Marvin Jules | American Billionaire Networths https://www.americanbillionaire.org/author/marvincnw33/ Richest Rappers, Celebrity Houses and Salary Wed, 24 Dec 2025 22:34:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 "A Christmas Story" Actor Zack Ward Reveals His Royalty Income From The Classic Movie https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/christmas-story-actor-zack-ward-reveals-still-makes-money-off-classic-movie/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/christmas-story-actor-zack-ward-reveals-still-makes-money-off-classic-movie/#comments Wed, 24 Dec 2025 10:05:31 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=241914 Zack Ward, who played Scut Farkus in 'A Christmas Movie,' revealed exactly how much in royalties he makes off the holiday classic.

Read more: "A Christmas Story" Actor Zack Ward Reveals His Royalty Income From The Classic Movie

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Every December, like clockwork, a specific set of movies and TV shows are replayed over and over. And over and over. And over and over.

One of those movies is, of course, the 1983 holiday staple, "A Christmas Story."

Since 1997, Turner Broadcasting has turned the film into a cultural marathon, airing it for 24 consecutive hours on TNT and TBS. You might assume that such a massive, "incessant" loop of airtime would result hefty windfall of royalties every year for the cast. Unfortunately, that's not the case, as was confirmed a few years ago by Zack Ward, the actor who played Scut Farkus in the film. 

A few years back, Page Six caught up with Zack and finally blew the lid on the question that basically everyone asks at some point after meeting him. Here's his response:

"You're going to be so disappointed. It's basically about $1,800 every two years… and it comes in Canadian money because we shot in Canada."

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Life as a Professional Bully

It has been over four decades since the movie first hit theaters, yet Ward remains one of the most recognizable faces of the season. Far from being annoyed by the "bully" label, he genuinely embraces the unique way fans interact with him on the street. He often jokes that people approach him just to tell him how happy it made them to see him get his "ass kicked by Ralphie."

Ward believes that fans aren't actually reacting to him as a person, but rather connecting to their own childhood memories. Most people grew up with a bully of their own, and seeing Scut Farkus finally get his comeuppance provides a sense of catharsis that stays with viewers for a lifetime. Because of that shared emotional history, the fans usually greet him with a great deal of love and kindness.

From the Playground to the Boardroom

Zack Ward's career didn't end at the elementary school fence. He has remained a prolific figure in the industry, even reprising his iconic role in the 2022 sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, which caught up with the characters as adults. Beyond acting and directing, Ward has also ventured into the world of finance and technology. He has been heavily involved with All Sports Market and the Global Sports Financial Exchange, Inc., working to develop a platform that allows fans to buy and trade shares of sports teams similar to a traditional stock exchange.

Where Are They Now? The Cast of "A Christmas Story"

While Scut Farkus is busy managing his Canadian royalty checks, the rest of the Parker family and their friends have had quite the journey since the 1983 classic. Most of the original "kids" from the movie reunited in 2022 for the sequel, "A Christmas Story Christmas," but their paths in the decades between were surprisingly varied.

Peter Billingsley (Ralphie Parker)

The boy who wanted a Red Ryder BB gun grew up to be one of the most powerful behind-the-scenes figures in Hollywood. Peter Billingsley transitioned from acting to producing and directing, becoming a close collaborator with Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn. He served as an executive producer on the first "Iron Man" and directed the comedy "Couples Retreat." Most recently, he has been touring the country with "An Evening with Peter Billingsley," where he shares behind-the-scenes stories with fans during live screenings of the film.

Ian Petrella (Randy Parker)

The actor behind Ralphie's "little piggy" brother took a bit of a departure from Hollywood. After a string of TV roles as a kid, Ian Petrella studied marionette puppetry in the Czech Republic and later moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Today, he works primarily in animation and puppetry, though he remains active in the "A Christmas Story" fan community and reprised his role as an adult Randy in the 2022 sequel.

Scott Schwartz (Flick)

Scott Schwartz, whose tongue will forever be stuck to a frozen flagpole in cinematic history, had a colorful post-child-star career. In the 1990s, he famously worked in the adult film industry before retiring from that world in 1999. Since then, he has focused on the celebrity memorabilia business, helping create lines of celebrity-based trading cards. He also returned to the screen to play Flick once more in the recent sequel.

