Shawn "Jay Z" Carter

Shawn Corey Carter aka Jay-Z has gone from a street hustler to a world famous entertainer and businessman. With a net worth estimated at $350 million.

Jay-Z was named CEO of Def Jam/Roc-a-fella records on January 3, 2005. He was a co-founders of the Roc-A-Fella empire, which includes Roc-A-Fella Records, Roc-La-Familia, Roc-A-Fella Films and Rocawear. He is also a part owner of the New Jersey Nets, paying a reported $4.5 million for his share and has a line of shoes called the "S Carter" with Reebok. He co-owns The 40/40 Club, an upscale sports bar with locations in New York City, Atlantic City and Las Vegas. 40/40 Club locations in Tokyo and Macau are scheduled to open in 2008.

Jay is the youngest of four kids brought up by a single mother, in Brooklyn's notorious Marcy projects. "When I left the block, everyone was saying I was crazy, I was doing well for myself on the streets, and cats around me were like, These rappers are ho's. They just record, tour, and get separated from their families, while some white person takes all their money. I was determined to do it differently," he said in a New York Metro interview.

Jay Z topped the Forbes magazine first-ever list of hip-hop Cash Kings, the top money makers in hip-hop with an estimated $34 million in 2006 earning.