[5] In 1995, Greene worked as a writer at Fabrica, an art and media school, and met a book packager named Joost Elffers.

[5][10] Rapper 50 Cent stated that he related to the book "immediately", and approached Greene with the prospect of a potential collaboration, which would later become The 50th Law, another New York Times bestseller.

[7] The 48 Laws of Power has also been mentioned in songs by UGK, Jay-Z (Primetime), Kanye West, Central Cee, MF DOOM, and Drake.

[18] The 48 Laws of Power has been referenced or bought by 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Michael Jackson (who wrote in the margins[19]), Courtney Love (who was photographed carrying it on the way to court when facing a drug charge[20]) and Will Smith.

[25] Jerry Adler, writing in Newsweek, lists ways the laws contradict one another and states, "Intending the opposite, Greene has actually produced one of the best arguments since the New Testament for humility and obscurity.