However, Rick Ross grew up north of Miami, Florida, in an impoverished neighborhood. Unlike Lil Wayne or Enemin, Ross did not focus on music at an early age. He was much more like LeBron James and Michael Jordan. Ross was a gifted athlete. He was a talented football player and even attended Albany State University on a football scholarship, but dropped out a year later to focus on his rapping career. He developed the name ‘Rick Ross’ after hearing stories of a drug trafficker named “Freeway” Rick Ross. Even though he fantasized about rapping and drugs, Ross actually spent two years working as a corrections officer in Florida. Eventually, his love for hip-hop and the lavish lifestyle associated with it lured him in. However, Rick Ross’ net worth was still very low. Before developing the Rick Ross persona, he made his rapping debut on Erick Sermon’s 2000 compilation Def Squad Presents Erick Sermon. He was then signed to an independent rap label, where he dabbled in making a few tracks before signing with Miami-based record label Slip-N-Slide. His only solo release on the label was the 2003 promo-only single Just Chillin’. Ross’ first real single was Hustlin’, which you’ve probably heard several times. The song was a legit hit and went certified gold. Rick Ross’ net worth would soon increase dramatically. Everyone was impressed by the album and they wanted him. The success of the single sparked a bidding war between record labels. He eventually signed a multi-million dollar deal with Jay Z’s Def Jam Records. In 2006, he released his debut studio album Port of Miami, which debuted in the number one spot on the Billboard 200. In July 2016, it was certified platinum by the RIAA. His second album, Trilla, was released in 2008 and it once again topped the charts. It sold nearly 200,000 copies during its first week. There was no doubt about it, Rick Ross’ net worth increased tenfold with each successive album. In 2009, after the success of his third studio album, Ross launched the record label Maybach Music Group. And just like everything Ross touched, the label has found great success. They have worked with artists like Meek Mill, Omarion, and several others. In 2012, Ross released his fifth studio album, ‘God Forgives, I Don’t’ and it was nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards. Rick Ross’ career has been one success story after the other. His net worth is reportedly around $35 million, although some people believe that number is closer to the $40 million mark. That puts Ross well below Chris Brown, P. Diddy, Conor McGregor, and Taylor Swift, but that doesn’t mean he’s poor, not even by a long time.
