Freeway Rick Ross Net Worth: How Rich Is He In 2023

Last Updated on April 29, 2023 by Benjamin Mulany

Freeway Rick Ross, an American convicted drug trafficker, has a net worth of $1 million. Ross rose to infamy in the early 1980s in Los Angeles, running a massive drug empire that reportedly earned up to $3 million per day. At his peak, Freeway Rick Ross net worth was estimated to be 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, and he was released in 2009.

Full Name	Ricky Donnell Ross
Stage Name	Freeway Rick Ross
Net Worth	$1 million
Profession	Author, former drug trafficker
Birth Date	January 26, 1960 (age 63)
Birth Place	Troup, Texas, USA
Last Updated	April 2023

Early Life

Born in Tyler, Texas, Ross moved to Los Angeles with his mother at the age of three. He attended Susan Miller Dorsey High School, where he played tennis and was scouted by Cal State for their tennis team. However, he was rejected due to his illiteracy, and he turned to a life of crime.

Freeway Rick Ross Net Worth And Career

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.

Ross expanded his drug business across the nation and started dealing with Columbian drug cartels. He invested his profits into legitimate businesses, including a tennis training program for young teens.

Unbeknownst to him, Ross was in the middle of a major drug operation to fund the Contra rebels, organized in part by the CIA.

In 1985, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department created the “Freeway Ricky Task Force,” an entire law enforcement team dedicated to shutting Ross 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.

Rick Ross Jail Sentence

Initially, Ross got his sentence shortened significantly after testifying against corrupt police officers. However, his former business partner Blandon later turned on Ross and provided additional information that put Ross behind bars for life.

While in prison, Ross learned about the legal system and successfully appealed his sentence, reducing it to 20 years. He was released in 2009.

Rick Ross Book

Ross has since written an autobiography and has made appearances in various media, including the documentary “Freeway: Crack in the System” and the podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience.”

In 2010, he sued the rapper Rick Ross for copyright infringement, claiming that he was the “real” Rick Ross. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed due to a First Amendment ruling.

Freeway Rick Ross Net Worth

Despite his net worth of $1 million, Ross’s criminal empire was estimated to have grossed over $900 million, with profits of almost $300 million.

During the height of his drug dealing, Ross was said to have sold “$3 million in one day.” Ross’s story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of the drug trade and the pitfalls of a life of crime.