Yano Anaya (Grover Dill)

The "toady" to Zack Ward's Scut Farkus eventually left Tinseltown for a completely different kind of training. Anaya moved to Atlanta, where he became a successful personal trainer and served as the Director of the Personal Training Program at the Atlanta School of Massage. Like his "bully" counterpart, he is often a guest at fan conventions, greeting people with far more kindness than Grover Dill ever showed.

In Memoriam

Sadly, the original "parents" of the film have since passed away. Darren McGavin (The Old Man) died in 2006 at the age of 83. Before the film, he was already a TV legend for his lead role as the intrepid reporter Carl Kolchak in "Kolchak: The Night Stalker." After the film, he remained busy with roles in "The Natural," "Billy Madison," and an Emmy-nominated turn as the titular character's father in the sitcom "Murphy Brown."

Melinda Dillon (Mrs. Parker), who retired from acting in 2007 and passed away in early 2023, was a two-time Academy Award nominee. She received critical acclaim for her roles in Steven Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Absence of Malice." Fans also fondly remember her from "Harry and the Hendersons," "Slap Shot," and her role as Rose Gator in the 1999 drama "Magnolia."

Tedde Moore, who played the teacher Miss Shields, remains a proud part of the film's legacy and is the only cast member to appear in both the original and the 1994 sequel "My Summer Story." She also famously played Mrs. Claus in "Mistletoe Over Manhattan" and provided voice work for the series "Rolie Polie Olie." Interestingly, her son is the world-renowned music producer Noah "40" Shebib, famous for his work with Drake.

Noah "40" Shebib is the primary producer and technical architect behind Drake's global success, serving as his longtime engineer and the co-founder of the "OVO Sound" label. He is credited with inventing the signature "Toronto Sound," a moody and atmospheric production style characterized by minimalist, "underwater" synths that allow Drake's vocals to take center stage. Beyond crafting the music, Shebib has executive produced and mixed nearly every major project in Drake's discography, from the breakout "So Far Gone" to chart-topping albums like "Take Care" and "Views." His hands-on approach and creative partnership have made him the most influential figure in shaping Drake's artistic identity over the last two decades.

Read more: "A Christmas Story" Actor Zack Ward Reveals His Royalty Income From The Classic Movie

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If All Goes To Plan, By 2034 Michael Jordan's Annual Nike Royalty Check Will Be Ridiculous https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/billionaire-news/wont-believe-much-money-michael-jordan-may-make-royalties-year-2020/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/billionaire-news/wont-believe-much-money-michael-jordan-may-make-royalties-year-2020/#comments Mon, 08 Apr 2024 17:20:10 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=170741 The amount of money Michael Jordan is projected to make from Jordan brand royalties by 2034 is nothing short of mind boggling.

Read more: If All Goes To Plan, By 2034 Michael Jordan's Annual Nike Royalty Check Will Be Ridiculous

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We all know that Michael Jordan is a very, very, very rich man. When we first began tracking Michael's wealth in September 2009, his net worth was $500 million. Six years later, he became a billionaire. Today Michael Jordan's $2.6 billion net worth makes him the #1 richest athlete in the world, and the #5 richest celebrity in the world, behind only Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jami Gertz and Steven Speilberg. As you may know, Michael became a billionaire thanks to his former ownership stake in the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. Michael bought a minority stake in the Hornets in 2006. In 2010, he paid $175 million to increase his stake to 80%. He slowly increased his stake to 90%, and in June 2023 Michael sold the Hornets for $3 billion

Outside of his Hornets investment, going back to the very beginning of his professional career, Michael's primary source of perpetual wealth and income has come from one company: Nike.

His first Nike contract paid $500k per year for 5 years. It was the largest shoe contract ever up to that point, and Michael had never worn Nike shoes in his life before signing the deal. He desperately wanted to sign with Adidas. The Jordan Brand was launched in April 1985. Nike executives were hoping the brand would earn $3 million over three years. Instead, they made $126 million in the first year. Along the way, Michael Jordan became fantastically rich. Thanks to a 2015 lawsuit, we know that between 2002 and 2012 alone, Nike paid Michael $480 million.

