Music

Jay-Z

Unsigned by record labels; co-founded an independent label and retained his master recordings.

Born: 1969 · Brooklyn, New York, US
Roots: Black American
Family: Poverty; Raised by a single mother in the Marcy housing projects; father left when he was 11.
Education: High school (did not graduate)
Started with: No record deal; Every label passed; he started with an independent release and kept the masters.
Affiliations & societies: IlluminatiRumor — unverified; A long-running internet claim aimed at him and other entertainers; he has denied it, including in lyrics. No evidence has been produced.; Information only — claims like these are often unverifiable and may be wrong.

The pathway

1988 · age 19
Marcy Projects
Sells drugs as a teenager; records music and seeks a label deal without success.
1995 · age 26
Co-founds Roc-A-Fella
Starts the label with two partners after majors decline; early sales are direct, including from a car.
1996 · age 27
Reasonable Doubt
Debut album released on his own label; he retains the master recordings.
2004 · age 35
President of Def Jam
Appointed to run the label group.
2007 · age 38
Sells Rocawear$204M
2019 · age 49
Billionaire status$1B
Per Forbes — the first in hip-hop. Assets include his catalog, champagne and cognac brands, Tidal, and Roc Nation.

Sources

Compiled from these references and contemporaneous press reporting. Figures are approximate; verify before relying on them.