Short answers, pulled from the story.
Russell Simmons was born on the 4th of October 1957 and grew up in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens, New York. He attended August Martin High School and briefly studied at City College of New York before entering the music industry.
Russell Simmons co-founded Def Jam Recordings in 1984 and sold his share to Universal Music Group in 1998 for 120 million dollars. He also launched Phat Fashions LLC in 1992 and sold the brand to the Kellwood Company in 2004 for 140 million dollars.
Russell Simmons adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1999 and practices Jivamukti Yoga and Transcendental Meditation. He is a Christian yogi who supports the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace and received the 2001 PETA Humanitarian Award.
Russell Simmons launched a parody video titled Harriet Tubman Sex Tape on his YouTube channel All Def Digital in August 2013. The video featured an actress portraying Harriet Tubman having sex with her slave owner and led to public outrage and an apology from Simmons.
Russell Simmons announced his resignation from his business roles on the 30th of November 2017 following allegations of sexual misconduct. HBO removed his name and likeness from his stand-up comedy specials starting with the 1st of December episode.
On the 13th of February 2024, a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe alleged that she was sexually assaulted and harassed by Russell Simmons in the 1990s. On the 15th of February 2024, another lawsuit alleging defamation was filed against Russell Simmons by former Def Jam executive Drew Dixon.