Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter in 1969 in Brooklyn, New York, really is the real life rags-to-riches dream. He started his own label for his 1996 debut, “Reasonable Doubt.” His albums routinely sell millions, making him almost omnipresent in the hip-hop scene.

It's not just about making music for himself these days though. He started his own label, Roc-A-Fella Records, which he then sold to Universal, and spent several years also as President & CEO of Def Jam Records, championing the careers of several wildly successful young artists, including Rihanna and Akon. He is part owner of the New Jersey Nets and co-owns the 40/40 club chain, which began in New York, and has since branched out to other cities, including Las Vegas. Jay-Z is one of the most influential figures in the music business today and one of the most successful hip-hop artists ever.