Beats Electronics looks set to become part of Apple’s vast electronics empire. A flurry of overnight reports were today corroborated by Dr. Dre in an impromptu video where he describes himself as “the first billionaire in hip hop.” While the music mogul that co-founded Beats back in 2008 doesn’t openly confirm his company has been acquired, his words suggest the rumored $3.2 billion deal is now all but completed.
The epic visual history of Beats by Dre
How do you build a $3.2 billion company?
Throughout its short history, the Beats brand has always been polarizing: its headphones are as often derided for their exaggerated bass and gaudy looks as they are appreciated by celebrity endorsers. LeBron James, Cesc Fàbregas, and Colin Kaepernick are just some of the myriad sports stars to have associated their names with Beats products, and artists like Pharrell, Lady Gaga, and Nicki Minaj have also added to its notoriety. Here’s our look at some of the most significant moments in the company’s history so far.
1/13July 2008 - born of infamy The Beats by Dr. Dre headphones got everything started. Manufactured by Monster Cable, a company that already had a reputation for “premium” products that didn’t match their own hype, this set of cans didn’t inspire the warmest of critical receptions. It was priced at a shade under $350 and relied on a bombastic launch campaign and Dr. Dre’s notoriety to sell. What matters is that it did, helped in no small part by Apple itself, which sold the Beats headphones in its online and retail stores.
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