50 Cent: The Money and The Power › Cast › 50 Cent

Born Curtis Jackson III in Queens, N.Y., rapper 50 Cent had a rough start in life. His mother was murdered when he was eight, and he was dealing drugs by the time he was 12. But after a series of arrests, he decided to focus his energy on becoming a famous rapper.



Before 50 Cent's 2000 debut album, Power of the Dollar, was supposed to come out, he was shot nine times. Somehow he survived, but his career had seemingly hit a dead end ... until rapper Eminem took an interest in him.



In 2003, 50 Cent skyrocketed to fame with his multi-platinum-selling album Get Rich or Die Tryin', which was produced by Eminem and released on Shady Records. It debuted at #1 on The Billboard 200 chart, selling almost 900,000 copies in its first week.



50 Cent's success allowed him to found G-Unit Records, release the moneymaking semi-autobiographical film Get Rich or Die Tryin' and successfully team up with such companies as Reebok, VitaminWater and Right Guard. He has also dropped the highly successful albums The Massacre and Curtis.



Now, as his phenomenal rise from the streets continues, 50 Cent's looking to spread the love by handing over $$100,000 of his hard-earned cash to someone he thinks will be the next great business mogul.



Yup, he's rounding up 14 of the country's most ambitious young entrepreneurs to compete for his respect and a fat wad of cash. The money could help pave the way for the winner to become the next big thing, and the gesture lets 50 Cent give someone the helping hand he never had. Let the quest for The Money and the Power begin!