In 2006, the Hip-hop industry saw the birth of a versatile rapper called Rick Ross, who would go on to top the U.S. Billboard Top 200 albums chart. He is famous for his hit song “Hustlin'” which undoubtedly endeared him into the hearts of music lovers.
More than a decade after topping the U.S. Billboard Chart, Rick Ross went on to release more than nine studio albums like Deeper Than Rap (2009), Teflon Don (2010), God Forgives, I Don’t (2012), Mastermind, Hood Billionaire (both in 2014), Black Market (2015), Rather You Than Me (2017), and Port of Miami 2 (2019).
At the peak of his career, he made it to the Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings in 2017 with $11.5 million. Today, the rapper is more than a musician. He is also an entrepreneur, investor, and real estate guru.
Highlighting his hard work outside the music industry, here are 4 ways Rick Ross is expanding his net worth off the mic.
Maybach Music Group
In 2009, he took his position as a musician to a new height by founding the Maybach Music Group. The label is currently distributed by Warner Bros, which took over distribution following the expiration of a deal with Def Jam Recordings.
Mayback has discovered several artists, including Masspike Miles. The label also signed Gunplay, (born Richard Morales) from Miami, Ma Torch (born Kevin Belnavis) from the Bronx, and Young Breed, as well as reggae artist, Magazeen.
Wingstop
In addition to Maybach Music Group, “Rozay,” as he is called by his friends, is a franchise owner of Wingstop. As of 2019, he opened 28 Wingstop restaurants.
According to him, becoming a franchise owner is not only for economic gains but also to let people eat healthily. This lifestyle of the rapper was influenced by his own health crisis. In 2011, he had two seizures in one day, and he was found unresponsive in his Florida home in 2018.
“I was suffering from seizures a few years back, that’s why I really had to take control of my health, my weight, and my diet,” he said in an interview. “I still enjoy Wingstop so I had to be a leader and lead by example,” he admits. “I had a big seven-figure offer to help take a tobacco company to another level, but I don’t smoke cigarettes and I didn’t want to be a part of that so I had to turn that down.”
When there was a chicken wings shortage in America due to the pandemic, the rapper was quick to step in. He launched a virtual brand called Thighstop as a response to the pandemic-related shortage. Thighstop is a digital platform that sells chicken thighs and offers customers an option to order its newly launched menu via its website, where the thighs can be picked up or delivered through DoorDash.
Investor
Rick Ross is also a cannabis investor. During the pandemic, he partnered with Cookies, an international cannabis brand, to launch three specially curated pot strains.
According to Forbes, he also invested $1 million to sign on as an equity partner, advisor, and spokesperson for Florida-based startup Jetdoc, a telehealth company.
Real Estate
In March, Face2Face Africa reported that the Port of Miami rapper rented out his property to be used as the palace of Zamunda for the sequel of the popular comedy movie, Coming 2 America. The record executive shared that he made $2.7 million from renting out the mansion to movie producers.
Also, in a recent interview with Forbes, the Rich Forever rapper disclosed how he saves $1 million a year in maintenance costs for his 235-acre Georgia mansion. He reportedly bought the large Fayetteville property in 2014 for $5.8m from retired legendary boxer, Evander Holyfield. Besides its humongous compound, the mansion also has over 100 rooms as well as a 350,000-gallon swimming pool.
