Our Haute 100 list details the accomplishments of the most influential people in each of our markets—Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. These people continue to make moves, so rather than waiting for the next Haute 100 issue to come out, we thought we’d provide you with regular updates on those Haute 100 members who are making headlines. On our Haute 100 Miami list is Pharrell Williams, the musician best known for his songs that combine a flare of hip-hop, pop, and funk but who also has a keen eye for style and design.
Pharrell Williams
Category: Entertainers
Company: The Neptunes
Industry: Music
What Made Him Haute: He hit the music scene in the 1990s and has been a dominating force ever since. While in his teens, he met Chad Hugo at a summer camp for the gifted, and the duo eventually formed The Neptunes, a music producing powerhouse that has been credited with defining the pop music genre through work with Madonna, Jay-Z, Usher, Britney Spears, Nelly, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, and more, earning them a couple of Grammys along the way. Beyond an ear for hot tracks, he also has an eye for fashion and design. He is behind two clothing lines (Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream), released a jewelry line with Louis Vuitton, and created a collection of furniture with Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin. Miami became his adopted home when he purchased a penthouse in Brickell’s Bristol Tower from developer Ugo Colombo.
What Makes Him Haute Now: The music scene isn’t Pharrell Williams’ only playground. The man, who was once voted “Best Dressed Man in the World” by Esquire magazine, has kept busy with other projects such as a furniture collaboration with Domeau & Pérès. The French manufacturer recently produced one of the musician’s works, which depicts a plastic seat with human legs. Using his musical genius in films has also been a recent endeavor. For the animated film, Despicable Me, a score recorded by Williams was promoted in the trailer for the $60 million box office opener. His recent collaborations with other musicians include production on a song called “Fresh Out the Oven” for Jennifer Lopez’s seventh album, Love?, and a guest appearance on French rapper Uffie’s first album.