Today Michael earns a 5% royalty on the Jordan Brand's gross revenue. In 2022, the Jordan brand crossed the $5 billion revenue mark for the first time. As a result, Jordan was paid approximately $200 million in royalties. In 2023 the Jordan Brand generated $6.6 billion. As a result, Michael was paid $330 million in royalties last year.

And while those royalty checks may sound impressive, at this pace, Michael Jordan's 2034 royalty check is going to be INSANE…

AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

Michael Jordan's 2034 Royalty Check

If Michael is earning $330 million per year from Nike today, how much will he be making in 2034? To answer this question, let's use history to do a projection:

Nike generated around $4 billion in revenue in 1993. In 2003, revenue was $11 billion. In 2013, Nike generated $25 billion. In 2023, Nike's revenue was $51 billion. So, conservatively, revenue has roughly doubled every decade.

In 2015, Nike generated $30 billion in total revenue. This was an important year because it was the first time Nike revealed how much of its revenue was being generated by the Jordan Brand. The answer? $2.6 billion. In other words, in 2015 around 9% of Nike's total revenue was Jordan related. And with his 5% royalty, Michael's 2015 royalty check was $130 million.

In 2023, the Jordan Brand was responsible for around 13% of Nike's overall revenue ($6.6 billion out of $51 billion). As we stated previously, Michael's 2023 royalty check was $330 million.

So, a decade ago the Jordan Brand was 9% of Nike's revenue. Today it's 13%. Let's use 10% just to be conservative. A decade ago, Nike's overall revenue was $25 billion. Last year, it was $51 billion. If revenue continues at its pace of doubling every decade, Nike will generate $100 billion in revenue in 2034. If Nike generates $100 billion in 2034, with 10% being generated by the Jordan Brand, that will be $10 billion in Jordan Brand revenue. If Michael is still earning a 5% cut of Jordan revenue, his annual royalty check will be…

$500 million

For perspective, during Michael's entire 15-year NBA career, he earned a total of $93 million in salary. So if this scenario proves out, by 2034, Michael will be earning 5X his entire NBA career earnings every year from Nike.

How Rich Will Michael Be In 2034?

To reiterate, Michael Jordan is currently worth $2.6 billion. I just did some quick napkin math to estimate how much Michael will make in Nike royalties between 2024 and 2034. The rough quick answer is $4 billion. After taxes, let's say this tacks $2 billion onto Michael's net worth. Add in his liquid assets and real estate investments, which will likely appreciate in value over the next decade, and let's say those assets grow to be worth $600 million. When you add it all up ($2.6b + $2b + 600m), and by 2034, it would not be crazy for Michael Jordan's net worth to be around…

$5.2 billion

Read more: If All Goes To Plan, By 2034 Michael Jordan's Annual Nike Royalty Check Will Be Ridiculous

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The Story Of How Denzel Washington Anonymously Paid For Chadwick Boseman To Attend Oxford Theater Program Over 20 Years Ago https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/washington-paid-chadwick-boseman-attend-oxford-theater-program-20-years-ago/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/washington-paid-chadwick-boseman-attend-oxford-theater-program-20-years-ago/#respond Sat, 29 Aug 2020 17:02:03 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=255949 The importance of paying it forward. Rest in peace Chadwick Boseman.

Read more: The Story Of How Denzel Washington Anonymously Paid For Chadwick Boseman To Attend Oxford Theater Program Over 20 Years Ago

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In an incredibly divisive world where no one can seem to get along on any issue, can we all agree that Chadwick Boseman left this planet wayyyy wayyyy too soon. He was an incredible actor, and by all accounts seemed to be an incredible person. Boseman blew audiences away in every role he took, from "Jackie Robinson" to James Brown in "Get on Up" to "Black Panther" . One of the best anecdotes about Chadwick was the fact that the world would likely have never heard his name without a randomact of kindness from Denzel Washington 20 years ago.

Boseman studied at Howard University in the late 90s. While he attended the historically black college, he and some of his fellow students decided to apply to a theater program at The University of Oxford in England. Boseman and his fellow classmates got in, but couldn't afford to attend to go. That's when his acting teacher and mentor, The Cosby Show's Phylicia Rashad, decided to step in.

