Rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross has expressed interest in owning an NBA franchise, the Miami Heat. Speaking on “The OGs Podcast,” hosted by two former Heat players, Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller, the rapper said he would love to own the team largely because he grew up in Miami.
“Just talking about franchises, so you read my mind. Big homie what’s going on with the Heat? I know you got the money now,” Haslem said, according to Sports Illustrated. “When you gonna make that play?”
“Oh, you already know I’m gonna keep it real now. I need y’all to walk me in there. Come on, we gotta get us a piece of that Miami Heat. One time for La Spoelstra Nostra, you already know,” Ross began to discuss his interest. “In my mind I would love to see that, I would love to see that,” Haslem further stated.
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Since Ross grew up in Miami, his fondness for the club is not in doubt. “Hey, big homie, that’s a dream; that’s a dream for Rozay, you know, just to see, you know, the city because it wouldn’t just be for me,” Ross shared. “It’ll be for the city.”
When co-host Miller chipped, stating “This is Miami right here,” Ross concluded, “You know somebody from the city; a part of the city come up and earn that, you know what I mean.”
The rapper was featured on Forbes list of Hip-Hop Cash Kings in 2017 with $11.5 million. Although his current net worth is not known, many believe he can own a piece of the Miami Heat.
And if there is any doubt about his capacity, his business ventures attest to his investment prowess. Ross owns several businesses including;
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.
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.
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.
