Russell Simmons Cashes Out for $147 Million

Greet Dot, a provider of prepaid debit cards, announced it is acquiring UniRush L.L.C., the company that makes the RushCard–co-founded by Russell Simmons in 2013.

In a statement released by Green Dot, Simmons said, “Fourteen years ago, I embarked on an incredible journey to provide a new financial tool for millions of Americans who had only limited access to traditional banks. […] As I have done with my ventures in

music, comedy, and fashion, I am partnering with the best company in the industry, Green Dot, to expand our opportunities and continue our mission to revolutionize the banking industry. We believe our customers are among the most loyal in prepaid, and I want to thank them for their years of support. We are excited to continue and expand upon our tradition of providing great and important products for our customers over the many years to come.”

In addition to the $147 million, Green Dot will pay a minimum $4 million annual earn-out payments for five years after. Simmons will continue to represent and advocate the card.

RushCard users will be able to take advantage of Green Dot’s Rapid!Pay Card program, which allows companies to deposit an employee’s paycheck to a prepaid card.

Re-loadable prepaid cards are typically used by the “underbanked”–those

without the resources or credit history to open up traditional bank accounts. Re-loadable prepaid cards are different from ones like gift cards issued by a specific store or franchise that can only be used once.

A 2012 study shows that prepaid card users tend to be married, rent their homes, earn less than $25,000, and African American.  They also tend to be under 50-years-old, and of those surveyed in 2012, 42% had no emergency savings.

In 2015, RushCard made headlines after cardholders could not access their funds, due to what the company called a “technology transition.”

Despite public apologies from Simmons and his company’s fee waiver from November 2016 to February 29, 2016, several customers filed class action lawsuits.

Simmons called the debacle “one of the most devastating times” of his life.