“Look at it,” Rick Ross exclaims, arms wide, head cocked, relishing in the Florida heat. This is Miami. Beautiful. Most definitely for me.” Ross, wearing a blue Balenciaga tracksuit and New Balance sneakers and a rose-gold Rolex “Presidential” Day-Date, has pulled up to his Star Island property, where Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, and pharmaceutical billionaire Phillip Frost have lived.
The 47-year-old rapper, entrepreneur, and self-proclaimed “biggest boss” smiles, shakes everyone’s hand, puffs his joint, and pours from his always-within-reach bottle of Luc Belaire rosé.
Ross is also known as “Rozay” after his favorite wine. We’re in the backyard next to the Biscayne Bay-view pool because Ross’ $35 million house is being demolished to remodel. Ross first saw this wonderful life 20 miles away in Carol City as a child.
“When you saw that Jaguar and stepped out of your Buick,” he recalls, “you understood luxury. We adored my dad’s Buick, but I knew and liked luxury early. I wаnted leather seats by third grade. We succeeded.” Indeed.
Ross, a collector of vehicles, jewels, watches, and real estate, has always indulged in luxury. Last year, the crown gem, a Gulfstream G550, arrived. Similar tastes and budgets like this private plane. The biggest boss doesn’t do standard issue (or someone else’s style, like with the deconstruction). After receiving the plane, he gave it to Duncan Aviation, a private-jet design firm, to give it the Rick Ross treatment inside and out. He lives the lifestyle he’s always rapped about more than before.
Ross, born William Leonard Roberts II, admired professional athletes on TV and street people who were “winning.” After discovering rap music and its high-wattage visuals, “that sҺit just took over my soul,” he says. Ross quit college weeks into his freshman year to return to Miami to become a rapper, despite being a standout оffensive lineman in high school and receiving a scholarship to Albany State. Not looking back. “I knew it was something I wаnted to be a part of,” he says.
Ross released his debut studio album, Port of Miami, in 2006 to critical and commercial acclaim after years of laboring behind the scenes for other musicians. The record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum after selling 187,000 copies its first week. “Hustlin’,” “B.M.F. (Blowin’ Money Fast),” “Aston Martin Music,” and “Stay Schemin'” are among his many hits, and Drake and DJ Khaled are frequent collaborators. Ross created Maybach Music Group in 2009, signing Meek Mill, Wale, and French Montana.