Jada Pinkett Smith, an American actress, singer-songwriter, and businesswoman, has built an impressive career spanning various domains including film, television, music, fashion, and production. This article explores how she started out, and the 6 key ventures that have contributed to her millionaire status.
Early Life and Background
Jada Koren Pinkett Smith was born on September 18, 1971, in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents are Adrienne Banfield-Norris, the head nurse of a Baltimore inner-city clinic, and Robsol Pinkett Jr., who ran a construction company. Her father is of African-American descent and her mother is of Afro-Caribbean ancestry (from Barbados and Jamaica). Jada was named after her mother’s favorite soap opera actress, Jada Rowland. She was raised by her mother and grandmother, Marion Martin Banfield, a Jamaican-born social worker. Her grandmother noticed her passion for the performing arts and enrolled her in piano, tap dance, and ballet lessons.
Jada attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where she met and became close friends with her classmate, rapper Tupac Shakur. She majored in dance and theater and graduated in 1989.
Music and Acting Career
After graduation, Jada moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Her big break came in 1991 when she was cast in the part of a college freshman on the television sitcom ‘A Different World’.
She made her feature film debut two years later in ‘Menace II Society’. However, she did not gain widespread recognition until her role opposite Eddie Murphy in ‘The Nutty Professor’ in 1996. Since then, she has starred in various films, including ‘Set It Off’, ‘The Matrix Reloaded’, ‘The Matrix Revolutions, ‘Madagascar’, ‘Girls Trip’, and ‘The Matrix Resurrections.
Jada launched her music career in 2002 as the lead singer and songwriter for the nu-metal band Wicked Wisdom. The band achieved notable success, even performing at Ozzfest in 2005. Her music is known for its eclectic mix of rock, R&B, and hip-hop, as well as its powerful and thought-provoking lyrics.
Hey Humans
Hey Humans is a personal care brand co-founded by Jada Pinkett Smith. It is an eco-conscious brand that uses 99% less plastic, making it one of the first plastic-free brands of its kind. Hey Humans offers a range of products including a body wash, lotion, deodorant, and two toothpastes. The products are created with naturally derived ingredients and the packaging is made from aluminum and paper. Hey Humans was initially launched exclusively at Target. However, it has since expanded to 6,000 US Walgreens locations.
Smith is not only the face of Hey Humans but also its co-founder and creative director. She starred in a campaign video along with the rest of the Smith family. According to industry sources, the company’s revenue was reported to be $16.4 million.
Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc.
Jada Pinkett Smith co-owns two production companies with her husband, Will Smith: Overbrook Entertainment and Westbrook Inc. Overbrook Entertainment was established in 1998, and has produced several successful films and television series, including “I Am Legend”, “Hitch”, “The Pursuit of Happyness”, and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air: Reunion Special”.
Westbrook Inc. is a multimedia and entertainment venture company founded in 2019. It was created to execute the Smith family’s global content. Westbrook’s debut film, “King Richard”, garnered widespread acclaim and earned numerous awards. Westbrook was on track to generate some $170 million in revenue from various entertainment production deals in 2022. However, revenue dipped to $100 million in 2023, forcing the company to lay off half of its employees.
The Smiths were in talks with Candle Media about a potential billion-dollar deal for Westbrook, but the deal fizzled out when Candle valued the company closer to $600 million. Candle ended up investing $60 million for a 10% stake in the company.
In 2022, Westbrook Inc. successfully acquired complete ownership of Telepool, a German film and television production company. This acquisition included the purchase of a 50-percent stake previously held by Elysian Invest, a Swiss investment firm.
100% Women Productions
100% Women Productions is a music production company owned by Jada Pinkett Smith. The company was launched as part of her business ventures, which span various domains including film, television, music, fashion, and writing children’s books.
The name of the company, 100% Women Productions, reflects Jada’s commitment to championing women’s representation in the music industry. Through this venture, she has been able to produce music while also promoting and empowering women in the industry. However, specific details about the company’s operations, productions, and financials are not publicly available.
MAJA
MAJA is a clothing line created by Jada Pinkett Smith in 1994. The brand features women’s T-shirts and dresses. The unique aspect of MAJA is its embellishment with the slogan “Sister Power”, which reflects Jada’s commitment to empowering women. The clothing line was sold primarily through small catalogs
Red Table Talk
“Red Table Talk” is an American talk show that premiered on May 7, 2018, on Facebook Watch. The show stars Jada Pinkett Smith, her daughter Willow Smith, and Jada’s mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. These three generations of women open their homes for a series of candid conversations with family and friends.
The show tackles the most important and provocative topics of the day, from race and sexuality to infidelity and addiction. The show has even hosted a reunion of the cast of the groundbreaking series “A Different World” after 35 years. It has run for 5 seasons and 129 episodes on Facebook Watch and won several awards and nominations.
Investments, Endorsements, and Real Estate
Carol’s Daughter is an American multicultural beauty brand. It was founded by Lisa Price in May 1993 in Brooklyn, New York City. The brand offers a range of hair, body, and skincare products. In 2005, Jada Pinkett Smith, along with Will Smith and Jay-Z, were among a group of movie and music stars who invested USD 10 million into Price’s brand to help expand its nationwide reach. This investment helped Carol’s Daughter grow quickly and increase its visibility. By 2011, Carol’s Daughter became the number one hair-care brand on the Home Shopping Network. In 2014, Carol’s Daughter was acquired by L’Oréal USA.
Jada, along with her husband Will Smith, has made significant investments in real estate. They own multiple luxurious properties in prominent locations. Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband, Will Smith, own about 10 properties in the United States. As of 2023, these properties are valued at a total of approximately $100 million.
Jada Pinkett has been involved in numerous endorsement deals with companies such as Apple, CoverGirl, and Reebok. These partnerships have significantly contributed to her income.
Jada also signed a deal with Dey Street, an imprint of HarperCollins, for a “no holds barred” memoir. The memoir, titled “Worthy”, was released on October 17, 2023.
Conclusion
Wrapping up, Jada Pinkett Smith’s story is nothing short of inspiring. From lighting up screens in Hollywood to making bold business moves, she’s shown us what it means to chase and, more importantly, achieve our dreams. Through her six key ventures, Jada has not just secured her millionaire status; she’s become a guiding light for anyone looking to make their mark on the world.
