African American Women in Business: 10 Hottest Business Divas

Dreaming of becoming rich, successful and famous is easy – accomplishing it is a whole other story. That's why it's important to offer kudos to those women who've beaten the odds by not simply striving for success, but also hunting it down, snaring it and painting it their shade of brown. Here's a list of 10 fabulous, uber-savvy, and affluent business women of color whose names alone can "green light" projects that make a difference in our lives.

The Top 10 Hottest Divas in Business

1. Oprah – There are few people who have the ability to transform their personal passion into an enterprise that changes lives. Oprah Winfrey is one of them. At 56 the media mogul earns approximately $275 million annually by inspiring others and sharing stories on her hit daytime talk show, 'The Oprah Winfrey Show.' The savvy business woman also spearheads and finances other projects through her company, Harpo Productions.

2. Beyonce – Beyonce Knowles' 2009 hit single "Diva" attempted to redefine a diva from being a woman who's impossible to deal with to one who can make anything possible. B doesn't just talk it, she lives it. The Houston-bred hustler parlayed her fierceness into an entertainment and clothing empire, the latter named House of Dereon, which helped the 29-year-old earn more than $80 million in 2008.

3. Zane – Sex isn't just a weapon; it's big business. After penning several successful erotica novels, such as the drool-inducing 'Addicted' or book club favorite 'The Sex Chronicles,' which were republished by Simon & Schuster, the author, 43, decided to refocus on her own company Strebor Books. Today, after selling more than 3 million books, Zane is one of the biggest names in dirty talk.

4. Malaak Compton-Rock – Some people are in the business of making money. Compton-Rock, 39, has a passion for helping others create viable avenues to earn a living. With programs such as StyleWorks, which helps women on welfare transition to professional life, and Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Services, which takes teens from Brooklyn to South Africa, Compton-Rock's Angel Rock Project is a social services business worth the investment.

5. Tyra Banks – It's apparent that Banks believes being a model business woman is just as important as rocking it out on the catwalk. Luckily, she can do both. Though Banks will always be revered for her beauty, the 36-year-old has been endeared to a whole new generation of young women for her work on 'America's Next Top Model' and 'The Tyra Show'; both programs were produced by her company Bankable Productions. Nowadays, Banks is taking even bigger checks to the teller. In 2008 she reportedly earned $23 million.

6. Jennifer Lopez – Being 40 years old is no doubt fabulous for J.Lo. The entertainer spent her 30s building an enviable empire which includes two clothing lines, perfumes and a production company. The latter, Nuyorican Productions, solidified the great talent's standing as the richest person of Latin descent in Hollywood in 2007. Her empire is estimated to be worth more than $225 million.

7. Vanessa and Angela Simmons – Sometimes being young and restless works to your advantage. Take Vanessa and Angela Simmons as examples. While most heiresses – their father is legendary rapper Run, of Run DMC – would be content shopping and vacationing, these young ladies are always looking for ways to make more money. The siblings, 27 and 23, launched Pastry, a lifestyle brand collection featuring sneakers and apparel in 2007. In 2008 the brand's projected to earnings was $50 million.

8. Mara Brock Akil – It's been a long trek to the top of the Hollywood food chain but Akil has finally arrived. The writer and producer, 39, is best known for bringing smart, chic and meaningful black characters to television in shows such as 'Girlfriends' and 'The Game.' Her company, Happy Camper Productions, is currently working on movie projects.

9. Jada Pinkett Smith – The talented beauty, 38, isn't just Will Smith's wife, she's also his business partner. Together the dynamic duo runs Overbrook Entertainment Productions, the multi-million dollar company responsible for big-screen hits such as 'Ali,' 'Hitch' and 'Hancock,' as well as small-screen favorite 'All of Us.'

10. Mo'Nique – The comedienne, 43, is currently getting a lot of burn for bringing home an Oscar with her soul-stirring performance in 'Precious,' but the performer isn't earning all of her moolah in front of the camera. The Baltimore native has been the executive producer on projects since 2005 -- think Mo'Nique's 'Fat Chance' and 'Phat Girlz.' The superstar and her husband, Sidney Hicks, formed Hicks Media, the production company at the helm of Mo'Nique's late night talk show on BET, 'The Mo'Nique Show.'

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The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business
Make no mistake about it: Black women are handling their business -- not only in entertainment but also in the areas of sports, food, politics, fashion and philanthropy. In honor of true royalty, Blackvoices.com celebrates 25 notable females who have reigned supreme as queens of their respective industries. Take a look at The Royal Court: A Celebration of Sisters.

Various

BlackVoices.com

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Aretha Louise Franklin
Who Is She?: The undisputed queen of soul
Credentials: 20 Grammy Awards including the Living Legend Grammy and the Lifetime Achievement Grammy
Royally Speaking: It takes a lot of talent to become the first female to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but that's Aretha. At 67, the Detroit native has garnered 45 top 40 Billboard Hot 100 hits in her half-century long career. Franklin holds the record for best female R&B vocal performance awards, with 11 to her name. From 1968 until 1976, she was awarded eight consecutive Grammy awards in the category. In 1994, she became the youngest recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor. And the 'Respect' singer was the only featured singer that President Barack Obama asked to perform at his 2009 inauguration.

