Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast The Real Rick Ross on Joe Rogan, Rapper Lawsuit, & Making Millions | Freeway Ricky
Jun 24, 2025
Freeway Ricky Ross, a former drug kingpin who built a crack cocaine empire in Los Angeles, shares his incredible story of survival and reinvention. He discusses the betrayal he faced from a CIA informant and his subsequent legal battles, including suing the creators of the series 'Snowfall'. Ricky reflects on the systemic issues of the drug war, emphasizing the need for better job opportunities over harsh drug laws. He also delves into the temptations of easy money, the difficulty of reintegration after prison, and the challenges of telling his authentic story in Hollywood.
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Tennis Saved Ricky from Gangs
- Freeway Ricky Ross avoided gang involvement due to his mother's strictness and tennis engagement.
- Tennis provided him an escape from gang culture and fueled his early dreams.
Slow Growth to Millions
- His drug business started with just $125 and grew slowly through careful reinvestment.
- Compound growth of profits fueled the expansion year over year in his drug operation.
Contra-CIA Drug War Paradox
- The CIA-backed Contras facilitated cocaine trafficking to fund their fight against Sandinistas.
- This paradoxically aided the drug trade while the U.S. officially waged the war on drugs.