Rashad pulled out all the stops. As Chadwick told Rolling Stone, she "pushed for us," and that "she essentially got some celebrity friends to pay for us to go."

(Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for Disney)

After Boseman finished up the program, he received a beneficiary letter and figured out who paid for him to attend. To his shock and amazement, it was Denzel Washington.

Chadwick wrote Washington a thank you letter to Denzel, but never gave it to him, and never told anyone else about what happened for over 20 years.

The random act of kindness came to light back in 2019 while Boseman was on The Tonight Show. Chadwick explained to Jimmy Fallon that he has "basically been holding this secret [his] whole career," because he didn't want Washington to feel like he owed him anything else. He said that he wanted to meet him in person before saying anything, but after 20 years he felt like it would be okay to reveal it to the world.

Chadwick did finally get to meet Washington at the New York premiere of Black Panther. According to Boseman, meeting Denzel some 20 years later was an "amazing" experience. 

The Black Panther star said that when they met, he thanked Washington for paying for his Oxford experience over two decades ago. In response, Washington replied in jest, "Oh, so that's why I'm here. You owe me money! I came to collect!"

Here's a video of Chadwick paying tribute to Denzel and the power of paying it forward from the 2019 AFI Life Achievement Award:

Some of my favorite lines:

"Let he who has watered, be watered. Let he who has given, be given to."

"May God bless you exceedingly and abundantly more in what's in store, than he ever has before."

If you have some time, check how Chadwick's Howard University commencement speech from 2018. Rest in peace Chadwick. Gone too soon.

Read more: The Story Of How Denzel Washington Anonymously Paid For Chadwick Boseman To Attend Oxford Theater Program Over 20 Years Ago

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These 9 Celebrities Are Cashing In On The Marijuana Green Rush https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/here-are-some-celebs-making-some-green-off-of-marijuana/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/here-are-some-celebs-making-some-green-off-of-marijuana/#respond Sat, 25 May 2019 11:02:52 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=196352 With the mainstream view on marijuana use becoming less critical over the past few years, some celebrities are looking to make some money off of the cannabis craze.

Read more: These 9 Celebrities Are Cashing In On The Marijuana Green Rush

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Marijuana, which up until very recently, was considered a taboo subject, has quickly found its way into the forefront of mainstream conversation. The drug, which is legal in some shape or form in 24 states in the U.S, has become big business for several who have cashed in on the cannabis craze. Let's take a look at some celebrities who are looking to make some green off of the green.

Bob Marley

The family of the man many look at as one of the faces of marijuana culture has a deal with Privateer Holdings, a marijuana-only investment fund. The deal entails marketing a line of cannabis products under the name Marley Naturals, which will include branded cannabis flower and oil, in addition to bath products like lotions and body scrubs.

The Weeknd

The Toronto native signed a deal with a company named PAX to lend his name to a line of tobacco and marijuana vaporizers. The vaporizers, which featured his trademark "XO" logo were sold during his "The Madness" Fall Tour for $325.

Wiz Khalifa

Wiz is one of the most famous marijuana proponents on this list, and has made some big moves to make some money off of one of his favorite activities. He teamed up with "The Cookie Co.", a California dispensary, to release his own strain of marijuana called "Khalifa Kush," which is a reflection of his personal preference when it comes to weed.

In addition to his partnership with "The Cookie Co.," Wiz also teamed up with River Rock Cannabis to expand the Khalifa Kush line into Colorado, which has legalized recreational marijuana use.

Wiz has also teamed up with RAW rolling papers to create a line of pre-roll tins which feature 3D art, in addition to cones that can fit more marijuana than standard cones.

Most recently, Wiz filed trademark papers for cannabis-infused beer!

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has invested millions of dollars in a variety of cannabis-related ventures thanks to his venture capital fund, Casa Verde Capital, L.P. Among the ventures his fund has invested in are Eaze, a weed delivery service which was dubbed the "Uber of weed," and Merry Jane, which was dubbed the "weed encyclopedia."

(Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

(Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella)

Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen actually partnered up with the aforementioned Snoop in the foundation of MerryJane.com, which, in addition to being the weed encyclopedia, also aims to correct some of the misinformation spread by those who are against marijuana usage.

