Russell Simmons Net Worth: Books & Career

Russell Simmons

An American record executive, entrepreneur, film producer, and writer Russell Simmons has a staggering net worth of $340 million as of March, 2024.

Russell Simmons is one of the biggest music promoters and highly successful business magnates of our time.

Before Jay Z, Diddy and Dre, Russell Simmons was the original hip-hop mogul, supporting artists such as the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, and igniting the hip-hop revolution.

On October 4, 1957, Russell Simmons was born in Jamaica, a part of Queens in outer New York City.

When Simmons was eight years old, his family relocated to Queens’ Hollis neighborhood. Their house was on a corner, a well-known gathering spot for drug users and sellers.

He began selling marijuana while still in middle school due to the influence, and he was a member of Seven Immortals, a street gang for a period.

Russell Simmons Profile Image ( Source: The Guardian)
Russell Simmons Profile Image ( Source: The Guardian)

Russell, a former New York street hustler, became a promoter, artist manager, record producer, and label owner.

In addition, Simmons has added a business magnate and self-help guru to his resume.

With his diverse portfolio of interests, Russel Simmons has a net worth of more than $300 million and has numerous times reshaped the face of hip hop at Def Jam, the label he co-founded with producer Rick Rubin.

Simmons abruptly resigned from his firm after being accused of sexual assault in late 2017, but he faced additional assault charges.

Quick Facts

So, let’s get to know Russell Simmons a little better, starting with some basic facts about him.

Name Russell Wendell Simmons
Birthplace Queens, New York City
Birthdate October 4, 1957
Age 66 years old
Nationality American
Ethnicity Multiracial
Religion Christian
Father’s Name Daniel Simmons
Mother’s Name Evelyn Simmons
Siblings Daniel Simmons, Joseph Simmons
School August Martin High School
College City College of New York
Profession Entrepreneur, writer, film producer
Nickname Russell Simmons
Height In Centimeters – 177 cm
In Feet and Inches – 5′ 9″
Weight In Kilograms – 84 Kg
In Pounds – 195 lbs
Hair Color Bald
Eye Color Black
Zodiac Sign Libra
Net worth $340 million
Sexual Orientation Straight
Marital status Divorced
Spouse Kimora Lee
Children Ming Lee, Aoki Lee
Social Media Instagram, Facebook
Last Update March, 2024

Russell Simmons Net Worth and Income

An American record executive, entrepreneur, film producer, and writer Russell Simmons has a staggering net worth of $340 million as of March, 2024.

Simmons was at the heart of hip-hop’s evolution, ensuring that his works followed the money.

His music label, clothing line, and movie production have been the primary income source.

The box office sales of the movie Krush Groove as Crocket and the film’s co-producer made him more than $11 million.

Furthermore, he co-produced several movies like Tougher Than Leather, The Show, and The Addiction, which earned him more than $8 million.

In 1996, his business partner sold his shares of Def Jam to Universal Music Group for an astounding $100 million.

The movie Gridlock’d and How to Be a Player became a huge box office success, and he received over $19 million.

Moreover, Russell Simmons’ net worth gets significantly influenced by his clothing and lifestyle brands, with sales assets exceeding $140 million in 2004.

Again, in 2006 he executive produced Waist Deep, and its sales were around $ 46 million.

His book Do You! 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success made big sales in the first week with more than $144,000.

In addition, Russell’s real estate holdings also had a high market worth, with Saddle River Home being listed for more than $18 million.

Likewise, his Lower Manhattan home was valued at $11 million.

Russell’s earnings increased to more than $39 million in 2015, thanks to hip hop music labels, apparel businesses, and the media firm Rush Communication.

Russell Simmons’ Net Worth in Different Currencies

So, let’s look at Russell Simmons’ net worth in different currencies, including the cryptocurrency BitCoin.

Currency Net Worth
Euro 301,964,200
Pound Sterling £ 257,320,500
Australian Dollar A$ 477,734,000
Canadian Dollar C$ 438,870,300
Indian Rupee 25,971,155,000
BitCoin ฿ 7,242

Read About Rev Run Net Worth: Career & Lifestyle

Russell Simmons: House, Car, and Watches

House

Russell and Kimora Lee bought a mansion in 2001 for $13.5 million.

After significantly reducing the price, the eight-bedroom, 15 bathroom home was listed for $18.9 million but sold for $10 million in 2010.

Russell Simmons's former mansion (Source: Homes of the Rich)
Russell Simmons’s former mansion (Source: Homes of the Rich)

Simmons paid $5.8 million for a home in Los Angeles in 2013. It is situated on 6085 square feet of the Sunset Strip region.

There are five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a detached guest house, and Buddha sculptures in the home. The mansion was then offered for $8.25 million by Simmons.

Cars

There isn’t much information available on his cars.

He was, however, captured traveling to his vacation in a Mini Cooper.

Russell Simmons: Lifestyle and Vacation

Lifestyle

Simmons lives a lifestyle that resembles his most successful music heroes, but it also places him in the same league with corporate New York’s most influential players.

He is a devotee of yoga and practices yoga daily.

He established the Tantris yoga facility in West Hollywood in November 2016, an 8,000-square-foot building with two studios, a juice bar, and a blow-dry bar since it’s Hollywood.

Russell on his yoga attire(Source: Rush Communication)
Russell on his yoga attire(Source: Rush Communication)

Russell has also eliminated all animal products from his diet and became a vegan.

His spiritual journey into the worlds of meditation and yoga prompted him to switch to a vegan diet.

