When James asked her name, the girl pouted and glared at her dad.
“I don’t really like my name. It sounds like a boy’s.”
“Haha. It’s a really cool name for a capable person.”
“But people mistake me for a boy!”
Scott, the financial expert, had a wife who was a marketing manager at a big ad agency; when they had their first daughter, hoping she’d become a businesswoman, they chose the neutral-sounding Taylor.
Worried she’d be underestimated as a woman in business, they deliberately picked a gender-neutral name.
“Doesn’t your daughter suit being a singer more than a businesswoman?”
“Right? I want to be a singer too. James oppa, do you sing well?”
“On the contrary, I want to be a businessman. Jenny’s the one who sings well, not me.”
When James said he wanted to be a businessman, Scott looked at him enviously.
Chatting with the father and daughter, a certain singer suddenly came to mind.
Taylor? No way it’s Taylor Swift, right?
Just in case, he looked closely; in her still-young face, he could see traces of the future pop star Taylor Swift.
Feeling his intense stare, Taylor blushed and said,
“Is there something on my face?”
“No. I was imagining you’d be pretty when you grow up. Sorry.”
As an odd vibe flowed between James and Taylor, Scott cleared his throat and said it was time to go home.
“Ahem. Nice meeting you today. I’d like to meet often and talk—would that be okay?”
“I’ll be in New York for a while because of my sister, so contact me when you have time.”
“Great. Meeting a friend with outstanding financial knowledge despite being young—I’m glad. Let’s have a meal soon.”
Unintentionally scoring points with Taylor Swift’s dad, but with nothing particular to do in New York, James thought it worked out well.
“I heard Taylor Swift did music in Nashville, but she’s from Pennsylvania. Didn’t expect her taking vocal lessons in New York.”
Loving school musical stages from a young age, Taylor begged her parents to come to New York for vocal lessons.
Convinced by her serious ambition for a singing career, her parents gave up plans to raise her as a businesswoman and actively supported her dream.
Taylor starts learning guitar at 12, enchanted by country music, choosing the genre and writing her own songs.
Her biggest strength as a singer is being a singer-songwriter: she writes lyrics, composes, and produces all her songs solo or collaboratively.
She distributes demo CDs with self-written songs to labels in country music’s mecca, Nashville; at 14, she performs originals at an RGA Records showcase and signs with them.
But the label makes her sing only covers due to her youth, delaying debut album production endlessly, leading to contract termination.
Around then, Taylor’s father transfers his job to Merrill Lynch’s Nashville branch, starting full support for his daughter.
“A blonde young girl shows up with self-made country songs, singing and earning huge interest and love from country fans. Country has a solid consumer base—she targeted it well from the start.”
Country songs are similar yet different from Korean trot.
Country fanbases vary more by region than age; in rural areas, not big cities, driving endless American roads listening to country in the car is everyday life.
“Honestly, Taylor’s music wasn’t my taste, but album sales records don’t lie.”
Taylor holds over 220 million albums sold worldwide, most annual No. 1s on Billboard Album Chart history.
Among female artists, her 13 regular albums hold most Billboard 200 No. 1s; 263 songs on Hot 100, most for a female artist.
Overall artists, second after Drake.
“Taylor Swift… Should I get close to her?”
For now, Britney gets famous first, but James’s ideal type was closer to tall, slender Taylor.
Plus, she catches up to and far surpasses Britney, who accumulates considerable wealth early.
James knew Taylor well not for her music, but her asset status.
“Known as a real estate tycoon in high-property-tax America means massive cash holdings.”
Taylor is famous as a big player in real estate among U.S. celebrities, owning 7+ properties worth nearly $200 million in Manhattan, Nashville, LA, Rhode Island.
First listed in Forbes annual income rankings in 2010 as No. 5 under-30 celebrities.
Next year No. 3, 2012 No. 2—only $1 million behind No. 1 Britney Shakespeare.
Then ranks 8th in overall singer income (not just female); in 2016 earns $170 million that year alone, claiming No. 1 female and overall singer income at once.
“Started in singer income rankings, but in 2018 enters global female celeb wealth rankings.”
In 2018 Forbes World’s Top-Earning Female Celebrities 100, she ranks 60th—the only in her 20s.