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson and Tuatara Capital have teamed up to develop and release a brand of marijuana which carries Nelson's name. "Willies Reserve" will be sold in Colorado within the constructs of the state's regulated marijuana market.

Melissa Etheridge

The 54-year-old musician has partnered up with Greenway Compassionate Relief, a California-based medical marijuana dispensary, to release "cannabis-infused fine wines," but as a result of legal restrictions, she can only call the drink a "wine tincture."

Montel Williams

Williams has been a strong advocate of medicinal marijuana as a result of own experiences with using marijuana to cope with the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. He has opened his own dispensary in Northern California, and is also looking to pass marijuana legalization in Ohio.

Tommy Chong

Tommy Chong, one of half of the marijuana-happy comedy duo Cheech & Chong, has released a couple of cannabis-related products. One of them, Smoke Swipe, is an odor remover than his formulated to specifically remove marijuana odors from clothing. He has also released his own brand of weed called Chong Star.

Read more: These 9 Celebrities Are Cashing In On The Marijuana Green Rush

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Nas Has Secretly Built A Venture Capital Tech Investment Empire https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/music-news/nas-looking-to-take-over-world-of-tech-investing/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/music-news/nas-looking-to-take-over-world-of-tech-investing/#respond Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:04:40 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=206082 Over the last 20 years Nas has been regarded as one of the greatest rappers on the planet. Over the next 20 years, he might be regarded as one of the best investors on the planet.

Read more: Nas Has Secretly Built A Venture Capital Tech Investment Empire

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Ask any hip-hop aficionado who is on their list of Top 5 rappers of all time and you'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't put Nasir Jones, better known as Nas, on their list. The 45-year-old Queens, New York native has sold millions of records during his career. His debut album Illmatic is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums in the history of hip-hop. While Nas has been largely successful in the music business, he is looking to bring that same success to his investment portfolio. And it's not just some tiny amateur investment portfolio. Nas has somewhat secretly built a massive venture capital tech investment empire.

Nas is a founding member of QueensBridge Venture Partners (named after his hometown of Queensbridge), a tech venture capital fund. Nas says that he looked to get involved in investing ever since he first heard the word "investment" in school.

In an interview with Fast Company Nas explained:

 "You invest your time, you can invest money and it was just a matter of time before it all fell into place for me. That's one of the things that I thought a lot about as a young kid — the guys behind the scenes who make things happen, help build people up, make dreams come true."

Nas went on to say that he wanted to get into tech investing because he wanted "to be surrounded by the smartest people in the world, and didn't want to limit that to just music."

(Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

(Craig Barritt/Getty Images)

One of Nas' earliest forays into the business world happened in 2013 when he made a six-figure investment in a defunct brand called "Mass Appeal." Along with a capital injection from investment firm White Owl Partners, Mass Appeal was resurrected from a dead brand to one that today operates a quarterly print publication, creative agency, a digital video production company and documentary production company. In 2014 Mass Appeal launched a record company that released Nas' 2018 album "Nasir" and his 2020 album "King's Disease".

Mass Appeal's success opened doors for the rapper at some of New York City and Silicon Valley's largest investment companies. One of those firms was Andreessen Horowitz. The firm's co-founder Ben Horowitz bonded with Nas over a shared love of hip hop and a investing. It was Ben who encouraged Nas to open his own VC firm.

That's how QueensBridge Venture Partners was born.

In the beginning, QueensBridge sourced most of its deals through Andreessen Horowitz. For example, when Andreessen was taking a stake in a company like Lyft, QueensBridge would be allocated a slice of its shares. Andreessen scouted deals that left Nas with small stakes in dozens of companies that are household names today. For example Coinbase and Genius.

Today QueensBridge doesn't need Andreessen Horowitz to scout ideas, though I'm sure they don't mind a good tip now and then. With their own independent track record of success, QueensBridge fields around one hundred funding pitches every month, with only a tiny handful actually receiving money. As of this writing, the firm has made more than 60 substantial investments (that we know of) in industries ranging from finance tech, to health care to music production.

The firm's typical investment size ranges from $100,000 to $500,000.

