Age, Biography and Wiki

Chris Lighty (Darrel Steven Lighty) was born on 8 May, 1968 in New York City, U.S., is an American music industry executive (1968–2012). Discover Chris Lighty's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is he in this year and how he spends money? Also learn how he earned most of networth at the age of 44 years old?

Popular As Darrel Steven Lighty
Occupation Record executive
Age 44 years old
Zodiac Sign Taurus
Born 8 May 1968
Birthday 8 May
Birthplace New York City, U.S.
Date of death 30 August, 2012
Died Place New York City, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 May. He is a member of famous executive with the age 44 years old group.

Chris Lighty Height, Weight & Measurements

At 44 years old, Chris Lighty height not available right now. We will update Chris Lighty's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Who Is Chris Lighty's Wife?

His wife is Veronica Lighty (m. 2003–2012)

Family
Parents Not Available
Wife Veronica Lighty (m. 2003–2012)
Sibling Not Available
Children Tiffany Lighty, Deja Lighty

Chris Lighty Net Worth

His net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Chris Lighty worth at the age of 44 years old? Chris Lighty’s income source is mostly from being a successful executive. He is from United States. We have estimated Chris Lighty's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income executive

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Wikipedia Chris Lighty Wikipedia
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Timeline

1968

Darrel Steven "Chris" Lighty (May 8, 1968 – August 30, 2012) was an American music industry executive.

He co-founded Violator, a record label, management and marketing company, which represented hip hop and R&B artists such as Busta Rhymes, A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mobb Deep, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, Noreaga, Uncle Murda, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey and Sean "Diddy" Combs.

The New York Times called him "one of the most powerful figures in the hip-hop business."

Lighty was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and raised in the Bronx River Housing Projects.

His mother was single.

He had five siblings, including a brother, Dave.

He attended Samuel Gompers High School, and did not attend college, and he stated that he "got [his] MBA in hell," in reference to growing up on the streets of a dangerous neighborhood.

Lighty began working in the music industry by carrying vinyl record crates for DJ Red Alert.

Later, Russell Simmons' company, Rush Artist Management, hired him.

1995

Together they had two children, daughter Deja (born 1995) as well as a son (born 2007).

He also had four other children from previous relationships including daughter Tiffany (born 1995).

1996

After leaving Rush, Lighty co-founded Violator Management with Mona Scott-Young in 1996; the company is named after the gang he belonged to in the Bronx.

1997

Violator was responsible for getting L.L. Cool J his first Gap commercial in 1997.

Lighty developed endorsements for Sprite with A Tribe Called Quest, AT&T with Diggy Simmons, and for Mountain Dew with Busta Rhymes.

2002

In 2002, Lighty and a DJ from Chicago, DJ Scrap Dirty, created The Violator Allstar DJs.

"We wanted to build a situation for the DJs who might need more muscle," Lighty remarked.

2003

Lighty married his wife Veronica in 2003.

2004

He appeared in the September 2004 Electronic Arts video game Def Jam: Fight for NY as himself under the moniker "Baby Chris".

Lighty worked for Def Jam, Jive and Loud Records.

He was chief executive of the Brand Asset Group.

In 2004, Lighty brokered the largest brand endorsement deal in hip hop to date.

He was the architect of what turned out to be one of the most lucrative deals in hip hop history: rapper 50 Cent's Vitamin Water pact.

When Coca-Cola paid $4.1 billion for Vitamin Water's company Glaceau three years later, 50 Cent received $100 million, and Lighty received an undisclosed sum.

2011

In 2011, Lighty launched the website pleaselistentomydemo.com, which allowed new artists to submit their music online and have top music executives listen to it for a US$10 fee.

(The site is no longer active.)

In 2011, Violator merged with another company, Primary Wave to form Primary Violator.

In 2011, Veronica filed for divorce but at the time of Lighty's death, she claimed to have retracted her original request.

He had reportedly been under scrutiny for income tax issues for amounts up to US$5 million, but this was resolved with the sale of a Manhattan property of his; other sums were also owed.

2012

On August 30, 2012, Lighty was found dead on the patio of his South Riverdale, Bronx apartment from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The New York Daily News reported that "a gun shot was heard and Lighty was found lying face-up with a 9mm pistol next to his body".

Forbes magazine reported that he had been involved in an argument with his wife Veronica not too long before his body was discovered.

Lighty's brother and many other celebrity figures stated that they did not believe that the death was a suicide and that the family would be staging its own private independent investigation and would share any solid findings with the public.

Rapper 50 Cent, a client and close friend of Chris, also questioned the suicide claim; he hired a team to investigate the details of the incident, at the request of Lighty's mother.

Friend and rapper Papoose questions Lighty's death as suicide in the song "Obituary 2012".