Why Rapper Rick Ross Is the ‘Biggest Boss’ in Franchising

There’s a reason he’s the one Drake chose to feature on “Lemon Pepper Freestyle.” Rick Ross has been buying Wingstop franchises for over a decade, and he even credits the brand’s lemon pepper wings with his initial interest.

"After tasting Wingstop's signature Lemon Pepper-flavored wings in Miami, I knew this was a franchise I wanted to add to my investments," Ross said in a 2011 release.

Since then, he has opened approximately 30 Wingstop locations in addition to his real estate, cannabis and crypto investments. The franchise has been a major wealth-builder for him, and he proudly shares his affinity for the brand on socials and in his songs.

Though Ross has developed a large, diverse portfolio through music and other investments, he still fondly remembers his first interaction with Wingstop and notes that that first taste “changed his life.”

“I just love Wingstop,” Ross told Forbes in a 2014 interview. “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.”

Now that he’s become a Wingstop boss himself, Ross is spreading the love even further, gifting a Wingstop to his son for his 16th birthday.

A year later, Ross shared an Instagram post celebrating his son and his future with the brand, writing, “Last year you earned your 1st @wingstop on your BIRTHDAY this year the world is yours … I KNOW NOTHING WILL STAND IN BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR DREAMS SO LETS ENJOY LIFE AS WE GO HARD … HAPPY BDAY TO MY RIGHT HAND … THE EMPIRE CONTINUES…”

Franchising has long been recognized as a reliable way to create or grow wealth, often changing the trajectories of entrepreneurs’ lives, and Ross’ relationship with Wingstop is just another example of how meaningful a franchise opportunity can be.

More than just a passive investment, Wingstop is a business that truly means something to Ross. You’d be hard-pressed to browse his socials or shuffle an album without seeing or hearing a Wingstop reference, and that’s precisely why he has grown to be the “biggest boss” in the industry. Rick Ross and Wingstop are forever connected — something countless other rappers and franchise brands just haven’t been able to achieve.

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