Rick Ross is proving that the best gifts aren’t always wrapped in a bow.
In September 2021, the rapper and business mogul surprised his son, William L. Roberts III, with a 16th birthday present that turned heads — a Wingstop franchise. Instead of handing over the keys to a flashy new car or dripping him in diamonds, Ross gave his teenager the keys to his very own business.
“Everyone wish my son @mmgbigbank HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY!!!” Ross wrote on Instagram at the time, alongside a celebratory photo. “Today he became the owner of his 1st @wingstop franchise. You’re now officially a BOSS!!! Keep Going.”
The gift is part of a much larger empire for the Grammy-nominated star. Ross has been in the Wingstop game since 2011, when he opened his first location in Memphis after falling in love with the chain’s famous lemon pepper wings. Over the years, he’s grown his portfolio to more than 25 locations across the U.S., with each reportedly bringing in about $200,000 in profit annually. By 2014, those investments had already earned him an estimated $7 million.
For Ross, the gift was about much more than money. Speaking on The Real, he explained, “It was important to me… making sure he understands entrepreneurship. Working for yours is the foundation of being a man.”
He recalled how William had watched him work from a young age, even seeing him sweep floors at his restaurants. That hands-on approach, Ross said, is a lesson he wants his children to carry with them — success takes work, no matter who you are.
And the celebrations didn’t stop there. For William’s 17th birthday in 2022, Ross treated him to a $1,000 prime steak at Miami hotspot Papi Steak, once again marking the milestone with a proud Instagram post.
While most Sweet 16s might end with a new set of wheels in the driveway, Ross’s approach offered something that could last a lifetime: the chance to be his own boss. As the proud dad’s post made clear, for the Roberts family, the ultimate gift is the power to build your own future.
