Russell Wendell Simmons is an American entrepreneur and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. Simmons’ net worth was estimated at $340 million in 2011.
Russell Simmons Biography
| Full Name | Russell Wendell Simmons |
| Nick Name/Celebrated Name: | Russell Simmons |
| Birth Place: | Queens, New York City |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 4 October 1957 |
| Age/How Old: | 64 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 177 cm In Feet and Inches – 5′ 9″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 84 Kg In Pounds – 185 lbs |
| Eye Color: | Black |
| Hair Color: | Bald |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Divorced |
| Social media Accounts: | Twitter, Instagram, Facebook |
| Girlfriend: | N/A |
| Wife/Spouse Name: | Kimora Lee |
| Kids/Children Name: | Ming Lee, Aoki Lee |
| Parents Name: | Father – Daniel Simmons Mother – Evelyn Simmons |
| Siblings: | Daniel Simmons, Joseph Simmons |
| School: | August Martin High School |
| College: | City College of New York |
| Religion: | Christian |
| Nationality: | American |
| Zodiac Sign: | Libra |
| Gender: | Male |
| Profession: | Entrepreneur, writer, film producer |
| Net Worth: | $340 million |
| Last Updated: | 2022 |
Russell Simmons Net Worth
| Net Worth: | $340 Million |
| Date of Birth: | Oct 4, 1957 (64 years old) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.765 m) |
| Profession: | Fashion designer, Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Businessperson, Television producer, Actor, Screenwriter |
| Nationality: | United States of America |
Early Life
Russell Simmons was born in Queens, New York on the 4th of October, 1957. Simmons is the son to Daniel Simmons Sr and Evelyn Simmons. His father was a public school administrator and his mother worked as a park administrator. Simmons attended the City College of New York for some time, after which he dropped out and went on to promote local musicians.
Personal Life
Russell Simmons married Kimora Lee in 1998. The couple had two daughters together but divorced in 2008.
Russell Simmons Controversy
In 2017, a model named Keri Claussen Khalighi accused Russell Simmons of raping her in 1991. Khalighi was 17 at that time. This was the first of many allegations that were eventually aimed at Simmons. Writer Jenny Lumet also accused Russell Simmons of raping her, again pointing to an incident in 1991. This time, Simmons stopped playing a leadership role in all of his businesses. Several companies, including HBO, made moves to distance themselves from the entrepreneur. Before 2017 could come to a close, The Los Angeles Times had published five separate accounts of women who had been the victim of sexual misconduct or sexual assault at the hands of Simmons. The New York Times soon followed with a further four accounts from new women, including more rape allegations. In the end, a total of 13 women came forward with these allegations. Russell Simmons denied everything, sold his assets, and relocated to Bali. At least one of his accusers suggested that Simmons chose Bali because the nation doesn’t have an extradition treaty with the United States.
Russell Simmons Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Russell Simmons’ career:
- Co-founded Def Jam (1983)
- Krush Groove (Movie, 1985)
- Launched Clothing Line (1992)
- Sold Phat Farm (2004)
Career
Russell Simmons began his career in 1983 when he joined hand with Rick Rubin and founded the record label ‘Def Jam’. The next year, the label released American rapper LL Cool J‘s hip-hop single ‘I Need a Beat’ and American hip-hop band ‘Beastie Boys’ track ‘Rock Hard’. Simmons produced the feature film ‘Krush Groove’ in 1985 which was directed by Michael Schultz. By 1986, ‘Def Jam’ was discovering new talents and they began to venture into the mainstream. They topped the music charts with releases like ‘Licensed to III’. In 1999, Simmons started to work on many projects for his Rush Communications company. The company ventured into film production, sportswear, and advertising. Two years later, he produced the HBO television series, ‘Def Poetry’ which featured performances by well-known poets. Russell published his book titled ‘Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All’ in 2011. The book is a blend of spiritual wisdom and street-smartness.