Owing to Russell’s love for animals and his practice of non-harming, his shift to veganism was a natural result of developing awareness.

Inspired by the film Diet for a New America, Simmons resolved to abstain from animal products for the sake of his own and the environment’s health.

Simmons was accused of sexual misconduct and assault in 2017, and he resigned from his positions at Def Jam Recordings and other organizations due to the allegations.

Simmons was rumored to have relocated to Bali, Indonesia, in 2018, where there is no extradition treaty with the United States.

Vacation

In 2018, Simmon and his ex-wife spent their vacations in paradise. Kimora Lee Simmon and her extended family had a wonderful Christmas holiday in the Bahamas.

Russell Simmon likes traveling on vacation and has been spotted in Miami, Jerusalem, and St. Barts.

Charity

Simmons has stated that he wants to contribute more to earth than take away from it.

Simmons backed a PETA protest against KFC’s treatment of animals.

Similarly, he is Co-Chairman of the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.

Furthermore, Russell co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation with his brothers, Danny and Joseph Simmons.

The Foundation’s purpose is to provide art education and support to under-serviced youth by helping people of color access the arts and providing exhibition opportunities.

In August 2009, Russel offered his time to The Doe Fund and presented a transcendental Meditation course for participants in their Ready, Willing, and Able program.

The Doe Fund, according to Simmons, is “perhaps the most effective program in the country to help homeless people re-enter society.”

Similarly, in 2015 Russell raised over $1.2 million for the At Art For Life Benefit of Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation.

Movies & TV Shows, Investment and Book Publication

Movies & TV Shows

Russell doesn’t appear in many films, but he has produced many.

Simmons co-produced and starred in the film Krush Groove in 1985.

Simmons and his colleague Stan Lathan have also produced HBO’s Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry Jam and have a development agreement with the network.

In 1996, Simmons co-produced Eddie Murphy’s smash picture The Nutty Professor. Simmons co-produced Def Jam’s How to Be a Player, starring Bill Bellamy, in 1997.

He has produced other movies: Dude, Where’s My Car?, It’s a Funny Story, Waist Deep.

Investments

Rush Communications Inc., Simmons’ firm, comprises ten businesses and three non-profits.

In 1983, Simmons and Rush Artist Management, the core of Rush, founded Def Jam Recordings, which launched musicians’ careers such as the Beastie Boys, LL Cool J, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, and Whodini.

Russell Simmons started three clothing lines; Phat Farm, ArgyleCulture, and Tantris. Phat Farm became immensely popular due to the growing hip-hop movement and was sold to Kenwood in 2004 for $140 million.

ArgyleCulture was aimed at millennial men, while Tantris focused on yoga apparel.

In 2013, Russell Simmons founded Unirush LLC, which provided pre-paid debit cards to low-income individuals.

In 2017, Russell sold the company to the Green Dot Corporation for $147 million. Rush Communications became involved in many other business ventures, including energy drink companies, websites, and book publishing.

Book Publication

Russell Simmons has authored many books, including the bestsellers The Happy Vegan and Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All.

Russell Simmons's most popular book(Source: Amazon)
Russell Simmons’s most popular book(Source: Amazon)

His other books are listed as:

  • Success Through Stillness
  • Russell Simmon’s Law of Succes
  • Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money, and God
  • Eat to Live: A Post Pandemic Lifestyle

Career

Russell Simmons began his career when he co-founded the record label Def Jam with Rick Rubin.

The following year, the label released the hip-hop song ‘I Need a Beat’ by American rapper LL Cool J and’ Rock Hard’ by American hip-hop band ‘Beastie Boys.’

In 1985, Simmons produced ‘Krush Groove,’ directed by Michael Schultz.

By 1986, Def Jam uncovered fresh talent and broke into the mainstream. Moreover, with singles like ‘Licensed to III,’ they dominated the music charts.

Тhе muѕіс lаbеl was later bоught fоr $100 mіllіоn bу Unіvеrѕаl Мuѕіс Grоuр аnd wаѕ rеnаmеd аѕ Тhе Іѕlаnd Dеf Јаm Мuѕіс Grоuр.

Simmons began working on many projects for his Rush Communications firm in 1999. The firm ventured into filmmaking, clothing, and advertising.

He developed the HBO television series ‘Def Poetry two years later, including performances by well-known poets. 

Іn 2000, Ѕіmmоnѕ рrоduсеd ‘Dudе, Whеrе’ѕ Му Саr?’ аnd іn 2010, hе bесаmе thе рrоduсеr оf ‘Іt’ѕ а Funnу Ѕtоrу.’

As of March, 2024, Russell Simmons’ net worth is $ 340 milllion.

Interesting Facts about Russell Simmons

  • Не ran tо Ваlі, Іndоnеѕіа whеrе hе сurrеntlу lіvеѕ tо аvоіd bеіng ехtrаdіtеd tо the UЅ.
  • Не іѕ аn аdvосаtе оf gау rіghtѕ аnd thus, bеlіеvеѕ that еvеrу mаrrіаgе ѕhоuld bе trеаtеd еquаllу.

FAQs

What happened with Russell Simmons?

Russell fled to Bali in 2017 after being accused of rape and sexual misconduct by multiple women, which he denied. He returned Stateside in 2019 but has generally been kept out of the public eye.

Does Russell have a brother?

Russell’s brother is Joseph Simmons, a rapper and better known by the stage name, Run, Rev.

What is Russell’s ex-wife’s name?

Kimora Lee Simmons is Russell Simmons’ ex-wife. They married in 1998 and divorced in 2009.

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