In 2021, Memphis-based hip-hop artist and record label owner Yo Gotti invested in D.C United. He reportedly purchased a small stake in the club when it was valued at $730 million.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Gotti said he was motivated to invest in D.C United because of the respect he has for Jason Levien and Steve Kaplan, co-chairmen of D.C. United, and what he has seen them do in Memphis.
He stressed that he wanted to be in business with D.C United because he views it as a great organization and the city is also one of his favorite markets as an entertainer.
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“It’s always been one of my favorite cities to come to — the whole DMV area has always been one of my favorite places to come to,” he said. “Being from Memphis, even when I was building outside of my tri-state area, I want to say that Maryland, Baltimore, those were some of the biggest shows I’ve ever done.”
He continued, “So D.C., I’ve always felt a connection to the area. So when the opportunity came, between what I’ve felt about Jason, Steve and then the entire D.C. area, it was just a great opportunity.”
Today, his investment in D.C. United has been ideal for his business portfolio. As per Forbes, the team has a $775 million valuation, an 11% increase from 2023. What is more, a May estimate put the team’s revenue at $85 million with $10 million in operating income.
Gotti has been in the music industry for decades and got his breakthrough with his 2016 album, The Art of the Hustle, which reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
The rapper, who never finished college, has built a massive empire worth $100 million, according to Forbes. In an interview, he revealed that he was inspired to pursue higher education by the way billionaire celebrity rapper Jay-Z has conducted himself over the years.
In the in-depth interview about his $100 million empire with Forbes, the 42-year-old musician disclosed that, since December 2023, he has been enrolled in classes at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, focusing on corporate valuation as part of moves to grow his empire.
Along the way of his music career, he ventured into entrepreneurship. Yo Gotti’s empire now includes multiple businesses. One of his major businesses is the record label Collective Music Group (CMG). Under CMG, he oversees a roster of talented artists, including Moneybagg Yo, GloRilla, and BlocBoy JB.
The 42-year-old also owns the restaurant Prive, which is located in his hometown of Memphis, TN.
In addition to his businesses, he also has a collection of luxurious properties. The rapper owns a 10,000-square-foot Tuscan-style mansion just north of Malibu. Also, he has an impressive watch collection that he claims is worth about $10 million and includes timepieces by Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Vacheron Constantin.
What is more, he owns a fleet of luxury cars, including an armored Hummer truck, a 2023 lime green Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and a Tesla Model S, a gift from his girlfriend, Angela Simmons, daughter of rap legend Joseph “Rev. Run” Simmons of Run-DMC, according to Forbes.
Gotti credits his mother, Geraldine Mims, and aunts for his business success, saying that their finance education guided him in making smart decisions as he got older.
