Janet Jackson Joins the Billionaire Club

The music industry veteran earned the position through hit albums and movie roles.

Superstar artist and actress Janet Jackson has been on many lists in her career. 

From the music charts to the fashion lists, she has never failed to make an appearance one way or the other. 

Now, Janet Jackson has been added to another list: billionaires.

She made the list through her hit albums. tours and movie roles. 

According to Variety Magazine, Jackson has earned $458 million from touring and $260 million from her albums. Along with that. she received $81 million from sponsorships and $304 million from her acting roles. 

Last year, she married billionaire Wissam Al Man in a secret ceremony. 

Jackson joins other high-profile Hollywood celebrities billionaires such as Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, J.K. Rowling and Sara Blakely.

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In the Loop With: Hollywood Bombshell Tamala Jones

One of Tinsletown's most versatile Black actresses talks industry woes and wins.

With 25 years of film and television experience under her belt, Tamala Jones is still one of the most in-demand starlets working today. Not that you'd be able to tell from her ever flawless complexion -- banish the worry lines, we get the 411 on her skin care regime, too -- radiant smile and personality as feisty as the characters she often plays. Oh, you remember them. From "ER" and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" to "The Wood" and "The Brothers," Jones has been stealing scenes in crowded, star-studded ensemble casts for quite some time.

Now in her fifth season as medical examiner Lanie Parish on CBS' hit crime-drama "Castle," Jones talks to us about the role she regrets most (hint: it's not "Booty Call," because that's a certified classic!), her unapologetically, surgically-enhanced "boobs," why she hates Facebook and why she'd never do a reality show.

You've been in the industry over 20 years. What's the one role you regret?
"Confessions of a Call Girl." It didn't come off the way it was written, or the way we performed it. When I saw that script, I was like, 'Yes, this woman is complex!' But it was the editing.

You, Kerry Washington and Taraji Henson are some of the few Black actresses on primetime TV. Are you satisfied with the opportunities offered to you all?
They're brilliant, but there's definitely a ways to go. Those roles were written for them. My role was written for a white actress and we asked if it was okay for me to read for it anyway, so sometimes you gotta step out the box a bit. But we should have shows, African American shows, on primetime like we did with "Martin," "Living Single" and "In Living Color."

So, where can that change begin?
Unfortunately, as much as we like "Basketball Wives," it's the reality shows that have caused this. It's really about what's gonna be the moneymaker. Now, crime shows are really funny and the half hour shows gotta be wild and crazy, and black people have to go to TBS, TV Land, or BET. You're not doing anything sci-fi or law-related because it's not gonna get on the air. It doesn't have anything to do with race as much as we'd like to blame it on that. It's all about money.

Would you do a reality show?
No. They consider that the actors' graveyard. If we go on "Dancing With the Stars," it's like, 'Poor thing! She's done!'

Celebrity Look for Less: Taraji P. Henson is a 'Person of Interest'

She does cop-chic so well

Academy Award-nominated actress, Taraji P. Henson has proven she can hold her own on the big screen, but that doesn't mean she's grown so big for her designer britches that she can't enchant us on the small.

As the star of CBS' highly rated crime drama "Person of Interest," and -- salute! -- one of the few black actresses gracing primetime television screens, Henson plays Detective Jocelyn 'Joss' Carter, an ex-U.S. Army interrogator with two Iraq tours of duty under her oh, so stylish belt, turned homicide detective, who once practiced law, but gave it up to get back to police work. This crime fighting single mom, forced to raise her teenage son on her own after her husband was killed in the line of duty, is -- without question -- a no-nonsense character, but luckily for us, her wardrobe hasn't followed suit. In fact, her predominately work and some play street-style can complement the closet of any working woman who wants to keep it practical without losing the pretty.

We spoke to Frank Fleming, the show's costume designer, to find out how you could recreate Det. Carter's cop-chic look for less.

[ALSO READ: Nene Leakes on 'The New Normal']

Describe Joss' style.
I would describe Joss Carter's style as clean, strong lines that accentuate her femininity but lend itself to the practical lifestyle of an NYPD detective.

What favorite brands do you use to achieve her style?
This season we've featured designers Narciso Rodriguez, Max Mara and Stella McCartney.

[ALSO READ: Mindy Kaling on 'The Mindy Project']

What's the inspiration behind her look?
My goal was to maintain the integrity of the characters created in season one, but to make Joss Carter stand out a bit more this season.

