Zack O. Malley Greenburg Knihy

Chronicles the rise and fall of Michael Jackson's billion-dollar business, revealing how his pioneering merchandising practices and savvy investment strategies reshaped the monetization of fame while paving the way for future artists.

I'm not a businessman-I'm a business, man. -Jay Z As much as Martha Stewart or Oprah-and perhaps more than any musician-Jay Z has turned himself into a lifestyle. You can wake up to the local radio station playing his newest hit, spritz yourself with his latest cologne, slip on a pair of his Rocawear jeans, lace up your Reebok S. Carter sneakers, watch baseball star Robinson Cano smack a couple of hits in an afternoon game, and grab dinner at The Spotted Pig. On the way to Jay Z's 40/40 Club for a D'Usse cognac nightcap, sign up for streaming service Tidal and hear his latest collaboration with Beyonce. He'll profit at every turn of your day. Empire State of Mind reveals the story behind Jay Z's rise as told by the people who lived it with him, from classmates at Brooklyn's George Westinghouse High School and the childhood friend who got him into the drug trade, to the DJ who persuaded him to stop dealing and focus on the music. Now with new interviews with industry insiders like Russell Simmons, Alicia Keys, and J. Cole-more than one hundred in total-this book explains just how Jay Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.

In 2007, Ashton Kutcher realized he had been missing out on lucrative opportunities after hearing about 50 Cent's massive profit from Vitaminwater. Following the rapper's lead, Kutcher sought equity instead of cash for endorsements, leveraging his significant social media following to invest in a variety of tech startups. Over the next decade, he emerged as a leading figure among celebrity investors, joining the ranks of stars like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez, and Alex Rodriguez. This diverse group traded their influence and connections for early access to sought-after investment opportunities, reshaping the venture capital landscape while building impressive portfolios that included companies like Airbnb, Spotify, and Uber. The intersection of Silicon Valley and Hollywood is explored in detail, revealing how these two seemingly disparate worlds became intertwined. Forbes senior editor Zack O'Malley Greenburg, who first chronicled Kutcher's journey in a 2016 cover story, now provides a captivating account of how this eclectic mix of talent managers, venture capitalists, and celebrities created a new paradigm for generational wealth. Through extensive reporting and interviews with over 100 influential figures, Greenburg highlights the remarkable transformation of fame's value.