Meaning the world’s richest 20s female artist.
Young and active, her path doesn’t stop; next year jumps to 30th.
Assets snowball; in 2022 surpasses Madonna for No. 2 female singer wealth.
Richest female singer is Rihanna, growing assets through diverse businesses; Taylor earns purely from her main job.
“From 2023 tours, she really rakes in money.”
Already hugely wealthy Taylor records about $300 million from 23 North American tours, over 1 trillion KRW from 53 U.S. shows alone.
The 117-show tour first ever over $1 billion revenue, all-time global tour revenue No. 1.
“Last I remember, Taylor’s wealth was Forbes’ end-2024 announcement of $1.6 billion (about 2.1526 trillion KRW).”
Ultimately becoming richest female musician, Taylor grows beyond mid/large companies into a global enterprise.
“Purely through her own talent.”
Family support helps, but becoming a global superstar absolutely requires her skill and charisma.
Captivating the world, even young now, Taylor exuded considerable charm.
“James! Good morning!”
“Taylor’s energetic today too.”
Next morning, taking his sister to vocal school, he met Taylor Swift and her mom.
“You’re James. My husband praised you so much—I was curious, and you’re handsome?”
“Mom, I told you James is handsome.”
“I couldn’t imagine an Asian being handsome, but he has a mysterious prince vibe?”
“Thank you for the compliment. Taylor’s mother is beautiful too.”
Money-weak James recalled future-successful Taylor and greeted politely.
“You must be popular. Of course you have a girlfriend?”
“I’m so busy, regrettably no time for a girlfriend.”
When Taylor’s mom asked about a girlfriend and he said no, Taylor Swift’s lips curved up slightly.
“Yes. Students should focus on studies—no distractions. Study hard until college.”
Still young and heavily influenced by parents, hearing constant praise of James from mom and dad, Taylor got stars in her eyes.
“Mom, how about an Asian son-in-law?”
Pfft!
Taylor’s sudden attack made James choke.
“Cough! I’ll think about it when Taylor grows up. Seems dangerous now.”
“Hoho. Our kid has good taste in men. Wait three years, James.”
Fast-developing and taller than peers, but to James—starting high school this fall—she, still elementary, didn’t look like a girl at all.
Plus, no reason to meet after vocal school ends, so he thought of it as a midsummer night’s dream.
Come to think of it, Taylor Swift falls in love fast.
Active in singing from young, moving a lot, Taylor spreads rumors with numerous guys everywhere.
She dates shortly—one to three months—building a boyfriend list; old-fashioned Eastern James wanted a devoted girlfriend who only looks at him.
Thinking it kid’s play, James patted Taylor’s head and said see you in three years.
“James oppa!”
But more persistent than expected, Taylor came to James every day, talked, learned Korean from his sister to call him oppa, and followed him.
“Oppa’s popular.”
“What’s the point of being popular with an elementary kid? You’re popular too, right?”
“I’m only interested if like Leo oppa.”
Bright and lively Jenny was popular with boys too, but had high standards—no one she liked.
“Classes end today, evening Mom reserved expensive restaurant—so no separate dinner plans with friends.”
“Going for steak?”
Wealthy James, in New York anyway, sought most expensive, famous restaurants.
Tonight, hard-to-reserve one, so he told sister in advance.
“James Yoo, party of three.”
“Confirmed. This way, please.”
Tonight’s restaurant was a special place impossible in the future.
Named Windows on the World, it was on the 107th floor of New York’s World Trade Center Tower 1.
After a bomb terror in underground parking years ago closing it over three years, it reopened last year and continued business.
After 9/11 terror, it disappears—so wanted to visit once, and here I am.
Pre-ordered long-cook-time menus with deposit, got good-view seats, enjoyed course meals in luxurious atmosphere overlooking New York.
“Thanks to my son, coming to such a nice restaurant.”
“Oppa paying? Gotta eat a lot.”
Mom happy but regretted Dad not here.
Feeling Dad’s absence continuing meal at World Trade Center, waiter brought Romanée-Conti 1978 vintage.
“We didn’t order wine?”
“Sent by the gentleman at that table.”
Mom dressed up a bit for fancy restaurant today, but curious who the crazy guy hitting on a woman dining with kids was.