William Leonard Roberts II was born on January 28, 1976, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He grew up in Carol City, Florida (now part of Miami Gardens), an impoverished, working-class suburb of northern Miami.
Roberts graduated from Miami Carol City Senior High School. He then briefly attended Albany State University in Georgia on an American football scholarship.
During his childhood and adolescence, Roberts was exposed to Miami’s hip-hop culture. He was influenced by prominent rap artists of the era, including Tupac Shakur, the Notorious B.I.G., Ice Cube, and Miami bass legend Luther Campbell (Uncle Luke). These musical influences were part of his early environment in Carol City.
| Fact Category | Details |
| Full Name | William Leonard Roberts II |
| Stage Name | Rick Ross |
| Date of Birth | January 28, 1976 |
| Age (2026) | 50 years old |
| Birthplace | Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA |
| Profession | Rapper, songwriter, record executive, entrepreneur |
| Net Worth (2026) | Not publicly disclosed; income from music, MMG, and business ventures |
| Record Label | Founder & CEO of Maybach Music Group (MMG) |
| Breakthrough Song | “Hustlin’” (2006) |
| Business Ventures | Wingstop franchises, Checkers & Rally’s, and real estate investments |
Rick Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, is an American rapper and entrepreneur who rose to prominence with his 2006 hit “Hustlin’” and has since built a successful career as a chart-topping artist and founder of Maybach M Rick Ross (William Leonard Roberts II) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record executive known for his deep, commanding voice and vivid, luxury-themed lyricism.
He first broke out in 2006 with the smash single “Hustlin’,” which helped propel his major-label debut album Port of Miamito the top of the charts. In the years since, Ross has become a multi-platinum artist and influential music executive.
He founded the Maybach Music Grouplabel and serves as its CEO. Over his career, Ross has earned nine Grammy Award nominations and expanded into business ventures beyond music.
Ross’s recording career began in the mid-2000s. After signing with Slip-N-Slide/Def Jam, his debut album Port of Miami(2006) debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200, selling about 187,000 copies in its first week.
The lead single “Hustlin’” became a signature hit, and together these successes established Ross as a rising star in hip-hop. He followed up with his second album, Trilla(2008), which also entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, moving roughly 198,000 copies in its first week.
These back-to-back chart-topping releases confirmed Ross’s commercial breakthrough and set the stage for his continued prominence.
Ross has released over a dozen studio albums, many of which have debuted at or near the top of the charts. For example, his third album Deeper Than Rap(2009) continued the No. 1 streak, and later projects maintained his chart dominance. In 2014 his MastermindLP opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling about 184,700 copies in its first week.
Prior albums likewise debuted at No. 1; for instance, Port of Miamiand Trillaboth opened atop the chart. Throughout his career, Ross has generated numerous hit singles and high-profile collaborations.
Singles like “Aston Martin Music” (featuring Drake) and “B.M.F.” (featuring Styles P) achieved platinum status, and Ross’s albums have cumulatively sold millions of copies. Collectively, his music outputs have earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications, reflecting strong and sustained commercial success.
A key aspect of Ross’s career is his work as a label executive. In 2009 he launched Maybach Music Group(MMG) as an imprint under Def Jam Recordings. The label’s first releases included Ross’s own Deeper Than Rap(2009) and the debut album by his rap group Triple C’s.
Under Ross’s leadership, MMG focused on heavyweight hip-hop and R&B acts. In 2011 MMG moved to a distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records. Around that time Ross signed Washington DC rapper Wale and Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill to the roster, ushering in a new wave of releases from those artists.
Ross has remained MMG’s CEO, overseeing all projects and partnerships. Over the years he has guided MMG through various major-label partnerships (Def Jam, Warner, Atlantic) and more recently a strategic alliance with the Gamma platform.
The label’s output under Ross has included successful albums not only by Ross himself but by signees; for example, Wale’s The Gifted(2013) and Meek Mill’s Championships(2018) also reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, demonstrating MMG’s industry impact.
Ross’s career is marked by numerous industry accolades and milestones. He is a nine-time Grammy Award nominee, underscoring his recognition within the music business. As a recording artist he has achieved multi-platinum status; several of his albums and singles have been certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA.
For instance, Masterminddebuted at No. 1 with about 185,000 first-week sales, and earlier albums like Port of Miamiand Trillasimilarly opened at No. 1. Ross has also succeeded outside of music charts: he is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, having published books that complemented his entrepreneurial brand. These accomplishments reflect both his artistic reach and his business leadership.
Rick Ross has built a diversified business portfolio beyond music, including ownership of multiple Wingstop franchise locations and investments in real estate, reflecting his long-term focus on entrepreneurship and brand deve Beyond music, Ross has built a broad entrepreneurial portfolio. He is especially known as a franchise owner in the restaurant industry. Industry profiles note that Ross’s multi-brand portfolio includes dozens of Wingstopchicken wing outlets and multiple Checkers & Rally’sfast-food burger restaurants.
As of 2024 he owned on the order of 30 Wingstop locations, making him one of the chain’s largest franchisees. Ross frequently cites these investments as part of his wealth-building strategy.
His association with the brands is notable; for example, he mentions them in interviews and even in his music, and his franchise holdings have become a model of hip-hop entrepreneurship.
In addition to restaurants, Ross has invested in real estate and other businesses, leveraging his public persona (“the Boss”) to secure long-term commercial opportunities.
In the 2020s Ross has remained active musically and in business. In December 2021 he released the solo album Richer Than I Ever Been, continuing his streak of charting projects.
More recently, in November 2023 Ross and Meek Mill jointly unveiled the album Too Good To Be True– a 17-track collaboration featuring guest artists like Fabolous, French Montana, and Shaquille O’Neal. Singles from the album, such as “Shaq & Kobe” (featuring DJ Khaled) and “Lyrical Eazy,” have received attention from fans and media.
Alongside his creative work, Ross has further developed his label. In late 2023 he announced that Maybach Music Group would partner with Larry Jackson’s Gamma platform, a move aimed at expanding MMG’s music distribution and multimedia projects. As of 2026, Ross continues to spearhead MMG as founder/CEO and to pursue new music projects, while sustaining his entrepreneurial ventures in franchises and beyond.
As of 2026, his net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. Rick Ross’s income is derived from his music career, including recorded music sales, streaming, concert touring, and songwriting and publishing royalties, as well as from his role as the founder of the Maybach Music Group label.
He also generates revenue through business ventures such as owning Wingstop franchises and branded cannabis products like Collins Ave, along with substantial real estate investments. Specific earnings figures beyond these documented sources have not been publicly disclosed.
Rick Ross is an American rapper, songwriter, and record executive. He is best known for his deep voice, luxury-themed lyrics, and founding the Maybach Music Group label.
His real name is William Leonard Roberts II. He was born on January 28, 1976, in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Rick Ross gained major recognition with his 2006 single “Hustlin’.” The song helped his debut album Port of Miamireach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
He is the founder and CEO of Maybach Music Group (MMG). The label has signed notable artists such as Meek Mill and Wale.
Rick Ross has not won a Grammy Award as of now. However, he has received multiple Grammy nominations throughout his career.
Rick Ross owns several Wingstop franchise locations and has invested in real estate and other ventures. These businesses contribute significantly to his income outside of music.