As one of the most talked-about figures, Freeway Rick Ross has built a significant fortune. In this article, we dive deep into the assets and career highlights.
What Is Freeway Rick Ross' Net Worth?
Ross first found his place in LA's criminal underworld after becoming a part-owner of an auto chop shop. It was here that he encountered cocaine for the first time, and within days, he was selling it. His supplier was Henry Corrales, a man who provided him with ample amounts of Nicaraguan cocaine. In 1984, he connected with Oscar Danilo Blandon Reyes, another Nicaraguan drug trafficker. Over the years, he expanded his business across the nation and started dealing with Columbian drug cartels.
During his teen years, Ross was completely dedicated to the sport and played daily. He earned a spot on his high school team after moving to South Central, and tennis became a major focus for him. Rick attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School, and he was part of an exceptional team that defied all expectations. Many of the team's stars went on to reach a professional level.
At this point, Ross' mother was arrested for murdering his uncle. Tennis continued to be an escape for Rick, and he was even scouted by Cal State for their tennis team. Although Rick could have obtained a scholarship, he was rejected because he was illiterate. With his tennis career effectively over, Ross turned to the one thing he had managed to avoid throughout his youth: crime.
Ricky Donnell Ross was born on January 26, 1960, in Tyler, Texas. At the age of 3, he moved to Los Angeles with his mother, Annie Mae Mauldin. Rick's father was Sonny Ross, a former cook for the Army and a pig farmer. He and his mother lived in a neighborhood underneath Interstate 110, which some believe is the source of his nickname, "Freeway." Others insist that Rick earned his moniker because he owned a string of properties along Interstate 110, which is also known as the "Harbor Freeway." Whatever the case may be, it seems that Rick and Interstate 110 are inexorably linked.
Ross invested his profits back into legitimate businesses. He purchased a house with $250,000 cash, and he started wearing a bulletproof vest at all times. He even invested millions into a tennis training program for young teens. Whether he knew it or not, he was in the middle of a major drug operation to fund the Contra rebels, which was organized in part by the CIA.
While growing up in LA, Rick took several odd jobs to support his mother and enjoyed playing tennis. While this is something of a footnote in his life story, tennis has always been a major part of Rick's life. Ross wasn't a natural athlete, but he enjoyed tennis and proved to be a determined and deceptively quick player.
"Freeway" Rick Ross is an American convicted drug trafficker who has a net worth of $1 million. "Freeway" Rick Ross ran a massive drug empire in the early 1980s in Los Angeles. At his peak, Ross' empire reportedly earned up to $3 million per day. Rick Ross claims his peak net worth was over $600 million. After being sentenced to life in prison, Ross educated himself on legal matters and eventually appealed his imprisonment. His sentence was successfully reduced to 20 years behind bars, and he was released in 2009.
By 1985, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department had created the "Freeway Ricky Task Force," an entire law enforcement team dedicated to shutting Rick down. Although widespread corruption in the police force helped Ross elude the authorities for many years, it could only last so long. In the late '80s, Ross was charged with drug trafficking charges related to the seizure of nine kilos of cocaine that was attributed to his organization.
Ultimately, Freeway Rick Ross's financial journey is a testament to their success.
Disclaimer: All net worth figures are estimates based on public data.