Russell Simmons Biography

Fast Facts

• He and his two brothers Joseph and Danny Simmons founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, providing arts and education programming to youth in New York City, reaching out to urban youths
• He and Rick Rubin founded Def Jam Recordings in 1983, which focused primarily on urban music and hip-hop, releasing songs from artists such as LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, its only trash metal band Slayer
• Quote: "I want to contribute more to earth than I take away from it․"
• He and model Kimora Lee married in 1998, and despite their divorce in 2006 the two still work together on their clothing lines Phat Farm and Baby Phat
• Appeared frequently on his brother Rev․ Joseph Simmons' 2005 series documentary "Run's House․"
• He and Rick Rubin passed on signing Madonna in the early 1980s to their Def Jam Recordings
• Published his book on lifestyle choices "Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All" in 2011