JAY Z: A Jay Z BiographyHis life is in many ways, a Cinderella story... even if Shawn Carter - "Jay-Z" to millions of fans - may seem like an unlikely character to play the role of a belittled cinder girl. But Jay-Z's meteoric rise can only be properly encapsulated by the superlative, the fantastic... by fairy tale. For how else can one describe his ascent from hustling in Brooklyn to sitting in board rooms? From being a kid in the projects to being the King of the City? How did he go from being a rapper no one would sign, to being hip-hop's most important figure? How did he conquer field after expanding field, such that he became, gradually, one of the most aspirational figures in hip-hop; in music; in the African American community; and in business? This is the story of Jay-Z, who in his hardscrabble youth grew up in a broken family, was raised by a single mother, had lived in violent projects, needed to hustle to survive, dealt drugs, got shot at and did his own shooting, and he'd even been arrested. In this light, he could have been "a statistic - " another unfortunate number, a nameless faceless figure in America's poor record of systemic injustices against young people of color. But by a mix of talent, intelligence, grit, entrepreneurial savvy and inextricably some luck, Jay-Z defied the odds and made his own numbers and set his own records. After all, these are his personal stats: he holds the record for most number of albums (14!) getting the top spot among solo artists, trailed by no less than Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand's 11 apiece. He is, however, only in second place for most number of albums topping the chart... following no less than the Beatles (who have 19). He has 21 Grammys for his work in music. But more than a successful musician, he is a businessman with diverse interests. In 2018, Forbes estimated his net worth to be at a staggering $900 million, making him the richest man in hip-hop, and the 5th richest person in entertainment - putting him in the same circles as filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg; media queen Oprah Winfrey; and "Greatest of All-Time" (G.O.A.T.) sports and pop culture icon, Michael Jordan. As husband of the multi-talented phenomenon Beyonce, Jay-Z is one half of entertainment's most powerful pair. Together, they are not only the coolest couple in the world, their joint net worth takes them well past the billion-dollar mark.