Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Chris Brown purportedly has a big appetite when it comes to the fast food industry being a lucrative investment.
The Virginia native is among a list of music artists and celebrities who are said to be restaurant franchisees. In 2015, Brown said in an interview with US Weekly’s “25 Things You Don’t Know About Me” that he owned 14 Burger King restaurants, although he has offered little in the way details about this then or since.
Burger King has over 18,000 locations worldwide, with roughly 7,000 restaurants in the U.S. The fast food giant generated $1.81 billion in revenue during the 2021 financial year across its global operations.
According to Franchise Help, Burger King requires a $50,000 franchise fee from the franchise owner. The franchise owner must also pay for all the costs associated with starting a new fast food restaurant. And they must have at least $500,000 in liquidity and a net worth of at least $1.5 million.
Brown has a net worth of an estimated $50 million. He has other investments, such as the clothing line he launched in 2015 called Black Pyramid. Since 2007 he has operated a record label under Interscope called CBE (Chris Brown Entertainment).
Brown has been creative in ways to generate cash. Last month, he held a meet-and-greet with fans, and if you wanted to take a photo with the singer, you had to cough up a cool $1,000.
This came on the heels of a lackluster NFT venture. Also in July, he debuted an NFT collection called Breezyverse. But not too many people are buying it.
Breezyverse is a set of 10,000 NFTs that he started selling on July 1. Each of the NFTs is an animation of singer Brown posing like a superhero atop a structure, but each is different. As of July 18, only 299 — or 3 percent of the collection — Breezyverse NFTs sold, Digital Music News reported. The NTFs go for .35 ether each, which is about $440.
Numerous other celebrities have sought ownership in well-known regional and national fast food chains, including Kanye West, who is also a franchise owner of 10 Burger locations, and hip-hop producer Pharell William’s partnership with Fatburger to open several locations in China.
Food franchise ownership doesn’t come without accountability as owners are responsible for all aspects of the business, from day-to-day operations to human resources. Rapper, Rick Ross owns five Wingstop restaurants under his company, Boss Wing Enterprises, in South Haven Mississippi. The U.S. Department of Labor found that the company had illegally made workers pay for their uniforms, required training, background checks, and were penalized for shortages at cash registers.
Ross, who owns 30 Wingstop locations across the U.S. addressed the violations in an Instagram Story that has since expired, saying that he takes full responsibility.
”When you’re running a business, there will be mistakes but as the biggest boss, you never make the same mistake twice,” the musician said. “Taking accountability is big when you’re the biggest.”
It’s becoming increasingly common for musicians to pursue other investments and entrepreneurial endeavors unrelated to their profession. Yet, sometimes those ventures aren’t successful as envisioned so having a connection with a larger brand with visibility and that is profitable has made fast food chains an attractive bet.
Renowned comedian, and now restaurateur, Kevin Hart recently cut the ribbon for the opening of new fast food, plant-based restaurant chain, Hart House in Los Angles. Hart has been a devoted investor in local food and beverage companies. The North Philadelphian teamed up with hip-hop mogul Jay-Z, among other notable investors on a $20 million series B investment in Hungry, a catering app designed for independent chefs.
Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King beat Wall Street estimates for its second-quarter earnings and revenue this month after the company reported strong international sales that have been aided by higher menu prices amid rising inflation.
It’s inspiring to see Chris Brown diversifying his income with Burger King franchises! It’s a smart move for celebrities to leverage their fame into successful business ventures. I’m curious to see how he manages his restaurants alongside his music career. Great post!
It’s inspiring to see celebrities like Chris Brown venturing into the franchise world! Owning 14 Burger King restaurants is no small feat and shows a commitment to building a sustainable business. It’s a great reminder that success can come from diverse avenues, not just in entertainment. Looking forward to seeing how he continues to expand his entrepreneurial journey!
What an inspiring post! It’s great to see celebrities like Chris Brown investing in franchises like Burger King. It really shows that financial success can come from diverse avenues beyond just entertainment. I’m curious to see how his ventures evolve!
It’s inspiring to see celebrities like Chris Brown dive into entrepreneurship with Burger King! It really shows that there are diverse paths to financial success beyond the usual entertainment industry. I wonder how he manages to balance his franchise commitments with his music career!
It’s fascinating to see how celebrities like Chris Brown are diversifying their income through franchises. It really shows that the franchise model can be a viable financial strategy beyond just traditional investments. Excited to see how his Burger King locations perform and whether this will inspire more artists to explore similar avenues!
It’s impressive to see Chris Brown venture into the franchise world with Burger King! It’s a smart move for him to diversify his income streams. I love how celebrities are leveraging their brands in unique ways. Can’t wait to see how his restaurants perform!
It’s inspiring to see celebrities like Chris Brown diversifying their income through franchising! The fact that he’s invested in 14 Burger King locations shows that there’s a lot more to achieving financial success than just having talent. This post highlights an interesting side of celebrity life that many might not consider. Looking forward to seeing how other celebs follow in his footsteps!
It’s impressive to see how Chris Brown is diversifying his income through franchises like Burger King! It’s a smart move that not only boosts his financial portfolio but also shows that celebrities can be savvy business owners. Can’t wait to see how his franchise journey unfolds!
It’s fascinating to see Chris Brown venturing into the franchise world with Burger King! It’s a smart move that not only showcases his business acumen but also highlights the growing trend of celebrities investing in franchises. Can’t wait to see how his restaurants perform!
It’s impressive to see how Chris Brown is diversifying his portfolio with those Burger King restaurants! It’s a smart move to invest in franchises, especially with a recognizable brand. I wonder how he’s balancing his music career with managing that many locations. Looking forward to seeing how his franchise journey unfolds!
It’s fascinating to see how Chris Brown is leveraging his brand in the restaurant industry! Investing in 14 Burger King locations shows he’s serious about building financial success beyond music. I love when celebrities take on new challenges like this!
I love seeing celebrities like Chris Brown venture into the franchise world! It’s inspiring how he’s using his success in music to create lasting financial stability through smart investments like Burger King. Can’t wait to see how his franchise journey unfolds!
It’s impressive to see Chris Brown venturing into the franchise world! I love how celebrities are diversifying their income streams, and owning 14 Burger King restaurants is a bold move. It really shows that there’s a lot of potential for financial success beyond just their primary careers. Can’t wait to see how this impacts his brand and future projects!
It’s impressive to see celebrities like Chris Brown diversifying their portfolios through franchises like Burger King! It really shows the potential for financial success beyond music and entertainment. Can’t wait to see how he manages these restaurants and what innovative ideas he brings to the franchise!
It’s impressive to see how Chris Brown is diversifying his portfolio with Burger King franchises! It really highlights how celebrities can leverage their brand for smart business moves. I wonder how he chose this path and what his experiences have been so far in the franchise world.