Zack O'Malley Greenburg's Blog, page 92

Usher Gets Down To Business With New Look Foundation

Usher: Training future moguls.

Last week at the Lambs Club in New York, 23-year-old James Harris talked business to a crowd that included journalists from outlets including FORBES, executives from companies like Accenture and one superstar singer,Usher.

Harris had come a long way from his early days in an area ofKansas Citywhere gangs and gun violence were part of daily life. While in high school, he was busted for marijuana possession but received a slap on the wrist—and something that changed...

All-Time High: Wiz Khalifa’s Next Big Step

Wiz Khalifa: Rising to new highs.

The first three paragraphs of this story appear in the January 21st issue of FORBES magazine.

Wiz Khalifa doesn’t usually wear dress shoes. But as the lanky rapper cycles through his options at a photo shoot, one pair catches his fancy—a black-on-matte-black-checked pair of Louis Vuittons—so stylish he’d consider buying his own. “I gotta take my two front teeth off my Christmas list,” he says with a laugh.

Khalifa doesn’t need to wait for Santa Claus. Fueled by...

30 Under 30: Wiz Khalifa And Music’s Brightest Young Stars Of 2012

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Click for full photo gallery: 30 Under 30: Music

Everything Wiz Khalifa does, he does it big. That’s what the lanky rapper says in the chorus of his smash hit “Black and Yellow,” anyway, and it rings truer than ever as he ticks through his latest accomplishments on a recent Monday evening in Manhattan.

This year he proposed to girlfriend Amber Rose, prepared to welcome their first child into the world, and released a new album, O.N.I.F.C., which debuted at No. 2 on the charts with fir...

The Top-Earning Women in Music 2012

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Click for full photo gallery: The 10 Highest-Paid Women in Music 2012

Britney Spearsearned over $50 million in 2010—$64 million, to be exact. This year, she might describe her financial gains with the words to one of her best-known songs: “Oops! I did it again.”

The 31-year-old pop star pulled in $58 million over the past year, more than any other woman in the music industry. Her latest album, Femme Fatale, was certified platinum in the U.S. and the ensuing tour accounted for the bulk...

From Pop Star To Startup Boss: The Story of Stageit’s Evan Lowenstein

On the screen of his MacBook, Evan Lowenstein watches singer-songwriter Jason Manns strumming an acoustic guitar in his apartment, where the only audience member is a snoozing dog. Yet out in the ether, thousands of humans are tuning in–as you can see by the comments cascading down the right side of the screen and by the real donations clattering into a virtual tip jar. “That’s $100 right there. There’s another $20,” says Lowenstein, 38. Manns has already earned $1,800. “The cool thing is he’...

Cash Kings Jay-Z And Kanye West Among Top Grammy Nominees

Grammys 2013: Who will bring home the hardware?

The envelopes have been opened–at least the envelopes that will determine who gets to open additional envelopes–and now the countdown to the 55th annual Grammy Awards in February begins.

Jay-Z and Kanye West, both among the top five moneymakers in hip-hop and the top 25 industry-wide, picked up six nominations apiece after earning $38 million and $35 million last year, respectively. Along with Mumford & Sons, fun., Frank Ocean and Dan Auerbach of...

Inside Michael Jackson’s $5 Million Memorabilia Auction

The King of Style: Michael Jackson.

Two decades ago, costume designer Michael Bush created an ornate fencing jacket for Michael Jackson to wear on tour. Fittingly enough for the King of Pop, the gilded garment echoed ones worn by European monarchs of old. Bush and his partner, the late Dennis Tompkins, overnighted their creation to Jackson when it was done.

Two days later, though, Bush received a call from the singer. He was elated by the creation, but there was a slight problem. “I gave away y...

The World’s Highest-Paid Musicians 2012

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Click for full photo gallery: The World’s 25 Highest-Paid Musicians 2012

Though he’s only 18 years old, Justin Bieber has had a year for the ages. The Canadian crooner released his third studio album, launched a world tour and continued investing in startups, adding to a portfolio that includes stakes in Spotify, Tinychat and others. All in all, he earned $55 million in 12 months.

“I do calls every week with my business manager and my lawyer,” Bieber told FORBES this spring as part of...

How to Invest Like David Letterman, Andre Agassi And Steffi Graf

For the full 2013 Investment Guide, click here.

Invest Like A Star: Take a lesson from Credit Suisse's David Tracy & Chuck Tharnstrom.

When David Tracy arrived early to a recent dinner with a fashion icon, he wasn’t expecting to get a good table. The restaurant was Daniel, a Michelin-spangled New York eatery that regularly hosts stars brighter than its own celebrity namesake, Daniel Boulud. So the unassuming Tracy, a managing director of private banking at Credit Suisse, didn’t mind being seate...

Best Ideas 2013: Six Investment Ideas From Hollywood to Houston to China

Investing Ideas For 2013: Don't be left alone.

Twice a year, FORBES puts out an entire issue dedicated to helping readers get rich–and, perhaps more importantly in these times–keep what they’ve already got.

For our most recent Investment Guide, I reached out to a handful of the smartest minds in the financial world, individuals whose clients range from retail investors to billionaires. I asked each of them to name one financial product or asset class they like in 2013, and one they’d avoid (man...