fantastic Four”, “Awake” and in “Valentine’s Day” alongside actors Ashton Kutcher, Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Garner. In 2014 she played “Nancy Challahan” once again in the movie “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For”.
The Honest Company
“The Honest Company” represents a collection of products such as non-toxic, safe and clean products that are designed to help families from around the world to live a healthier and happy life.
Having developed the concept while pregnant, she started from the idea that many products these days, designed to babies and children, contain a lot of toxic and dangerous ingredients and compounds that might harm the children.
The company was launched because of the birth of the actress’s first daughter, managing to change the lives of many families because of the company’s big impact on Jessica’s entrepreneur thinking that she is definitely not the only parent that wishes to create a safe environment for her family.
Extending in partnerships with major retailers, The Honest Company has made in 2013 $50 million and in 2014 the company tripled their income, having a net worth of $150 million.
Pushing the limits
The dedicated mother a.k.a. business woman intends to expand the company’s products even more and we have a feeling this company is going to be big. When asked about the Honest Company, Jessica said: “That’s been my mission from day one as an actress and an early feminist wanting equality and wanting to push the limits of what’s possible.”
Judging by the beauty’s amazing look and clean history throughout a decade in Hollywood, Jessica Alba could have easily given her famous name to the highest bidder but she preferred to stick to her dreams, making out of a simple taught a career.
4th: Tyra Banks
The television personality, former model, talk show host, author, producer and actress is one of America’s most famous supermodel and business woman with a net worth of $90 million. Tyra was one of the top earning models in her modeling career, making a difference throughout millions of African-American models that came after.
Victoria’s Secret
Tyra Banks was the first Angel of Victoria’s Secret lingerie line. Noticed for her mesmerizing eyes and curvaceous figure, she immediately raised interest in GQ magazine and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue to pose for their covers.
Her body wasn’t an impediment, Victoria’s Secret models being known for their very slim figures. As the supermodel said: “I made my living being 20 or 30 pounds heavier than the average model.”
Business projects
She created a craze with her show “America’s Next Top Model”, being one of the judges. The show has 20 international editions, from which she launched her first book “Modelland” in 2011.
Girls from all over America we’re dying to be part of the show and become models and especially to be mentored by such an inspirational model. Her annual income for 2013 was estimated at $25,000,000 and in 2007, her salary from her second talk show “Tyra Banks Show” was valued to $3,500,000.
The voluptuous beauty is the CEO of the company “Bankable Productions” which she founded in 2003. The company of films and television production follows to entertain wide onlookers that come in all shapes and ages from children to adults. Bankable Productions own primetime series “Stylista” and “True Beauty”.
Foundation
She is also the founder of the TZONE Foundation, a company which has the goal of achieving life skills and leadership abilities. She even developed the “Tyra Banks Scholarship” that permits African-American girls to go to the “Immaculate Heart High Schools”.
Supermodel to remember
With a focused attitude and a sharp mind, Tyra Banks is an inspiration to women from all over the world, showing us that being a model doesn’t necessarily means that you should stop there. Modeling from the early age of 15, she quickly became one of the world’s high class supermodels.
She didn’t stop there when she started to venture into acting, producing and business projects. Working with the most famous fashion designers and brands, Tyra is a supermodel to remember and she proved everyone that there is more to her than beauty.