| Robin Leech hosted a television show called "The | | | | from record sales and concert tour earnings. Hip hop |
| Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". At the time, it was | | | | and rap musicians earn their money from presiding |
| one of the hottest things on television. America is | | | | over empires that span far beyond that of just music. |
| fixated on the lives of celebrities. This was the | | | | Many of the hottest hip hop artists oversee their own |
| popularity fuel behind Robin Leech's show. It gave | | | | clothing line, run their own record labels and even run |
| average people a glimpse inside the homes of | | | | their own restaurants and bars. A select few even ink |
| celebrity living. Now, there are 24 hour news channels | | | | their image on everything from alcohol to books. |
| and shows such as "The Fabulous Life Of" to keep | | | | Branding and cross promotions are the areas these |
| that celebrity fixation going. | | | | individuals become experts at. |
| One aspect that is focused on when determining | | | | Hip hop artist Jay Z makes his money being chief |
| celebrity rankings is money. The more money a | | | | executive of Def Jam Recordings. In addition to that, |
| celebrity has, the more famous that individual is | | | | he has a clothing line called roccawear and records |
| considered to be. Money is considered to be the key | | | | albums in his spare time. Worth 34 million, Jay Z |
| metric of celebrity. Who is making what? How it is | | | | spends that hard earned money purchasing a share of |
| being made? How it is being spent? These are the | | | | the New Jersey Nets. He also has a share in the 40 |
| questions average America is asking of its celebrities. | | | | 40 clubhouse franchise. He recently sold the clothing |
| Pop and rock musicians make the bulk of their money | | | | line for an estimated $204 million. |