Rapper Rick Ross bought former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield’s Georgia estate for $5.8 million in 2014. The property, near Fayetteville, had a 45,000-square-foot mansion with 109 rooms, 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms, according to Architectural Digest. Ross later expanded the estate by buying another 87 acres for $1 million.The estate, once known as Villa Vittoriosa, became Ross’s Promise Land. The rapper had been familiar with the property for years before he bought it. He had purchased a nearby house after moving to Georgia and said he used to drive past Holyfield’s home regularly.“I looked at every curve and every up and downhill on the lawn. I was looking at the geese as I rolled by. I did that for years until one day, I saw the red for-sale sign on the gate and made a U-turn,” Ross told Forbes in a 2021 interview.Ross’s interest in property was also influenced by his mother. He said she believed real estate was an important way to protect and grow his money. In the same interview, Ross recalled her advice- “She would just keep buying houses,” he said, adding, “when you buy something, make sure you can touch it.” Over the years, Ross went on to build a property portfolio across Georgia, Florida and Texas.The Georgia estate remained one of the most notable properties in that portfolio. After buying Holyfield’s former home, Ross added 87 adjoining acres in 2019. The expanded property covered roughly 322 acres. He also began using the estate for large gatherings, including a car show and pool party that were open to the public during the summer.
A 109-room mansion with a huge pool
The mansion was originally built in 1994 and covers about 45,000 square feet. Its 109 rooms include 12 bedrooms and 21 bathrooms. The dining room is large enough to seat 100 people, while the property also has a 350,000-gallon swimming pool.The property was used as the fictional Zamunda Palace in the 2021 film Coming 2 America, starring Eddie Murphy. The mansion’s white stone exterior and large entrance helped it fit the look required for the film.For Ross, however, the estate has also been a personal project. He has spoken about spending time looking after the land and even mowing parts of it himself. For this, he also bought a tractor with an enclosed cabin, air conditioning and a radio.“I bought a tractor that is enclosed and has air-conditioning and a radio. When I get in the tractor, it’s a whole other level of peace and a whole other level of connecting with the estate and the animals and the birds and the wildlife,” he said.Ross also keeps animals on the property. He reportedly owns two buffaloes, four horses and a bull. The buffaloes have also led to complaints from neighbours.The Georgia property was not the only major estate Ross bought as his music career grew. His approach to real estate continued with purchases in Florida and later Texas.
Florida estate for $3.5 million
In 2021, Ross bought a 2.3-acre estate in Southwest Ranches, Florida, for $3.5 million in cash. His mother and sister had been helping him look for a property in the Miami Beach area when they came across the home.The property had previously belonged to Ross’s friend and NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire, who had owned the single-storey residence for about a decade. Ross said he knew quickly that he wanted the house after seeing it. “This is my house,” he told his agent after seeing the property.The 8,600-square-foot home has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms. It also includes high ceilings, two home offices, an indoor theatre, a gym and a swimming pool with a waterfall.
Houston and Atlanta purchases
In early 2023, Ross revealed another property purchase in Houston. He shared pictures of the home on Instagram and referred to himself as “Rodeo Rick”.He later showed parts of the property in a video tour. “While others was buying Dogecoin and all that, man, I was buying real estate,” Ross said in the video.He showed the home’s pool, front gate and palm trees, saying some of the trees had been brought from Miami. The video also showed white walls and artwork.About a week after the Houston purchase was reported, Ross bought another Atlanta-area property. He paid $4.2 million in cash to fellow rapper and friend Meek Mill for the estate.The three-storey house has eight bedrooms and nine-and-a-half bathrooms. It also includes a tennis court, media room, two-car garage, sauna and pool. Ross bought the property unfurnished.
$37 million Star Island home
Ross’s property purchases in 2023 also included a much larger deal in Miami. A few months after the Houston and Atlanta purchases, he paid $37 million for a waterfront home on guard-gated Star Island.The community has 30 residences. Ross’s property covers 12,374 square feet and has six bedrooms and eight-and-a-half bathrooms. The house includes a primary suite facing the bay and outdoor areas designed for gatherings. It also has a 40-foot dock that provides access to the bay and the ocean beyond.ONE Sotheby’s International Realty global real estate adviser Kimberly Knausz told Architectural Digest that Ross viewed the Star Island purchase as an important part of his property portfolio.“Star Island is the ultimate goal in Miami. It’s so exclusive, Ross said it’s like the missing piece to the puzzle of his real estate portfolio,” Knausz said.