<p>Most gang research explains why youth enter or exit gangs, but far less is known about what happens once they are inside. In particular, little is known about how members ascend to positions of status within gangs. We address this gap by examining whether and how members’ social ties, including their structural positions within the gang network, shape status attainment. Using detailed police data on 943 established street gang members tracked over nearly two decades, we test whether differences in members’ network positions explain differences in their individual performance as entrepreneurs, core members, and street combatants. We find that brokerage positioning–connecting otherwise unconnected gang affiliates–emerges as a common correlate of individual performance among gang members. However, the search for suitable partners is goal specific: affiliates seeking entrepreneurial status do not require the same kinds of social resources as those pursuing other forms of status within the gang. We conclude that affiliates must find suitable partners in crime, aligned with their talents and aspirations, to join the few elites of the street gang world.</p>