--- title: How Chance the Rapper, a 24-Year-Old With No Record Label, Became the Youngest Person on Fortune's 40 Under 40 list description: The Chicago artist has won the respect of the music industry. But outside the hip hop scene, he's also a champion for the underprivileged. authors: - name: Kristen Bahler role: Managing Editor url: https://money.com/author/kristen-bahler/ bio: Kristen Bahler has spent more than a decade turning culture, work and consumer spending trends into conversation-driving stories. Today, she leads Money's sponsored content channel and reader-favorite franchises like Best Places to Live and Best Places to Travel. education: Northeastern University, MA Journalism at_money_since: 2016 articles: 52 covers: - Lifestyle - Banking - Business - Career Advice - Credit - Credit Cards - Economy and Politics - Education - Health and Wellness - Housing - Identity Theft - Insurance - Investing - Loans - Mortgages - Personal Finance - Pets - Professional Services - Retirement - Shopping - Taxes - Technology social: - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-bahler/ published: '2017-08-17T11:30:51.000Z' modified: '2024-04-17T06:35:16.000Z' section: Lifestyle tags: - Careers - chance the rapper - Charity - chicago public schools - grammy awards - Hip-Hop - Music - ticket sales word_count: 256 canonical: https://money.com/chance-the-rapper-youngest-40-under-40/ type: Article source: structured-blocks --- > **Disclosure:** We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. [Learn more](https://money.com/page/disclaimer/). ![2017 Lollapalooza - Day 3](https://img.money.com/2017/08/170816_chance-the-rapper.jpg) *Chance the Rapper performs during Lollapalooza 2017 at Grant Park on August 5, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois.* With 16 years to spare—and without a record label—Chance the Rapper is the youngest person on Fortune's new [40 Under 40](http://fortune.com/40-under-40/) list, which ranks the most influential people in business. The 24-year-old's rise to influence is notable because he hasn't taken a typical path to success in music. He has famously refused to sign to a record label, yet his net worth is a reported [$9 million](http://www.bankrate.com/lifestyle/celebrity-money/chance-the-rapper-net-worth/) thanks to merchandise and ticket sales. In 2016, his album *Coloring Book* became the first streaming record to make the Billboard 200. That same year President Obama invited him to the White House—[three times](http://pitchfork.com/news/70137-watch-chance-the-rapper-perform-at-the-white-house-tree-lighting-ceremony/). He's also becoming a leader in philanthropy. In March, Chance (born Chancellor Bennett) [donated $1 million](https://time.com/4692575/chance-the-rapper-chicago-school-donation/) to Chicago's public school system after sweeping budget cuts and school closings there. And a Chicago-based nonprofit he founded called [SocialWorks](http://www.socialworkschi.org/) has launched a charity arts fund for at-risk students. Chance has pledged to match every $100,000 raised with another $10,000. Chance funded both initiatives with proceeds from his spring tour ticket sales, [the artist said](http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/chance-the-rapper-donating-1-million-to-chicago-public-schools-w470628) in a press conference. (A request for an interview was not answered.) He also turned his 24th birthday party in April into a massive fundraiser, drumming up more than $100,000 for SocialWorks. Earlier this month, he donated [30,000 backpacks](http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-chance-the-rapper-becomes-chance-the-grand-marshal-at-bud-billiken-parade-20170812-story.html) filled with pencils, notebooks and other supplies to Chicago students. “I never wanted to sell my music,” Chance told *Vanity Fair* in February. "I thought putting a price on it put a limit on it." 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