to the 2004’s multiplatinum Confessions.
Marcus Samuelsson, Chef, Co-Owner / Aquavit / 37. Why he’s hot: The Ethiopian-born chef and co-owner of Aquavit, a Scandinavian restaurant in New York, continues to be the main dish within the food industry. The ubiquitous restaurateur co-founded Townhouse Restaurant Group, a restaurant management and consultancy firm, and serves as host of the Inner Chef TV show on the Discovery Home Channel and is the author of several acclaimed cookbooks, including The Soul of a New Cuisine, which won a 2007 James Beard Award for Best International Cookbook. Samuelsson, who also owns American-Japanese fusion eatery Riingo, recently opened Merkato 55, an African brasserie in New York’s meatpacking district. His culinary empire will continue to expand with a new eatery opening in Chicago’s Affinia Hotel and an Aquavit opening in Stockholm, Sweden in early 2008.
Will Smith, Actor, Film Producer / 39. Why he’s hot: Hollywood heavyweight Will Smith and business partner James Lassiter have developed Overbrook Entertainment, their entertainment and artist management company, into a force to be reckoned with. The firm has produced an impressive roster of box-office hits such as Hitch; I, Robot; and The Pursuit of Happyness, which grossed a whopping $305 million worldwide and delivered Smith an Academy Award nomination. Overbrook also manages the careers of up-and-comers such as Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson and actress Paula Patton. As for Smith, any project to which he’s attached turns to box-office gold. Look for his latest film, I am Legend, to be another blockbuster hit.
Window Snyder, “Chief Security Something or Other” / Mozilla / 32. Why she’s hot: In the world of online security, Mozilla’s Snyder is known simply as “rock star.” The 32-year-old security guru, who made her mark as a senior security strategist at Microsoft (on Windows XP Service Pack 2), was principal, founder, and chief technology officer of New York-based security services consulting firm Matasano. She now heads up security strategy for Mozilla, creator of the popular Firefox Internet browser, which claims about 18% of the online browser market share worldwide and as much as 28% to 45% in Europe. She is also co-author of Threat Modeling, the industry manual on application security, and her blogs are must-reads for those who want to keep up with online security issues. –Sonya A. Donaldson
LaDainian Tomlinson, Professional Athlete / 28. Why he’s hot: He scores touchdowns and lucrative endorsements. The All-Pro running back set records including scoring a league-leading 186 points in 2006 and status as all-time leading rusher for the San Diego Chargers during his seven years with the franchise. In 2007, his prowess on the field earned him honors as the NFL’s Man of the Year and the Most Valuable Player. Tomlinson also won ESPY Awards for Male Athlete of the Year, Best Record-Breaking Performance, and Best NFL Player. Tomlinson is in demand off the field as well: he has endorsement deals with Nike, Campbell Soup, AT&T, and ESPN Radio, and earns $300,000 for a one-year contract–three times the rate of a year ago. As his star