And it appears that QueensBridge's selective nature has paid off. Some of QueensBridge's biggest hit investments include Dropbox, Ring, Parachute, SeatGeek, General Assembly, Robinhood, Casper, Pillpack and Pluto TV.

  • In February 2018, Amazon bought Ring for $1.1 billion.
  • In April 2018, WalMart acquired Pillpack for an undisclosed amount reported to be "just under $1 billion".
  • In January 2019 Viacom purchased Pluto TV for $340 million.

When you combine Nas' Ring and Pillpack exits with his Hennessy endorsement deal and 40 concerts, his 2018 earnings topped $35 million. That number enabled Nas to rank as one of the 10 highest-paid rappers in the world for the first time in his career, believe it or not.

So, what is Nas' investment philosophy? Here's what he told CNBC back in 2016:

"People. That is the absolute No. 1. I love to bet on great people that inspire me and make me think or see things differently."

Wise words to live and invest by! Congrats to Nas on all his success. Something tells me we're going to be reporting on his wins for years to come!

Read more: Nas Has Secretly Built A Venture Capital Tech Investment Empire

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Logic Made $17 Million Over The Past Year https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/music-news/logic-made-17-million-over-the-past-year/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/music-news/logic-made-17-million-over-the-past-year/#respond Mon, 08 Oct 2018 11:01:18 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=270218 To say that Logic had a great 2017 would be an understatement.

Read more: Logic Made $17 Million Over The Past Year

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Logic is without a doubt one of the most popular artists in hip-hop today. With two No.1 albums under his belt already and undoubtedly looking for his third with the recently released 'Young Sinatra IV,' the Maryland native has turned himself into a mainstay on the radio and on the charts. Throw in a new recording contract and a few endorsement deals and it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that that the 28-year-old wordsmith found himself among one of the top 20 earning hip-hop artists over the course of the past year.

While Logic (real name Sir Robert Bryson Hall II) has been a mainstay on the hip-hop blogosphere for years, 2017 was without a doubt his biggest year. Much of that success can be attributed to his hit single "1-800-273-8255," featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid, which eventually reached the top three on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Logic's highest charting single to date. The impact of the song was wide ranging, spiking calls to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, garnering Grammy nominations, and making Logic a household name in the process.

(Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

According to Forbes, the Maryland native earned $17 million over the course of the past year. In addition to performing at a variety of festivals over the summer, Logic became one of the faces of Sprite's Fresh Faces campaign, which undoubtedly made him some coin. But what probably netted him the most money was his new deal with Def Jam.

On his 'Bobby Tarantino 2' project, Logic confirmed that he signed a new deal with Def Jam, claiming that the deal was worth $30 million. Since then, some outlets, most notably TMZ, claimed that the deal was likely to be more in the $10 million range.

Whatever the case may be, Logic is definitely raking in the cash after his big year, and is looking to make more over the course of next year.

Read more: Logic Made $17 Million Over The Past Year

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Puma Is Making A Return To Basketball In A Major Way https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/sports-news/puma-is-making-a-return-to-basketball-in-a-major-way/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/sports-news/puma-is-making-a-return-to-basketball-in-a-major-way/#respond Thu, 21 Jun 2018 11:02:04 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=261398 Puma hasn't been in the basketball game in two decades, but it's looking to make a return to the hardwood in a big way.

Read more: Puma Is Making A Return To Basketball In A Major Way

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When you think of basketball shoes, the first thing you probably think of is Nike. Despite some competition from other companies brand with the Swoosh logo, along with its Jordan Brand line has had a stranglehold on the basketball shoe market for decades. But one company that has been out of the basketball game for two decades is making a big splash in its return to the hardwood.

Puma, one of the world's oldest sportswear companies, has made a string of moves over the course of the past week in an effort to return to prominence on the basketball court. Last week, the German company surprised many after news outlets reported that Marvin Bagley III, a likely Top 5 pick in this week's NBA Draft, signed a 5-year deal with Puma. The signing marked the first time Puma signed a basketball player to an endorsement deal since Vince Carter in 1998 (Carter left Puma for Nike just a year later).

But Bagley's signing was just the beginning. On Monday, Puma announced a series of moves that will undoubtedly put some pressure on its competitors.

