Who is Russell Simmons and what is his net worth?

August 18, 2024

MUSIC legend Russell Simmons is known for revolutionizing the industry and has worked with some of the biggest names in hip hop history.

The famous producer and entrepreneur has accumulated millions of dollars throughout his successful career - here's everything we know.

Who is Russell Simmons?

Russell Simmons was born on October 4, 1957, in Queens, New York City.

He has produced and managed huge names including Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, LL Cool J, Jay-Z, DMX, and Kanye West.

Simmons has branched out from the music industry as well and launched a mainstream fashion brand, Phat Farm, in the 1990s and early 2000s.

His rocky relationship with ex-wife Kimora Lee has seen him make headlines in June 2023, amid an on-going family feud.

What is Russell Simmons known for?

Simmons is well known for co-founding the music company Def Jam in 1983 alongside Rick Rubin.

In 1985 he starred in musical comedy Krush Groove and helped produce The Nutty Professor starring Eddie Murphy in 1996.

Simmons also launched the popular clothing line Phat Fashions LLC using the Phat Farm and Baby Phat labels.

The entrepreneur later co-created the HBO television series Def Comedy Jam with Stan Lathan.

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This was instrumental in kick-starting the careers of several comedians, including Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Eddie Griffin, and Katt Williams, according to celebritynetworth.com

Is Russell Simmons married?

Russell married Kimora Lee in December 1998 but split in 2006 before going through a public and acrimonious divorce in 2009.

They share two daughters together, Ming and Aoki, who were eight and five when the pair divorced.

His ex-wife cited irreconcilable differences in court documents and asked for legal and physical custody of their children.

Simmons is not known to be dating anyone as on June 2023.

Does Russell Simmons have any children?

As mentioned previously, the entrepreneur shares two daughters with his ex-wife.

Ming was born on January 21, 2000, and Aoki on August 16, 2002.

In May 2023, both Ming and Aoki graduated from college.

Ming graduated from New York University, while Aoki, who was accepted into Harvard University at just 16 years old, graduated from the Ivy League school.

On Father's Day, June 18, 2023, Simmons found himself in a massive family feud, after his daughters and bitter ex-wife Kimora lashed out at him on social media.

It all seems to have started after his eldest daughter posted a cryptic note for Father's Day.

Ming, 23, decided not to shower her dad with affection, and instead publicly wishing her mom, Kimora, a happy Father's Day instead.

This seemed to rattle the Def Jam Records co-founder as he posted: "Stop telling fathers they should have fought harder to see their children & start asking mothers why he had to fight at all."

It was enough to push younger daughter Aoki into posting a series of personal emotions to her Instagram stories, which Kimora then reposted.

Aoki stated in the first post: "I've had enough.

"I know I may lose jobs or whatever I don't even know.

"I was always a daddy's girl. You can see that in any picture.

"But he's been awful to me for years, and that's just the truth."

Aoki shared a lengthy text exchange between her and her dad, crying out to him that he has caused her too much anxiety in his war with Kimora.

She posted: "Dad, I stopped talking to you because you were giving me panic attacks to the point I was placed on emergency medication every time we spoke.

"I cannot have a relationship with you until that stops.

"No one stops me from talking to you, my health does. I have to put that first."

Aoki accused Russell of constantly yelling and screaming at her over an unspecified legal situation that she insisted she had nothing to do with.

She added: "You were putting so much anger and rage on me every phone call. Cursing and screaming and god know what else.

"I'm sorry but I cannot be the target of that it's not fair."

She submitted a video of her dad wildly ranting into a camera, without any audio.

She said in another story: "Some of us do think he is mentally ill or experiencing something like dementia.

"He really acts like he hates and does not know his children frequently."

Russell's ex, Kimora, followed up with several of her own revealing accusations, saying she and her daughters "won't be bullied, threatened or afraid".

She captioned a reshare of Aoki's diatribe: "No one should live like this. No one's child.

"This is abuse. Not ok. The threats. Not ok. The fear mongering, not ok."

But Kimora wasn't finished lashing out, and returned to Instagram demanding Russell leave their kids alone.

She said: "This is how you maneuver with the world and women all around you.

"Your threats and lies and intimidation maneuvers and tactics are sad."

Then she begged him to stop: "Your own flesh and blood? Enough is enough."

The U.S. Sun has reached out to Russell for his reaction and response.

In May 2023, Russell posted photo montages congratulating his daughters on graduating from college.

What is Russell Simmons' net worth?

As of June 2023, according to wealthygorilla.com, Russell's net worth is $340million.

He has earned much of this money through Def Jam Recordings.

In the mid 1990s, he sold half of his shares in the company which saw $33million land into his bank account.