It’s been almost 12 years since the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting took the lives of 26 people (20 of them children) in Newton, Connecticut. While Alex Jones, a well-known right-wing commentator and owner of Infowars, has since taken back his comments about the incident being a hoax , he still owes the families of the victims over $1 billion in personal damages after they took legal action against him for emotional distress and defamation. Despite the controversy surrounding his name , “ Jones and other right-wing commentators once on the fringe have catapulted in popularity as many people have moved away from traditional news sources,” the Associated Press notes. Thanks to those who still support him, the 50-year-old has made millions from his radio and internet shows, plus the sale of nutritional supplements, survival gear, clothing and other merchandise, keeping him afloat in tense times. Two years after filing for bankruptcy, Jones stands to lose the company he’s...

Issa Rae transformed her online presence from an “awkward Black girl” to a media mogul with several hit series. Now, she’s channeling her success into empowering the next generation of creators, helping them forge their own paths in the industry. As shared in a press release, the award-winning actress, writer, and producer’s management firm, ColorCreative, which promotes women and minority talent, has partnered with Tubi to launch Stubios. The program will help five creative teams develop debut projects that will premiere on the streaming platform. ColorCreative will provide mentorship, while Tubi will fund the productions, according to TubeFilter. “I am deeply passionate about creating pathways to sustainable careers into Hollywood for creatives of diverse backgrounds,” Issa Rae previously said in a statement. “We at ColorCreative are thrilled to see Tubi taking this important and bold step, and we’re excited to support and guide Stubios creatives on their first long-form...

If you have even a passive interest in sports, professional fighting , or mixed martial arts, you’re undoubtedly aware of the UFC, which shattered records in 2023 as the largest MMA promotion in the world. The entity, whose title is short for Ultimate Fighting Championship, is one of the largest subsidiaries of Endeavor Group Holdings, which owns such massive companies as the Asylum Entertainment Group, TKO Group Holdings, and Professional Bull Riders. As of 2024, the UFC has ballooned its market capital to record highs , and run more than 700 events worldwide. According to BetMGM , the UFC is currently valued at a net worth of over $12 billion, with expectations to continue growing as the years carry on. Given that the outlet is so successful, it only makes sense that we perform a deep dive into the history and financial security of the business. Any entity which balloons from a humble MMA showcase to a multi-billion industry in the span of just 30 years is absolutely worth...

The platform formerly known as Twitter has gone through some major changes since Elon Musk’s 2022 takeover. The billionaire renamed the company “X” and eradicated the blue checkmark system used to verify celebrities and public figures; now, anyone can be verified for just $8/month, causing some serious chaos in the early days as parody accounts posed as actual celebrities. For the most part, those who still use Twitter/X have become accustomed to the new features and moved on from mourning what Musk has taken from them. These days, the father of 11 owns 74% of the company , although Forbes estimates his stake “is now worth nearly 70% less than he paid for it” two years ago. This clearly indicates Musk is making less money, but what does this mean for Twitter’s net worth? New Reports Reveal Twitter’s Net Worth Is Down By Billions (Julian Christ/Unsplash) In October 2022 (after trying to back out of the deal), Musk paid $44B for X, then-known as Twitter. A company named Fidelity...

Oprah Winfrey has only one regret in her decades-long reign as a media mogul. Winfrey is widely recognized for her tenure as a successful journalist who went on to host and produce “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” After departing from Nashville, TN, to pursue a career in Baltimore, MD, working local news, she landed her own syndicated show. According to CBS News, she was just 22 years old when she transferred cities and spent eight years working as a 6 p.m. anchor at WJZ-TV. Winfrey later landed her talk show, “A.M. Chicago,” which was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show” in 1986. It became the top-rated show, overtaking Phil Donahue, who had maintained the status for nearly 20 years. “For a long time, I wondered why it took so long for someone to copy us,” Donahue said, per CoastTV. “Then along came Oprah Winfrey. It is not possible to overstate the enormity of her impact on the daytime television game.” The success of Winfrey’s show is proven in its number. It reportedly was the top show for...

Although in no rush to become a billionaire, 50 Cent is following Tyler Perry’s blueprint. Both entrepreneurs have their own studios, which house their current and future projects and create jobs that benefit the surrounding communities and beyond. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Perry, a self-made billionaire, relied on his earnings to fund a 330-acre studio in Atlanta, GA, which opened its doors in 2008. “That’s why ‘Sistas,’ ‘The Oval,’ ‘Ruthless,’ and ‘Zatima’ — soon to come — All these shows on BET are doing so well, because I had us,” Perry said during Invest Fest 2023. “So, I haven’t been in a position where I’ve had to use private equity or money like that.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyler Perry Studios (@tylerperrystudios) Today, Tyler Perry Studios grants him greater creative freedoms through its built-in features that include 12 sound stages — available to rent — and various staged sets such as baseball fields, a chapel, a bank, a county jail, a...

Nat Robinson left behind a career in tech to create a label that introduced the world to MC Lyte, also known as Lana Michele Moorer. Robinson founded the Hip-Hop label First Priority Music, which materialized from an unsuccessful period in the concert promotion business and led to a more favorable outcome in the club industry. Before his entryway, he said he had worked at IBM. “I was actually an engineer for IBM,” Nat said, per Interrupted Blogs. “I outgrew them. After that, I went into the concert business. That was a disaster. From the concert business, I went into clubs. I had a very successful club called Tribeca in lower Manhattan, and after that, I got into the music.” First Priority Music was formed in 1986, per Robinson’s LinkedIn. He credits its inception to his children, Kirk “Milk Dee” Robinson, a Brooklyn, NY-born rapper inspired by the state’s Hip Hop scene, and Nathaniel Robinson Jr., who took on the nickname DJ Nat “Gizmo” Robinson. “The club and music business...

