Pharrell Williams possesses a very distinct skill: the ability to create hit songs that sneak their way into your brain and stay there for a long time, whether you like it or not. The omnipresent ‘Happy’ was 2014’s best-selling song and the prolific musician wrote and produced Robin Thicke‘s ‘Blurred Lines’ which in 2013 spent 12 straight weeks at No. 1. In all, Williams’s music career has earned him 10 Grammys.
But Pharrell has also managed to parlay his songwriting prowess into a successful business empire. His companies and alliances, which range from clothing to media to jewelry, have put the artist’s estimated worth at more than $100 million.
‘Music will always be my first love,’ Williams has said. ‘But the one thing I’ve learned is that this life is a movie and I am a co-creator.‘ He launched his signature clothing brands, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream, in 2005. The high-end streetwear companies have combined for more than $25 million in annual sales, according to Women’s Wear Daily. In 2013, he launched a sister brand, Billionaire Girls Club. The labels have brick and mortar storefronts in New York City, London, and Tokyo.