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Debra L. Lee
Who Is She?: President and chief executive officer of Black Entertainment Television
Credentials: The first African American woman to helm a cable television network
Royally Speaking: When BET founder Bob Johnson sold the first black owned television network to Viacom and left his post, Lee continued to make the channel profitable. Under her tenure, BET's production budget increased 50 percent and developing original content became a priority. The 58-year-old Harvard grad, who sits on the boards of Revlon, Marriott and Kodak, just launched a new channel under the BET umbrella called 'Centric.'

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Pamela Suzette Grier
Who Is She?: Actress
Credentials: First African American woman to star in an action film; Golden Globe, SAG and NAACP Image Award nominee for 'Jackie Brown'
Royally Speaking: Most of the actors and actresses of the 1970s blaxploitation era didn't have long careers. Grier was the exception, and there was only one Foxy Brown; the you-don't-want-none, bossy role that was the blueprint for black female heroism of the era.The North Carolina native's comeback role was as the title character in Quentin Tarantino's 'Jackie Brown.' Most recently, the 60-year-old starred on Showtime's drama 'The L Word.'

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Debra Martin Chase
Who Is She?: Hollywood producer
Credentials: Emmy Award-nominated producer of 'Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,' producer of 'The Cheetah Girls' and 'The Princess Diaries'
Royally Speaking: This Columbia Pictures-lawyer-turned-producer ran Denzel Washington's production company in 1992 and produced blockbuster films such as 'The Pelican Brief,' 'Devil in a Blue Dress,' 'The Preacher's Wife' starring Whitney Houston and 'Courage Under Fire,' as well as the Academy Award-nominated documentary 'Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream.' Under her Martin Chase Productions company, the 53-year-old Illinois native, who also produced the television show 'Missing' and 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,' is recognized as the only black woman with the power to get a film project off the ground in Hollywood.

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Serena Williams
Who Is She?: Tennis player, clothing line designer and spokesperson
Credentials: She's the reigning champion in women's singles and doubles at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Royally Speaking: After years of speculation about why Serena Williams wasn't the top player in the world, the Compton, Calif., native finally topped the list of the world's best tennis players. The 28-year-old, who has been a spokesperson for Nike and Tampax, has won more career prize money than any other female athlete in history. Since bursting on the pro scene at 17 with her sister Venus, she's taken home gold medals twice for women's doubles with her sister and made a name for herself with 25 Grand Slam titles, 12 single titles, 11 in women's doubles and two in mixed doubles. She and her sister are also part-owners of the Miami Dolphins.

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Diana Ross
Who Is She?: Motown's premier diva
Credentials: 100 million records sold (with the Supremes and as a solo artist), Academy Award nomination for best actress for 'Lady Sings the Blues,' Tony Award for 'An Evening with Diana Ross'
Royally Speaking: In her heyday, no one was badder than Diana Ross. The Detroit native, born Diane Earnestine Earle Ross, got her start in the '60s as the lead singer of the Supremes and launched a successful solo career with a re-arranged version of Ashford & Simpson's 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough.' All in all, the near 70-year-old singer/actress amassed 18 number-one singles and starred in films such as 'The Wiz,' 'Mahogany' and her Academy Award-nominated performance as Billie Holiday in 'Lady Sings the Blues.'

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Mariah Carey
Who Is She?: Singer, songwriter, actress and spokesperson
Credentials: Five-time Grammy Award winner
Royally Speaking: Where her career is concerned, Mariah Carey has definitely shaken off the haters and stood the test of time. The 39-year-old New York native remains the best-selling female artist of all time. She has the most number-one singles for a solo artist with 18 and has even shut down critics with her acclaimed performance in the Academy Award-nominated film 'Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire.' Her comeback album, 'The Emancipation of Mimi,' marked her career resurgence and gave the five-octave singer the opportunity to evolve her brand with a fragrance line through Elizabeth Arden.

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Audra Ann McDonald
Who Is She?: Broadway star and thespian
Credentials: The sole black woman to win four Tony awards
Royally Speaking: The Great White Way is a tough place to maintain a presence, but that's not the case for Audra McDonald. The 39-year-old German-born actress won her first three Tony awards for 'Carousel,' 'Master Class' and 'Ragtime' all before the age of 28. McDonald currently stars opposite Taye Diggs in the ABC drama 'Private Practice.'

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business

Name: Barbara Smith
Who Is She?: Groundbreaking fashion-model-turned-restaurateur and lifestyle expert
Credentials: This author of three books and owner of three restaurants has major partnerships with brands such as Bed, Bath and Beyond, Pillsbury, Colgate Palmolive, and La-Z Boy furniture.
Royally Speaking: The first African American woman to grace the cover of Mademoiselle, the Pennsylvania native went on to blaze trails in the restaurant industry – not only as an owner but as a doyenne of elegant entertaining. Smith, 60, has proven successful beyond cooking; she has a line of jewelry, home décor and an upcoming line of handbags.

The Royal Court: 25 Black Women Handling Their Business