Shawn "Jay Z" Carter rose from poverty in Brooklyn to become one of the richest and most successful entrepreneurs in hip hop. Starting as a small-time drug dealer, he is now worth over $1 billion through his music career and various business ventures. Though his early career was marked by a "gangster" image and legal troubles, Jay Z reinvented himself as a distinguished philanthropist and businessman with interests in sports, clothing, and other industries. He uses his platform to promote social issues and represents the business side of hip hop over the classic rebellious image.