How can you emulate this look for less?
I think it's very easy to create the look with help from stores such as Zara, Aldo and Nine West, all of which try to follow market trends in season. So one could find very nice suit separates at Zara similar to a Stella McCartney suit and pair it with a great crew neck or low-neck knit from there as well, and pick up a shoe from Aldo that could be [like] a Christian Louboutin or Balenciaga.

[SHOP TARAJI'S LOOK FOR LESS HERE]

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Celebrity Look for Less: Kerry Washington's 'Scandal'ous Wardrobe

She's ultra-powerful & ultra-feminine

Crisis management guru Olivia Pope, Kerry Washington's character on ABC's hit show "Scandal," spends her days putting out five alarm fires. And thankfully for her devoted fans, her enviable wardrobe never gets covered by the soot of Washington politricks. Sealing the deal in six inch heels allows for an executive work wardrobe that's human resources tested, and fashionista approved. Her ensembles are awe-inspiring, ever-feminine and far from what the show's title implies.

As the first African American female lead on a network television show in nearly 40 years -- salute! -- Washington's Pope is inspired by real-life, former White House press secretary Judy Smith. Can there be any doubt that exuding professionalism with a pop of power in attitude and dress in front of the POTUS is de rigueur? We spoke to Lyn Paolo, the award-winning costume designer behind "Scandal," to find out how everyday working women can perfect their power suit look for less.

The Look for Less: Mindy Kaling on 'The Mindy Project'

How would you describe Olivia's style? Olivia Pope's style is 'elegant business.' Tonally, it is all about shades of white. I try to always reflect the story through the color of the clothing, so if she is a gladiator in a suit, or a white knight, then she should be in white; however, as her character is evolving we are playing with darker tones as we learn more about her past and the challenges she is facing.

What favorite brands are used to dress her? Mainly, we use Armani, Max Mara and Escada, but we have used Tory Burch, Theory and Valentino, too.

The Look for Less: Nene Leakes on 'The New Normal'

What is the inspiration behind Olivia's look? Creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes' amazing pilot script. Shonda wrote about a strong, driven professional woman who has a fatal flaw -- her love of the President. And, like all tragic heroes, Olivia needed a silhouette and a sense of self to tell Shonda's amazing story. Early on, we talked at length in our concept meetings about Olivia's look and the palette of the show and we settled on using a light palette so that Olivia would always stand out in a group. We also wanted Olivia to be essentially feminine and we talked about soft fabrics which we felt would accentuate Kerry's amazing figure, hence Olivia's iconic trench was not made out of a stiff wool or gabardine, as most trench coats usually are.

How can others emulate the look for less? I would strongly suggest keeping things simple. Find a suit, slack or skirt style that suits your body and stick with that silhouette. If you can sew, tailor your go-to items. If not, find a local person or a family member who sews who can take up that hem or narrow a sleeve. You can look amazing and turn a fairly inexpensive garment into a custom piece with just a little alteration.

[SHOP KERRY'S LOOK FOR LESS HERE]

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Celebrity Look for Less: Meagan Good Dresses for 'Deception'

She's an undercover chameleon

On any given day, we ladies can don many different hats. In seconds flat, we manage to traverse the tricky fashionable expanse from essential employee for our bosses, Super-mom for our kids and nighttime seductress for our significant others. On NBC's hit show "Deception," Meagan Good plays a professional and style chameleon in her deliciously deceptive dual role as an undercover detective whose looks transition effortlessly from cop-casual to classy. Never mind that, no matter what she's wearing, her coveted curves always make her an object of affection, it is a look, or most importantly a variety of looks, any working woman with closet and a splash of creativity can recreate.

We spoke to Amy Roth, the show's costume designer, to learn how you can "cop" Good's trendy, transformable look for less.

How would you describe Joanna Locasto's style? She's very hip and street-wise. She'll wear combat jeans, blue jeans, leather jackets and tank tops -- things she can run around in. She always has a pop of color. But she's also undercover, so when she enters the Bowers' household she tries to fit in, so she'll wear what a cop wears when they have to get dressed up and go to court -- a polished suit with a little bit of edge and a skirt with a sexy silhouette.

What are your go-to brands to transform Meagan? Edgy labels like ALC. I love G-Star for her, Burberry coats, Catherine Malandrino, if she needs a great dress. This super-fierce black trench coat by Karen Millen that belts at the waist and has a real swing to it; she really rocked that a couple of episodes. [Clothes from] Aritzia and Atrium Boutique. She looks great in a pair of Banana Republic pants, and she loves Adriano Goldschmied's 'Farrah' jeans because they're high-waisted and then they flare out. Put her in a wedge heel and she can still run around. But there's something about Meagan that really stands out, so you can put her in a Theory suit or a Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress, and suddenly it doesn't look like that anymore, it has all these curves. She can wear anything, truly.

