BE 50th Anniversary – Influential Black Entrepreneurs

TYLER PERRY  TYLER PERRY STUDIOS  EST. 2006  One of the most powerful Blacks in entertainment, Perry has developed a crop of plays, films, and TV...

SHONDA RHIMES  SHONDALAND  EST. 2005  Rhimes is the first African American woman to create and executive produce a Top 10 network series—the medical drama Grey’s...

SHEILA JOHNSON  SALAMANDER HOTEL & RESORTS  EST. 2005  Johnson is a business titan most known for co-founding Black Entertainment Television with then-husband Robert Johnson and...

THOMAS MOOREHEAD  STERLING MOTORCARS  EST. 2004  Gaining foreign import franchises has always been elu-sive for Black auto dealers. However, veteran auto dealer Moorehead became a...

ROBERT SMITH  VISTA EQUITY PARTNERS  EST. 2000  Smith founded Vista in 2000 after leaving Goldman Sachs in 1999. Under his watch, Vista established a remarkable...

SHAWN “JAY-Z” CARTER  ROC-A-FELLA RECORDS; ROC-A-WEAR; ROC NATION  EST. 1996, 1999 & 2008  Co-founding Roc-A-Fella Records to capitalize on hip-hop music and to use it...

CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS  WILLIAMS CAPITAL GROUP  EST. 1994  One of the new wave of Black investment bankers that emerged in the 1990s, Williams built his reputation...

BYRON ALLEN  ENTERTAINMENT STUDIOS; ALLEN MEDIA GROUP  EST. 1993 & 2018  Media mogul Allen is in perpetual motion, closing deals to expand his empire. Allen...

SEAN COMBS  BAD BOY ENTERTAINMENT; REVOLT  EST. 1993 & 2013  Combs launched his music production company, Bad Boy Entertainment, in 1993, and worked with artists...

DAYMOND JOHN  FUBU  EST. 1992  Launching his urban clothing line in his mother’s home in the Hollis section of Queens, New York, John made FUBU–For...