The company announced Monday that they had signed Deandre Ayton, projected by many to be the top pick in this week's NBA Draft, to a four-year, multimillion-dollar footwear and apparel deal. When asked about the deal, Ayton referenced his Bahamian upbringing as to why he signed with Puma. "Puma is pretty popular in the Bahamas," said the 19-year-old. "I've always seen the brand growing up. [Bolt] is one of the first people I saw with the brand. It's important to me that someone I identify with and admire as an athlete is with the same brand."

(Harry How/Getty Images)

In addition to signing Ayton, the company signed one of the most important athletes in its history; Walt "Clyde" Frazier, to a lifetime deal. The New York Knicks legend and the namesake of the legendary Puma Clyde shoe, was in attendance at an event at Puma Basketball HQ in Brooklyn where he signed the deal.

When talking about the Puma Clyde, Frazier said, "I came up with a lighter shoe, a little more padding on the inside and that was the beginning of the Puma Clyde and the shoe has been timeless. During my career I endorsed Puma and then there was a lull in the action. Then, the breakdancers brought it back. After that fling, the retro craze brought it back. Here we are 40-some years later — I'm still synonymous with Puma Clyde and passing the tradition on to younger guys."

The best news though, was arguably saved for last. Adam Petrick, Puma's global director of brand and marketing, had originally stated in an interview on Monday that Jay Z would serve as the President of Basketball Operations. But he later clarified his statement, telling ESPN, "I can confirm that according to his deal with Puma, Jay-Z's official designation is creative director … I referred to him [earlier] today by an informal designation."

Jay Z's responsibilities with Puma will involve working with art direction for Puma's shoes, in addition to shaping the general concept of the company's basketball division. He reportedly will not be involved with choosing players for sponsorship deals.

All in all, Puma is making major moves.

Read more: Puma Is Making A Return To Basketball In A Major Way

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Who Were The Top Earning CEOs In 2017? https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/top-earning-ceos-2017/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/top-earning-ceos-2017/#respond Sun, 20 May 2018 11:01:54 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=258756 We all know CEOs make a lot of money, but who made the most in 2017?

Read more: Who Were The Top Earning CEOs In 2017?

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This may not come as a surprise to many, but CEOs; especially those who head S&P 500 companies, make a lot of money. But which CEOs made the most money last year? Check out the list below to find out.

5. Steven Kaufer, CEO of TripAdvisor

2016 Compensation: $1.2 million

2017 Compensation: $47.9 million

The TripAdvisor CEO earned his largest paycheck to date in 2017. The boost in pay was the result of a compensation plan that was laid out back in 2011 when TripAdvisor held its initial public offering. Of the $47.9 million that Kaufer received last year, $46.9 million were stock options and stock units.

4. Jeff Bewkes, CEO of Time Warner

2016 Compensation: $32.6 million

2017 Compensation: $49 million

Like the aforementioned Steven Kaufer, Bewkes experienced a big bump in pay as a result of stock options. Just $2 million of the 65-year-old's 2017 compensation was salary.

3. W. Nicholas Howley, CEO of TransDigm

2016 Compensation: $18.9 million

2017 Compensation: $61 million

Howley, who is one of the co-founders of TransDigm and has served as the company's CEO since 2005, experienced a large pay increase last year. It remains to be seen if his compensation will remain the same in 2018, after it was announced last month that Howley will transition to the role of Executive Chairman, with Kevin Stein becoming the CEO.

2. Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS

2016 Compensation: $69.6 million

2017 Compensation: $69.3 million

While Moonves is the only CEO on this list to be paid less in 2017 than he was in 2016, the CBS shot caller still made enough to land on the No. 2 spot on this list. Of the $69.3 million Moonves made, $20 million consisted of a bonus, and $43.7 million consisted of stock awards and options. 

 1. Hock Tan, CEO of Broadcom

(Martin H. Simon – Pool/Getty Images)

2016 Compensation: $24.7 million

2017 Compensation: $103.2 million

Like many other CEOs on this list, only a minor portion of Tan's compensation came from his base salary ($1.1 million). Tan earned a whopping $98.3 million from shares that Broadcam gave to him, in addition to $3.7 million for surpassing revenue and operating margin targets.

Read more: Who Were The Top Earning CEOs In 2017?

