One thing that Floyd Mayweather Jr. prides himself on is being able to call the shots. Fresh off of his victory over Andre Berto on Sept. 12, 2015, The Champ now stands at 49-0 and is poised to set the record for biggest yearly earnings by an athlete ever for his minutes of work in the ring.
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Outside of the ring, Mayweather empowers his team, known as The Money Team, to individually pursue their passions and create profitable businesses for themselves. Behind all of the glitz and the glamour, the team—made up of Mayweather’s closest confidants and business partners—isn’t satisfied with just being closely associated with the world’s highest-paid athlete. They are applying their individual skills and talents to fashion, music, management, culinary arts, sports, and entertainment. Meet some of the members of The Money Team.
Ricki Brazil, @RickiBrazil
When you think of The Money Team, Ricki Brazil is one of the guys involved with almost every aspect of the team’s success. Organizing and propelling the brand forward through strategic planning is a key focus of his. In addition, Brazil is personally building his women’s ready-to-wear line Ricki Brazil by Ricki Brazil into a nationally and internationally recognized brand. The line has been featured at Miami Swim alongside iconic
Key piece of advice: Don’t discount anyone just because they might not have the biggest name, tons of fans, or a huge following. You never know how the guy moving and shaking on the ground level may be able to help you out.
Melissia Rene Brim, @MelissiaRene
The first lady of The Money Team, Melissia Rene Brim has taken her love for fashion and beauty from a personal interest to a thriving brick and mortar and online business. Devanna Love Boutique & Beauty Bar is a women’s full service clothing boutique and salon. Owned by Brim, who came up with a unique “one-stop-shop” shopping experience, her site opened its doors March 2, 2014. At Devanna Love you are not only able to shop but get a number of salon services as well, which differentiates the boutique from many other clothing and shoe stores.
Key piece of advice: Whatever it is you have your heart set on doing, do it! Don’t let anyone take you off your path to success. There will be a lot of road blocks, but you have to make a detour for yourself and others will follow.”
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James McNair,
@TheHarlemHotBoyJames McNair, CEO of Philthy Rich Records, has been one of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s closest business partners—helping to grow The Money Team brand and Mayweather Promotions. Hailing from Harlem, McNair has been involved with music for a very long time, and with his connections in the industry he is able to connect the dots. Beyond the music, McNair is heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of The Money Team’s affairs. From appearances to The Floyd Mayweather Foundation charity events and community days, McNair is often the point of contact who is putting the pieces together.
Key piece of advice: Think about what exactly you are asking for [when tapping into your network.] What do you need? A job? An introduction? Advice? You can ask your contacts whatever you want, but don’t waste their time.”
Chef Q, @Chefism
By the age of 10, Quiana Jeffries’ vision for herself was clear. She dreamed of being one of the greatest chefs ever known to mankind. In 2003, Jeffries decided to enhance her knowledge and further hone her skills in the kitchen. She enrolled in the renowned Le Cordon Bleu in Pasadena, California. There she learned to perfect her passion for cooking. During her studies, Jeffries was exposed to another genre of culinary expertise, adding French cuisine to her arsenal. She graduated in 2005, and that is when ‘Chef
The Champ’s daily diet:
Breakfast: Something light in the morning—either oatmeal (steel oats) with brown sugar, raisins and pecans with fresh cut organic fruit, or a veggie omelet with spinach, mushrooms, onions, red and green bell peppers, and low-fat cheese, a side of breakfast potatoes or sweet Southern grits and broccoli.
Snack: Organic leafy green salad with all the fixings or a piece of fish with broccoli.
Dinner: It varies but there are always many selections to choose from that are highly seasoned with different herbs and spices. Examples include seafood gumbo and pasta with side veggies and garlic bread, and tacos, always with four different kinds of organic meat—shredded chicken, ground beef, ground turkey, and shrimp. His favorite food is anything Caribbean.
Fresh juice: Made with a juicer and consumed by the champ anywhere between one and three times daily.
Key piece of advice: Give back in any way that you can. I strongly believe in giving back to the community. When you help others, you help yourself.”
Jackie Starr, @icedoutbarber
Starr is the personal master barber/stylist for Mayweather, and also the sole proprietor of the Iced Out Barber Shop in Las Vegas. With the success of her first shop, she has expanded and opened up a second location to better serve the Las Vegas community.
Famous J, @IamFamousJ
The 7-year-old, straight-A, honor roll student and boxer is learning firsthand from his mentor Mayweather. As one of the youngest members of the team, Famous is getting a world-class education in the sport of boxing, the business of boxing, and where dedication to the craft can take you. “One of the biggest things is knowing when it is time for school and time for training,” says Famous. “School always comes first and I know I can’t be the best fighter without my education first.” In 10 years Famous says he wants to be a world champion. With The Money Team in his corner, he is well on the way.
Caitlyn Christian Amari Price aka LIL CECE, @TheCeCeShow
Lil CeCe is a social network superstar that has caught the celebrity attention of Kevin Hart, Tamar Braxton, Russell Simmons, and Sherri Shepherd, to name a few. The vibrant personality, actress, and kid-comedian has appeared on The Steve Harvey Show, The Bethenny Show, and other national media outlets. Price is a straight-A, honor roll student who is placing her priorities in order. “I love school,” says Price. “I want my very own talk show one day, but I have to be smart to do that.”