Rapper Rick Ross runs multiple Wingstop franchises

Rapper and businessman Rick Ross is one of the many celebrities who own restaurant chains as part of their diversified income sources. He is the owner of several Wingstop locations, franchised mostly in the South. He is also the CEO of Maybach Music.

Ross’s decision to become a Wingstop franchisee is due to his interest in business, and his love for Wingstop’s lemon pepper wings. He was first reported to own nine Wingstop locations by Forbes in 2014, and by 2015, Tech Insider reported that the number had grown to 25.

“I just wanted it to be something,” Ross told Forbes. “The business just grew. The community really came out, supported it, and showed us a lot of love. As you can see the energy in here is always fun. It’s always youthful. Not only that, you know they got my favorite lemon pepper wings in the world, so it’s just a natural attraction.”

The rapper businessman opened his first Wingstop near Memphis, Tennessee. Each Wingstop franchise generates about $200,000 in annual profit. In the first year of business, Ross’s Wingstop franchises raked in nearly $7 million which earned him a spot on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash Kings list for the sixth time in a row.

Wingstop is a fast-food chain that is located across the entire United States. To become a Wingstop franchisee, at least $600,000 in liquid assets is required. The company would also need to run a financial background check on the applicant before proceeding any further.

Biography/Early Years

Rick Ross (born as William Leonard Roberts II) is an American songwriter, rapper record executive, and businessman. He was born on January 28, 1976, in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and raised in Carol City, Florida.

After Ross graduated from historically black college Albany State University, he worked as a correctional officer for 18 months and resigned in June 1997.

In the early 2000s, Ross kicked off his music career at the Suave House Records, where he released his first debut single, “Hustlin’” in 2006. In no time, he became sort after in a bidding war between Diddy’s Bad Boy Entertainment and Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. He eventually opted for a multimillion-dollar deal with Jay-Z’s Def Jam Recordings. Later that year, Ross released his debut album “Port of Miami”, topping the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart. The album made sales of 187,000 units in the first week which launched Ross further into the industry.

The rapper released his second studio album “Trilla” in 2008, and by 2009 he founded the record label Maybach Music Group. The record label produced his next set of studio albums. Deeper Than Rap (2009), Teflon Don (2010), God Forgives, I don’t (2012), Mastermind (2015), Rather You Than Me (2017), and Port of Miami 2 (2019).

Business Ventures

In 2009, Ross founded the Maybach Group music label, which has grown from a moderate music studio to an empire. He also owns multiple Wingstop franchises, alongside endorsement deals from major brands.

Personal Life

Rick Ross has four children: Toie Roberts, Williams Roberts III, Berkeley Hermes Roberts, and Billion Leonard Roberts.