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

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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

Posted: May 15, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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

Posted: May 11, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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

Posted: May 7, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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

Posted: May 7, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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

Posted: May 4, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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

Posted: May 3, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Reality television is a complicated business. Some shows get immensely popular and springboard everyday people into celebrity stardom, but that fast track to Hollywood isn’t for everyone. However, there are those lucky ones who manage to build their brands, or expand their existing empires, based on their participation in America’s guilty pleasures. While some reality stars make little to no money at all—the average is about $5,000 a month—personalities who appear on popular shows like The Real Housewives franchise can make $8,000 and up per episode, and millions of dollars beyond their TV presence alone. It’s reported that the Real Housewives of New York racked in $75,000 per episode last season, while the Kim Kardashian and her family recently signed a deal worth an estimated $40 million for three more seasons of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. With millions of dollars floating around in the “real worlds,” BlackEnterprise.com Decodes the financial gain of some of reality TV’s most notable personas. —Starrene Rhett Rocque

Reality TV Decoded: 10 Reality Stars Who Earn Millions

More than just memorable personalities, these reality TV stars figured how to make a living off of you watching

Reality TV has become a multi-million dollar business for a select few individuals who manage…

By Starrene Rhett

Posted: April 27, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
(Image: Getty)

Kardashians Sign $40 Million Reality TV Show Deal with E!

The reality TV stars prove their bankability by signing a record-breaking deal

In a record-breaking deal, Keeping Up with the Kardashians gets renewed for three more seasons…

By Anslem Samuel

Posted: April 25, 2012 Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
As we continue the transition into spring that means prom season is already upon us as students begin to pester their parents for money for the first must-attend social event of adolescence. When you calculate the limo rides, corsages, entry fees, dress purchases and tux rentals, this one-night affair can quickly add up to a hefty bill. In fact, according to a recent survey of 1,000 random people conducted by GfK Roper OmniTel, parents can expect to pay an average of $1,078 per teen for prom this year. That’s a 34 percent increase from last year’s national average of $807. Now we’ll Decode prom costs by region and financial brackets. —Anslem Samuel

The Prom Decoded: How Much is Too Much for the Big Dance?

Parents should expect to shell out more than ever for their teens' big night out

Prom season is upon us and as more parents and teens look to outdo each…

By Anslem Samuel

Posted: April 17, 2012 Tags: , , , , , ,
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