will.i.am — Silicon Valley's Favorite Musician

Will.i.am has earned more from tech investments than from his decade with the Black Eyed Peas. As a genuine Silicon Valley player, he founded i.am+ (a wearable tech company), invested in Beats Electronics before its $3 billion Apple acquisition, and became Intel's Director of Creative Innovation. In 2012, he became the first musician to send a song from Mars via NASA's Curiosity rover. His tech portfolio now generates higher returns than his share of the Black Eyed Peas' $80 million touring revenue. This shift is 30% more aggressive than the average musician-turned-entrepreneur, as he focuses on AI ethics at Davos while peers like Pharrell concentrate on fashion. His i.am+ company raised $117 million in venture funding, outpacing many comparable celebrity tech ventures.