Charles Barkley claims to have left a considerable amount of money on the table to remain with TNT. The former- basketball -player-turned-television-host joined the network back in 2000, and viewers have since watched his take on “Inside the NBA” alongside Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal. In 2022, Barkley extended his commitment to TNT, signing a 10-year $210 million contract, according to Front Office Sports. His impact in the field has been valuable to the network and media landscape earning him four Sports Emmys and leading to his induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, CNN reports . However, recently the future of “Inside the NBA” was brought into question when it was announced TNT may lose media rights to the NBA. USA Today reports the NBA did, in fact, decide to move forward with “a long-term arrangement with Amazon” because TNT Sports’ parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, did not match Amazon’s offer. The NBA said the move would go into...

2024 is only halfway done, but we’ve already seen many Black creatives go viral thanks to their savvy social media skills. In the winter, TikToker Reesa Teesa had the world on the edge of its seat as she told the story of her tumultuous marriage, ultimately inking her a deal with CAA for future content creation opportunities. Elsewhere, Kai Cenat and fellow members of the AMP collective have been dancing on stage with Nicki Minaj and teasing Jordan sponsorships online. The 22-year-old is the most-followed among the YouTube group, but right behind him is his good friend, Duke Dennis – best known for his gaming videos and entertaining storytimes across numerous channels. Several years older than his frequent collaborator, Dennis was born on Feb. 26th, 1994 in Greenville, South Carolina. One of the former athlete’s brothers, Darius, often appears in Duke’s videos, which millions of people watch across his different accounts. Though he was a talented football player, the 30-year-old and...

Making the entire internet laugh since 2017, Druski has quickly become a sketch comedy legend . The popular comedian and actor has amassed an Instagram following of over eight million and has collaborated with big names like Jack Harlow, Drake, Lil Yachty, and fellow content creator Kai Cenat . Last year, the 29-year-old was announced as one of Forbes’ top creators of 2023, ranking at number 20 with $10 million in earnings. From his Coulda Been Records series to his stand-up sets to his movie appearances, exactly how much is Druski’s net worth? Who Is Druski? (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET) Born Drew Desbordes on September 12th, 1994, in Columbia, Maryland, Druski was noted to be the class clown from day one. Humor was the language he knew best, which is why he’s been able to build such an impressive empire from it. Being raised on comedians like Cedric The Entertainer and Dave Chappelle , he strayed from his dreams of becoming a sportscaster to pursue comedy,...

Distinguishing herself beyond Oprah Winfrey’s creative counterpart, Gayle King has built an impressive portfolio for herself, earning her rightful spot on TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2019. Known for her role as a co-host on CBS’s “This Morning,” as well as editor for O, The Oprah Magazine , her journalistic endeavors have led to a successful career in broadcasting and publishing, as well an impressive net worth to match. Here’s what to know about King’s professional journey and how it’s amassed an $80 million net worth, as reported by Assets Magazine. Who Is Gayle King? (Photo by Roy Rochlin/WireImage) Born December 28th, 1954 in Chevy Chase, Maryland,  King graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in psychology, though her interests guided her on an alternate professional course. Like any other journalist, King worked her way up in the ranks, from smaller newsrooms to national television. She began her career as a production assistant at WJZ-TV in...

Revolt employees now become the largest shareholder group of the media company, The New York Times reports. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Diddy had exited his position as chairman of Revolt TV and sold his remaining shares to an anonymous buyer. Now it has been announced by Revolt CEO Detavio Samuels that Diddy has officially separated from the company he founded in 2013 alongside Andy Schuon. “One-hundred percent of Sean Combs’s shares have been redeemed and retired,” Samuels said, according to The New York Times. “He is no longer chairman. He is no longer on the board. He has no shares, no equity in Revolt. We have completely separated and dissociated from each other.” The majority of Revolt’s employees, which consists of about 80% people of color, are now the company’s largest shareholder group, the outlet notes. The initial value of Diddy’s shares in the company is unclear. “Today marks one of the biggest days we’ve seen at REVOLT and in media (especially Black media),”...

Will.i.am is immersing himself further in the media landscape. According to a press release, he has joined Jarret Myer and Rich Antoniello in forming Uproxx Studios. It is described as a brand solutions studio led by influential leaders in media and music who will consider culture and push it forward. The new entity has been established following the acquisition of Uproxx, HipHopDX, Dime Magazine, and other major media assets from Warner Music Group (WMG), such as the exclusive license to represent its YouTube content. Looking ahead, Uproxx Studios and WMG will remain in collaboration to guarantee seamless execution for their partners. Antoniello, partner and executive chairman of Uproxx Studios as well as founder and ex-CEO of Complex Network, commented, “This is a game-changer. We’re merging the agility and freedom of an independent entity with the reach and resources of a major music label. This is the recipe for groundbreaking content and unparalleled brand experiences.” Uproxx...

A ban on TikTok may be imminent in the United States. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, a 12-page bill was proposed by the House of Representatives to eliminate its use and access in the United States if its China-based parent company ByteDance doesn’t sell the platform. This would cause great disruption to many as more than 150 million individuals in the United States are TikTok users, according to the social platform’s website. The bill, which was introduced as the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act , serves to “protect the national security of the United States from the threat posed by foreign adversary controlled applications,” per CBS News. If the bill is green lit by the Senate and President Joe Biden and signed into law, ByteDance will be required to sell the platform within 180 days — or it will be banned from distributing the app and any others through its subsidiaries or firms “controlled by a foreign adversary.” On March 13, 2024, the...