How can the rest of us replicate her look? She wears Aldo shoes. She loves Diesel. I get loose knit scarves from Forever 21 in every color and wrap them around her. Topshop and Uniqlo. And you can definitely get the flared jean at The Gap or J.Crew. I look for edges and femininity, and that's stuff you can [make] high or low. I don't spend a lot of money dressing Meagan, honestly.

[SHOP MEAGAN'S LOOK FOR LESS HERE]

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Halle Berry’s 5 Best Red Carpet Moments

Pretty in pink, Halle Berry's one-shouldered, printed Versace dress with a high slit caused quite a stir at the recent Golden Globes. The nude heels and subtle jewelry added the perfect finishing touches to the eye-opening dress. Photo Credit: www.zimbio.com

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Here are Halle Berry's top red carpet looks!

Halle Berry is more than a Hollywood legend; she’s a fashion icon who always turns heads when she hits a red carpet. The Academy Award-winning actress looks dazzling in just about anything she wears, but we’ve gathered her top red carpet moments that are almost as breathtaking as Halle Berry herself.

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Top 5 Halle Berry Roles

Halle Berry as Angela Lewis in "Boomerang." One of Halle’s earliest film roles came in this 1992 movie, where she played opposite Eddie Murphy. Halle’s sultry performance in the film earned her an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance. Photo Credit: www.brianorndorf.typepad.com

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Check out Halle Berry's top five most memorable roles!

Though we know her as a silver screen icon, Halle Berry first began her career in the late 1980’s by appearing in television shows such as “Living Dolls” and “Who’s The Boss?” before breaking into films like Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever.” Now a household name with an enviable track record, here are Halle Berry’s top 5 most memorable roles.

Have a favorite Halle Berry movie? Tell us what it is in the comments below!

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In the Loop With... Tatyana Ali

The once-upon-a-time child star succeeds on her own terms now

Tatyana Ali first caught our collective attention as a fresh-faced member of the Banks clan, the legendary television sitcom family of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" that shot rapper, actor Will Smith to fame.  Now in her 30s, she's aligned herself with another legendary comedic surname: Wayans.

The saying goes that behind every great man is a greater woman, and in Ali's new role as assistant Maya on BET's latest comedy series "Second Generation Wayans," she joins Craig and Damien (the real-life nephews of famous Wayans brothers Keenan, Damon, Shawn and Marlon) and actor George O. Gore II (who you may remember from the Damon-created show "My Wife & Kids") as the glue that holds the men together as they attempt to make a name for themselves in Hollywood.

We asked Ali how she managed to go from a child actor among many, to an established star in the industry.

 MUST READ: 8 Actresses Who Could be 'James Bond'

What's it like being the only girl on the cast? Any benefits?
I grew up with sisters, so being the only girl on set is definitely a bit different for me. Working with the guys makes me wish I had brothers. I’m learning a lot about the ways guys think.

How do you differ and how are you similar to Maya?
Maya and I are really different. I’m much more of a laid-back, go-with-the-flow person. She likes to be in control. I do understand her ambition, especially because our show is set in Hollywood. It takes serious focus to make it, and Maya’s got that in spades.

"Second Generation" is a pseudo-reality show, but would you ever consider doing a real one? And do you have any faves?
I wouldn’t do a reality show. The opportunity has crossed my desk a couple of times, but I enjoy the illusion involved in being an actor. I think it would be difficult to ask an audience to believe I’m different characters if they know too much about who I really am. That being said, there are some reality shows that I love to watch. "The Real Housewives" franchise is my number one!

Are you satisfied with the opportunities and roles offered to women of color on television and film?
I think that there is always more work to be done and more ground to be covered. The goal is to break old archetypes and create new ones with multi-dimensional, unique characters. As an actor you try to imbue every role with that sense of uniqueness, but if the writing and “powers that be” don’t support that, it can be really challenging. Right now is a great time. "Deception" and "Scandal" are making incredible strides. We just have to make sure that continues.