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Shaq Used A Piece Of Paper To Show Young People How To Effectively Manage Their Money https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/sports-news/shaq-used-piece-paper-show-young-people-effectively-manage-money/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/sports-news/shaq-used-piece-paper-show-young-people-effectively-manage-money/#respond Fri, 18 May 2018 11:02:04 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=258776 Shaq explains how young people can get ahead and start saving for retirement now.

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Shaquille O'Neal is one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA; both on and off the court. In addition to winning four NBA titles and appearing in 15 All-Star Games, the legendary big man earned over $280 million over the course of his illustrious NBA career, not to mention the money he made, and continues to make, off of endorsements. Now, over a half-decade after retiring from the NBA, Shaq is now a successful businessman and investor, and wants to show the younger generation how to manage their money effectively.

When Shaq was younger, he admits that he wasn't always the most financially savvy individual. "I went through a lot of trials and tribulations. A lot of failures," he told CNBC's Bob Pisani. He even explained a while back how he spent $1 million in the matter of an hour shortly after he signed his NBA contract. Though it's impossible for him to go back in time, he undoubtedly wishes he could give his younger self the same analogy he told Pisani.

(Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

"Alright children," said Shaq, while holding a sheet of paper. "This is $100 … What you want to do is, you want to rip the $100 in half." Take one half and "save it. Don't ever touch it. Put it away. Don't even look at it," said the Hall of Famer. "Now you've got $50 left. Now the smart people; the billionaires of the world, they'll take half of that $50 and put all that away."

"This right here," while holding a quarter of the paper he originally had in his hand, "is your fun money," said Shaq. "You want to buy houses, you want to buy cars, you want to buy planes, you want to travel? This right here is what you have fun with."

What Shaq is essentially saying is to save 75 percent of your earnings to put towards retirement, while living off of the 25 percent. Savvy advice from one of the NBA's greats.

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Kylie Jenner Is Instagram's Most Valuable Celebrity https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/kylie-jenner-instagrams-valuable-celebrity/ https://www.americanbillionaire.org/articles/celebrity/kylie-jenner-instagrams-valuable-celebrity/#respond Mon, 14 May 2018 11:01:00 +0000 https://www.americanbillionaire.org/?p=258244 Kylie Jenner's Instagram posts are worth a lot more than you might think.

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For most of us, Instagram is nothing more than an outlet for us to post photos of ourselves, view our friends' photos, and to watch funny dog videos. But for some, Instagram is a way to make some major bucks. Perhaps the best example of someone who is making the most of her Instagram following to make a killing is none other than Kylie Jenner.

According to social media insights firm D'Marie Analytics, Kylie Jenner is now the highest earning person on Instagram. According to the firm, a single social media post from the 20-year-old is worth $1 million in traditional advertising. To put that number into perspective, a 30-second Super Bowl commercial reportedly cost $5 million.

"Kylie is an undeniable global brand, which may make some roll their eyes," said D'Marie Analytics' CEO, Frank Spadafora, "But the reality is this young, female entrepreneur's savvy helped her reach a milestone in the influencer marketing and advertising industry which many seasoned professionals have failed to achieve."

As of May 9, Jenner has 108 million followers on Instagram. While she doesn't have the most followers on the social media platform, her engagement (likes and comments) is what makes her the most valuable entity on Insta. Over the course of the past month, Kylie's posts have generated over 186 million engagements, which averages out to about 6.2 million daily.

(Ari Perilstein/Getty Images for A-OK Collective, LLC.)

In addition to her 108 million IG followers, Jenner has 25.5 million followers on Twitter. When taking her Facebook followers into account, the 20-year-old has a total of roughly 150 million followers; and counting. As of April 1, D'Marie Analytics reports that she has gained about 25,530 followers daily across her social channels.

"Influencer valuations move up and down like the stock market, but Kylie is methodical about consistently generating aspirational content for her social audience, without jeopardizing authenticity," said Spadafora. "Her use of social media to personally connect with and listen to her fans enables her to deliver products they will actually purchase. This is a true case study for how brands can greatly benefit from working with social media influencers like Kylie."

And who exactly did Kylie Jenner dethrone to become the Queen of Instagram? None other than the Queen Bey herself, Beyonce.

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