Russell Wendell Simmons (born September 4, 1957) is an American business magnate. He and Rick Rubin founded the pioneering hip-hop label Def Jam.He also created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and American Classics.
Russell Simmons is the third richest figure in hip hop, having a net-worth estimate of $340 million as of April 2011.
Simmons was raised in Queens, New York. He is the son of Daniel Simmons, Sr., a public school administrator, and Evelyn Simmons, a New York City park administrator. His older brother is abstract expressionist painter Daniel Simmons, Jr., and his younger brother is Rev. Joseph Simmons("Run" of Run-DMC).