May 26, 2012 9:37 PM • Log InREGISTER

Money

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5 Things to Think About Before Investing in Art

SCAD’s Chief Curator Explains Isolde Brielmaier offers up advice for the novice art collector on…

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The entertainment world has become one big fit club. In an industry where image is everything—and a size 6 is considered overweight—celebs seem more inclined than ever to drop the calories and pick up the dumbbells in an attempt to achieve the body of their dreams. There’s also an ever-growing list of famous folks who are turning their battle of the bulge into big business, tapping into the $20 billion weight loss industry by signing lucrative deals to plug high profile diets and penning books that chronicle their journey to get in shape. But going from tubby to toned doesn’t always guarantee more success in Hollywood. Blackenterprise.com decodes the surprising affect dramatic weight loss has had on the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business. For better or for worse, these seven entertainers prove that in Hollywood, size really does matter. —Shydel James

Decoded: 7 Celebrities Who Went From Fat to (Financially) Fit

Physical fitness is not just a great lifestyle choice in some cases it can increase your marketability and revenue

Physical fitness can be a large part of personal branding & revenue generation. These celebrities…

By Shydel James

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Patrice J. Williams, founder of Looking Fly On a Dime (Image: Danielle Gray)

Black Blogger Month: Looking Fly on a Dime, The Savvy Shopper

From the unemployment line to online, Patrice J. Williams heads a thrifting blog that's positioned her as a TV personality and budgeting guru

Patrice J. Williams transformed her obsession with thrift shopping into a marketable brand, Looking Fly…

By Starrene Rhett

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"You can call me he. You can call me she. You can call me Regis and Kathie Lee; I don’t care! Just as long as you call me.” —RuPaul

Born RuPaul Andre Charles, November 17, 1960, celebrity drag queen and entrepreneur RuPaul has worked with the likes of Diana Ross, Elton John, Spike Lee and countless other superstars. At 6’4”, she stands to be the most famous drag queen to walk the Earth. While others have certainly come before her, none have seemed to achieve the level of prosperity or success as RuPaul. With two television shows airing on LOGO—RuPaul’s Drag Race and RuPaul’s Drag U—and a rising social media empire, RuPaul is cashing in big time and just might be the next big media mogul. BlackEnterprise.com Decodes her rise to the top. Sashay! —Sirita Wright

RuPaul Decoded: The Man, the Myth, The New Queen of All Media

Dissecting the business behind the make-up and wigs of RuPaul, a rising media mogul in the making

More than a drag queen, RuPaul is a profitable brand that expands across various media…

By Sirita Wright

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Last year, The Guinness Book of World Records named Samuel L. Jackson the highest-grossing actor of all time. The 63-year-old Washington, D.C. native has starred in over 100 films that have a combined box office gross of almost $8 billion. That’s quite a feat for a man who nearly squandered his talent and life away due to a serious drug and alcohol addiction.

Since starting out in the theater in the ’70s as a student at Morehouse College, Jackson has managed to build an estimated net worth of $150 million by appearing in some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, like Captain America and Star Wars and low budget critical hits like Eve’s Bayou. The always earnest, off-the-cuff actor has made a fortune playing stern, authoritative characters. His latest role and box office score was as Nick Fury in The Avengers, which broke domestic box office records, pulling in $200.3 million opening weekend. With the May 18th release of his new neo-noir thriller The Samaritan sure to add more zeros to Jackson’s bank account, BlackEnterprise.com decodes the hardest working actor in Hollywood. —Shydel James

Samuel L. Jackson Decoded: Hollywood’s Hardest Working Man

Examining the luminous career of the highest grossing actor of all time

The Guinness Book of World Records cemented Samuel L. Jackson as the highest-grossing actor of…

By Shydel James

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Tai & Tarin Perry, co-founders of DoubleSavingDivas.com

Black Blogger Month: Double Saving Divas, Shopping with a Purpose

Twins Tai and Tarin Perry preach the importance of saving and budgeting to the person who needs it most—you

With Double Saving Divas, twin entrepreneurs Tai and Tarin Perry provide people of color with…

By Aliya Ewing

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Charles Barkley  From the onset of his career Barkley was surrounded by greatness. Drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, he joined a team that includes legends Julius Erving, Moses Malone and Maurice Cheeks. Holding his own, Sir Charles averaged 14 points and 8.6 rebounds per game during his rookie season. A year later, he was the team’s leading rebounder and second scorer before eventually becoming the Sixers’ franchise player until he was traded in 1992 to the Phoenix Suns, where he continued to dominate as a rebounder and team leader. By time he retired in 2000, Barkley became the fourth player in NBA history to achieve 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. However, the Dream Team gold medalist was never able to win a title to compliment his accolades.

NBA Decoded: Does Social Media Make Athletes Worse Role Models?

Was Charles Barkley right? How social media has made today's athletes flaws as a role model more apparent

When Charles Barkley proclaimed that he wasn’t a role model he had no idea that…

By BlackEnterprise.com

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This past weekend Disney and Marvel Studios joined forces to release The Avengers, an all-star fan boy film based off the popular comic book series. While critics expected the film to do well, at the end of film’s opening weekend it not only secured the No. 1 spot but also broke domestic box office records, pulling in $200.3 million over the course of three days. The Avengers’ ticket sales eclipsed the previous record-holder, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, which opened with $169.2 million in summer 2011. The film’s success is not limited to US shores, as it opened internationally two weeks ago to the tune of $441.5 million across 52 global markets. As it stands at press time, The Avengers has grossed well over $642.8 million globally. BlackEnterprise.com takes a look at the “marvelous” success of the prequel films that led up to this record-breaking showing.  —Anslem Samuel Rocque

The Avengers Decoded: The Makings of a Marvelous Movie Franchise

After a record breaking open weekend for The Avengers, the films that built up the new franchise get their ticket sales dissected

The Avengers breaks box office records with its opening weekend haul of over $200 million,…

By Anslem Samuel

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DARREN MCFADDEN 

A former Arkansas Razorback and SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2007, McFadden was drafted to become a running back for the Oakland Raiders in 2008. He had a six-year contract worth $60 million, with $26 million guaranteed. The tenth of twelve children, McFadden has overcome a lot of controversy off the field, but, nonetheless, has continued to persevere.

10 Black NFL Rookies Who Cashed in Big on Draft Day

From college athlete to multi-millionaire, a NFL rookie's life can change overnight when drafted and hit with a hefty paycheck

From college athlete to multi-millionaire, a NFL rookie’s life can change overnight after being signed…

By Mia N. Hall

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Brazilian Ogilvy recently conceptualized a unique ad campaign for Forbes called The World Without… The print ads take a look at some of the world’s richest and most influential people and, well, images the world without them, resulting in some interesting (and sometimes humorous) domino effect stats. The public figures featured range from Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg to Donald Trump. Also included was golf pro Tiger Woods, who saw his brand tarnished by a series of sex scandals. Here’s a snap shot of The World Without… Tiger Woods.

Decoded: The World Without Tiger Woods

How different would the world be if the golfing great never existed? Here's a few possible answers

New Forbes print campaign imagines The World Without… key celebrities ranging from Mark Zuckerberg to…

By Anslem Samuel

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