‘Beasts’ Star, Youngest Oscar Nominee, Poised After Nod

Nine-year-old became the youngest Academy Award nominated for best actress

Quvenzhane Wallis’s parents have started her on the road to a successful acting career really young. After making a smart choice to star in “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” one of the most critically acclaimed independent films of 2012, Wallis on Thursday became the youngest person nominated in the Academy Awards’ best actress category. At just 9-year-old, Wallis is said to be taking the news in stride. "I woke up, and (my mother) said, 'You've been nominated! You're nominated!'" Wallis said of learning she's up for the award. "I was like, 'Oh my God!' But it was on the inside. It wasn't on the outside." Wallis has never watched an Oscar ceremony; but like any pre-teen, she would be excited to attended and meet “everyone from the Disney Channel and Nickelodeon – but not Nick at Nite.” Wallis has been nominated for a Spirit Award and already has some awards under her belt, for her performance in “Beasts.” (Associated Press)

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Best TV Shows of 2012 With Black Leads

Kerry Washington (left) and Columbus Short (right) co-star in the Shonda Rhimes hit ABC drama "Scandal." The show continues its second season in January. SCANDAL

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African Americans played pivotal roles in some of TV's biggest hits this past year

Remember when TV shows were something you planned your evenings around? Remember the time before DVRs? Remember the time before your cable bill cost less than your cell phone bill?

If you answered yes to all of those questions, you’re likely not one of a shrinking number of U.S. households with access to a television and a TV signal of some kind.

And you hopefully got the chance to watch some of the amazing TV shows this year that featured African Americans in lead or pivotal roles. View a gallery of the shows and their characters above. Below, get information about when the shows will premiere new seasons or pick up their seasons where they left off:

Scandal (ABC) – continues its second season in January 2013.

True Blood (HBO) – its sixth season premieres June 9, 2012.

Boardwalk Empire (HBO) – its third season ended Dec. 7, 2012. It has been renewed for a fourth season, but a premiere date has not been announced.

Homeland (Showtime) – its second season ended Dec. 16, 2012. It has been renewed for a 12-episode third season, but a premiere date has not been announced.

The Walking Dead (AMC) – continues its third season Feb. 12, 2013. It has also been renewed for a fourth season.

The Newsroom (HBO) – its second season premieres in June 2013.

Any other shows that should have made it onto our list? Tell us in the comment section.

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10 Richest Black Actresses Under 40

Raven-Symone tops this list.

The richest black actresses under 40 span from a teenage starlet to an actress in her late 30s who’s just made a name for herself in recent years. Some are multimillionaires, while others have a net worth of just more than a million. Loop 21 has rounded up the wealthiest young black actresses. See if your favorite star made the list .compiled with information from Celebrity Net Worth and TheRichest.org.

Raven-Symone: At age 27, the former star of “That’s So Raven” tops this list of richest young black actresses. Her net worth is a staggering $45 million. Being a child star has certainly helped Raven-Symone amass a fortune. She achieved stardom as a pre-schooler on “The Cosby Show” in 1989.

Brandy Norwood: Brandy, 33, is known for both her singing and acting. Before her star turn on “Moesha” in 1996, she starred on the sitcom “Thea.” Brandy was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her star role in 1997’s “Cinderella” remake. Her net worth is $12 Million.

Zoe Saldana: This 34-year-old rose to stardom after appearing in 2000’s “Center Stage.” She’s now known for a number of blockbusters, most notably “Avatar” and “Star Trek.” Her net worth is $8 million.

Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Tamera Mowry-Housley:  These child stars became known to all with their hit show “Sister, Sister.” After appearing in a number of Disney films, including “Twitches,” the 34-year-old sisters now star in the Style Network’s reality show “Tia & Tamera.” Their combined net worth is $8 million.

Meagan Good: This 31-year-old is known for her roles in films such as “Jumping the Broom” and “Eve’s Bayou.” Her star will likely rise even higher when her new NBC show, “Deception,” launches next year. Good’s net worth is $8 million.

Keke Palmer: This “Akeelah and the Bee” star is only 19, but she’s worth $7.5 million.

Paula Patton: The wife of singer Robin Thicke, this 37-year-old didn’t become a household name until she was in her 30s. Her roles in “Idlewild” and “Precious” thrust her into the spotlight. Her net worth is $3 million.

Kyla Pratt: This 26-year-old new mother is known for her lead role in “One on One.” She’s also appeared in the “Dr. Dolittle” films, “Fat Albert” and “Hotel for Dogs.” Her net worth is $ 2.5 million.

Lauren London: After starring in films such as “ATL” and “This Christmas,” with a guest role on “Entourage,” the 28-year-old London is worth $2 million.

[ALSO READ: 5 Wealthiest Blacks in Business]

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