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Russell Wendell Simmons is an American business magnate with an estimated net worth of $340 million. People know him as the most influential businessman in the history of rap music. As co-founder of the Def Jam label, Simmons’ street-friendly taste and marketing savvy helped bring hip-hop crashing into the mainstream of American culture and mass media. Russell Simmons was there before Jay Z, Diddy and Dre and he is the original hip-hop mogul. The former New York street hustler turned promoter, label owner, artist manager and record producer added business magnate and self-help guru to his resume. He had a diverse portfolio of interests and amassed a fortune of more than $300 million. He was able to change the face of hip hop many times over at Def Jam, the label he co-founded with the producer Rick Rubin. Simmons is one of the hip-hop world's wealthiest entrepreneurs. The man has a variety of interests. Since then, Russell Simmons shifted his focus from records to political commentary and other literary pursuits. Nowadays, he regularly contributes to the Huffington Post and is also editor-in-chief of GlobalGrind.com, a website that creates reviews in the world of hip-hop.
Earnings & Financial Data
|
Date |
Category |
Description |
Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2016 |
Earning Turned Donation |
Money raised by the Russell Simmons’ Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation for the At Art For Life Benefit |
$1,250,000 |
|
2015 |
Earning Turned Donation |
Donation to Cincy nonprofit to improve the relationship between police and youth in the city |
$25,000 |
|
2015 |
Earnings |
Earnings from current business: Rush Communication, the hip-hop music label Def Jam Recordings and clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. |
$39,000,000 |
|
2014 |
Book Sales |
First week sales of the book Success Through Stillness |
$144,000 |
|
2014 |
Others |
Sales of the documentary video How to Make Money Selling Drugs as one of the interviewees |
$119,460 |
|
2013 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the documentary film How to Make Money Selling Drugs as one of the interviewees |
$19,190 |
|
2013 |
Earning Turned Donation |
Donation to anti-violence organization LIFE Camp |
$10,000 |
|
2010 |
Asset |
Market value of Russell Simmons' Lower Manhattan Home |
$11,000,000 |
|
2009 |
Asset |
Market value of Russell Simmons' Saddle River Home |
$20,000,000 |
|
2008 |
Book Sales |
First week sales of the book Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success |
$144,000 |
|
2007 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the movie The Hip Hop Project as himself |
$46,210 |
|
2006 |
Others |
Sales of the video Waist Deep as the film's executive producer |
$24,780,000 |
|
2006 |
Box Office Sales |
Worldwide box office sales of the movie Waist Deep as the film's executive producer |
$21,350,000 |
|
2004 |
Sale of Asset |
Sale of the clothing and lifestyle lines with Phat Farm |
$140,000,000 |
|
1997 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the movies Gridlock'd as the film's executive producer and How to Be a Player as the film's producer |
$19,580,000 |
|
1996 |
Sale of Asset |
Sale of his shares in Def Jam to Universal Music Group |
$120,000,000 |
|
1996 |
Box Office Sales |
Worldwide box office sales of the movies The Nutty Professor as the film's producer and The Funeral as the film's associate producer |
$275,370,000 |
|
1996 |
Box Office Sales |
Worldwide Box Office Sales of the movie The Nutty Professor as the film's co-producer |
$273,960,000 |
|
1995 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the movies The Show and The Addiction as the films' executive producer |
$3,010,000 |
|
1988 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the movie Tougher Than Leather as the film's producer |
$3,580,000 |
|
1985 |
Box Office Sales |
Box office sales of the movie Krush Groove as Crocket and the film's co-producer |
$11,050,000 |