Nationwide — Success isn’t always about how much money you have. Sometimes, investing some of that money into a business or cause you believe in is even more rewarding than keeping your wealth to yourself. These four top Black investors achieved success in their respective industries – but they didn’t stop there. They used their success to foster the growth of movements and to change the world one cause at a time.
As the founder and CEO of Atom Factory, a talent management and production company, Troy Carter is often seen as a driving force behind the careers of artists such as Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, and John Legend. Carter’s success in the music industry is unparalleled, but his other investments have also proven fruitful. An early investor in niche companies such as Spotify, Lyft, Uber, Dropbox, and Warby Parker, Carter has an eye for promising ventures and a knowledge for what the public wants to see in a company.
Nelly
Cornell Iral Haynes Jr. – better known as Nelly – is best known for his work as an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Though he has largely been out of the spotlight since starting a family, Nelly has continued to support efforts to end children’s hunger. The rapper endorsed DoSomething.com’s Tackle Hunger campaign and even started his own foundations, the 4Sho4Kids Foundation and JesUs-4-Jackie, to spread awareness about leukemia.
Chris Gardner
Once homeless on the streets of San Francisco in the early 1980s, Chris Gardner quickly rose to success after founding his own stock brokerage firm. Although his career began in the stockbroking industry, Gardner’s true passion is motivational speaking and making philanthropic donations to foundations that aid the homeless population.
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter, or Jay-Z, began his career as a singer and songwriter during the early 1990s. More recently, the hip-hop star has focused his efforts on investing in emerging technologies. Over the past few years, he has invested millions of dollars into several tech start-ups, including JetSmarter, Arrive, and Julep.