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. Check back daily for more info on the most powerful people in your city. Today, Miami Haute 100 member Pharell Williams’ colorful antics earned him an update.
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: One haute ride now bears his unmatched stamp of panache. Williams, a man known for his penchant for bright hues, teamed up with local Miami artists Friends With You to put a colorful spin on a classic Rolls-Royce. Reports circling around the Internet indicate that the custom paint job is for N.E.R.D.’s forthcoming “Hot & Fun” video, but whatever the purpose, the update gives the sometimes stodgy British auto a decisively upbeat and fun spin, the kind of which could only be produced in Miami.
