9 Celebrities Turned Successful Entrepreneurs

3. Jay-Z (Estimated net worth: $610 million)

According to Forbes, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter earned $56 million in 2015 alone. But what most people don’t know is that he has an authentic rags-to-riches story. Born in New York and raised by a single mom, he grew up in a housing project and reportedly sold cocaine to get by. That didn’t stop him from building his own record label in the mid-90s. He released his first album “Reasonable Doubt” which turned platinum, instantly putting him on the stamp on the history of hip-hop. He has sold over 100 million records and has received 21 Grammy Awards.

Aside from his success in the music industry, Jay-Z has also proven his business acumen. With Forbes estimating his wealth at $610 million, the music mogul’s coffers was currently boosted by his ownership of Tidal, a music streaming platform that competes with Spotify and Apple Music. He also acquired Aspiro, a Norwegian media company. Jay-Z is currently a part owner of the NBA team Brooklyn Nets and 40/40 Club in New York City. The upscale sports bar has already expanded to Chicago and is set to open in Tokyo and Singapore. He also has his own sports agency Roc Nation Sports, representing various professional artists. Jay-Z invested in the beauty line Carol’s Daughter, champagne Armand de Brignac, and plane booking app JetSmarter. He sold his clothing company Rocawear back in 2006 for $200 million.

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