House of Dereon, named after Knowles’ grandmother. The line consists of urban and couture styles that retail for between $100 and $300. Earlier this year, Knowles and her mother signed a licensing agreement with G-III Apparel Group Ltd. to distribute The House of Dereon fashions. AGE: 24
CURTIS “50 CENT” JACKSON, Rapper, Entrepreneur, G-UNIT
Why he’s hot: A seven-figure recording contract with Eminem in 2002 propelled 50 Cent’s career. Today, he is an established hip-hop superstar building an empire worth millions. In 2003, he joined Marc Ecko and launched the G-Unit Clothing Co. It raked in $110 million in retail sales in its inaugural year. He also boasts his own line of Reebok sneakers, the G-Unit Collection. The following year he teamed up with Glacéau, the maker of Vitamin Water, to launch a grape-flavored drink, Formula 50. He is starring in Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and recently published his autobiography, From Pieces to Weight. AGE: 30
DR. DAVID C.JOHNSON Orthopedic Surgeon, MOUNT VERNON ORTHOPEDICS AND SPORTS MEDICINE
Why he’s hot: With arthroscopic surgery for the elbow, knee, and shoulder as his specialty, David C. Johnson has used his services to maintain the A-game of a number of professional athletes. The Long Island, New York, native practices his craft at Mount Vernon Orthopedics and Sports Medicine in Alexandria, Virginia, one of the top 10 hospitals in the nation for orthopedic care. His skills have earned him fellowships at the famed Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colorado, where many professional athletes undergo treatment. He’s creating a state-of-the-art facility to benefit athletes of every playing level. AGE: 36
PAUL JUDGE, PH.D., Chief Technology Officer CIPHERTRUST
Why he’s hot: You’ve got mail! But is it secure? Leave it up to Paul Judge to find the answer. Under his direction, CipherTrust, a $37 million e-mail security company, is at the forefront of research and development. “E-mail has become the most critical form of communication,” says Judge. “So, protecting those systems is a top priority.” Judge joined CipherTrust in 2000, its inaugural year, bringing with him experience from IBM and NASA. Named to MIT’s list of top 100 innovators in the world, he holds 11 patents on technologies in computer security. He has a Ph.D. and M.S. in network security from Georgia Tech and a B.S. from Morehouse College. AGE: 27
CHARLES KING Vice President, Agent WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY L.L.C.
Why he’s hot: One of the few senior executives of color at a top talent agency, Charles King cuts deals for rising stars and megastars alike. As a vice president in the motion picture department, King was instrumental in bringing actor, playwright, and producer Tyler Perry from the stage to the big screen by packaging the feature film Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The film grossed more than $50 million at the box office and sold more than 4 million DVDs. King’s client roster includes a number of young filmmakers, musicians, and actors, including Tim Story (Barbershop, Fantastic Four); director Craig Brewer, whose feature film debut, Hustle and Flow, won the