Did Drake Make Dave’s Hot Chicken? The Truth Behind the Billion-Dollar Chicken Chain

Have you ever wondered if your favorite rapper is secretly the mastermind behind that spicy chicken joint you can’t get enough of? Well when it comes to Drake and Dave’s Hot Chicken, the answer isn’t quite that simple – but it’s definitely an interesting story worth telling!

Drake didn’t create Dave’s Hot Chicken, but his investment and star power have helped turn this Nashville-style hot chicken chain into one of the fastest-growing restaurant sensations in America. Let’s dive into the sizzling story behind this partnership and how it recently culminated in a billion-dollar deal that likely made Drake a whole lot richer.

The Real Origins of Dave’s Hot Chicken

Before Drake ever took a bite of their fiery chicken Dave’s Hot Chicken was started by four friends with humble beginnings

• Dave Kopushyan
• Arman Oganesyan
• Tommy Rubenyan
• Gary Rubenyan

These childhood friends pooled together just $900 in 2017 to start a pop-up selling Nashville-style hot chicken out of a parking lot in Los Angeles. With nothing more than a portable fryer and a dream, they began serving their signature spicy chicken to eager customers.

Their recipe wasn’t created overnight – they reportedly went through over 150 iterations before landing on their perfect spice blend! The concept was an instant hit, drawing hour-long lines thanks to word of mouth and social media buzz.

Within just nine months, they had opened their first brick-and-mortar location in an East Hollywood strip mall. This rapid success set the stage for what would become one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in America.

When Drake Got Involved

Drake’s journey with Dave’s Hot Chicken began in July 2021 when his team contacted the restaurant to cater his private event after winning Billboard’s Artist of the Decade award. According to co-founder Arman Oganesyan, Drake loved the food so much that he immediately expressed interest in partnering with the company.

Drake acquired what was described as a “very significant stake” and became a major investor in the company. While the exact percentage has never been officially disclosed, he was reported to be among the company’s biggest investors when he bought his stake.

As Oganesyan put it, Drake was drawn to the brand because of Dave’s Hot Chicken’s inspiring origin story, rapid growth trajectory, and of course, the delicious spicy fried chicken. Drake’s team apparently “really vibed” with the Dave’s Hot Chicken partners, making the partnership a natural fit.

In Drake’s own words shared on Instagram when announcing his investment: “I tried the food and it was amazing.”

The Explosive Growth of Dave’s Hot Chicken

With Drake on board, Dave’s Hot Chicken continued its meteoric rise. By 2022, it was named the fastest-growing restaurant chain in America by Technomic, with a mind-blowing 156% increase in sales compared to the previous year.

The numbers are truly impressive:

• Started with just $900 in 2017
• Grew to over 315 locations across the US, Canada, UK, and Middle East by 2025
• Amassed over 200 million organic views on TikTok
• Planning to open 155 more locations in 2025 alone

Drake’s involvement wasn’t just financial – his massive social media presence (142 million Instagram followers) helped amplify the brand’s reach. For the past three years, he’s even celebrated his birthday on October 24 by sponsoring free chicken giveaways at Dave’s Hot Chicken locations in Toronto.

The Billion-Dollar Deal

The most recent chapter in this success story came on June 2, 2025, when Dave’s Hot Chicken sold a 70% majority stake to Roark Capital, a private equity firm known for its portfolio of major restaurant brands including Subway, Arby’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Baskin Robbins, and Buffalo Wild Wings.

This deal reportedly valued Dave’s Hot Chicken at a whopping US$1 billion!

So, how much did Drake make from this deal? While the exact details weren’t disclosed, we can make some educated guesses:

Bloomberg reported that Drake was among the company’s biggest investors. If the founders owned a combined 40% (10% each) before the deal, and the company’s largest shareholders were CEO Bill Phelps and movie producer John Davis with “roughly equal stakes,” Drake would likely own less than 20% of the chicken chain.

With each percentage point worth approximately US$10 million in the billion-dollar valuation, even a modest 5% stake would be worth US$50 million. Some social media rumors suggest his share might have been between 25% and 35%, which would potentially net him anywhere from $100 million to $300 million from the sale.

Either way, it’s safe to say Drake’s early bet on Dave’s Hot Chicken has paid off handsomely!

What Makes Dave’s Hot Chicken So Special?

The signature Dave’s Hot Chicken experience centers around jumbo chicken tenders and sliders with spice levels ranging from “No Spice” to “Reaper” – the latter being so intense it requires customers to sign a waiver!

Their process starts with fresh, never-frozen chicken that gets hand-breaded twice before being coated in their proprietary blend of spices and seasonings. This careful attention to quality and flavor has earned them a cult following and the interest of celebrities beyond just Drake.

The investor group also includes:

• Actor Samuel L. Jackson
• Journalist Maria Shriver
• Television host and former NFL player Michael Strahan
• Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner

Drake’s Food Empire Beyond Dave’s Hot Chicken

Dave’s Hot Chicken isn’t Drake’s first venture into the food world, though it appears to be his most successful restaurant investment to date.

The rapper has opened two Toronto eateries in the past decade:

• Frings: A venture with chef Susur Lee and his sons that opened in 2015 and closed three years later
• Pick 6ix: A sports bar that opened in early 2018 and closed by the end of 2019

Beyond restaurants, Drake has reportedly invested in:

• Green tea retailer MatchaBar
• Plant-based chicken company Daring Foods Inc.
• His own whiskey brand (Virginia Black)
• His own champagne brand (Mod Sélection)

What’s Next for Dave’s Hot Chicken?

With the Roark Capital acquisition, Dave’s Hot Chicken is poised for even faster growth. The company’s leadership, including CEO Bill Phelps, will stay on to drive menu innovation and global expansion.

Drake’s continued involvement with the brand remains to be seen, but his investment has already helped transform a parking lot pop-up into a global sensation worth $1 billion. The Financial Post reached out to Dave’s Hot Chicken for comment about whether Drake sold any of his shares as part of the deal but did not receive a response.

The Bottom Line: Did Drake Make Dave’s Hot Chicken?

So, did Drake make Dave’s Hot Chicken? No – the credit for creating this Nashville-style hot chicken chain belongs to Dave Kopushyan and his three friends who started with just $900 and a dream in a Los Angeles parking lot.

But did Drake help transform Dave’s Hot Chicken into a billion-dollar global phenomenon? Absolutely. His early investment, social media influence, and genuine love for the product have all contributed to the brand’s explosive growth and success.

It’s a classic example of how celebrity investment can supercharge an already promising business concept. Dave’s provided the amazing product, and Drake helped provide the rocket fuel to take it global.

For Drake, it’s proof that his business moves are just as sharp as his rhymes. And for chicken lovers everywhere, it means more opportunities to try those famous spicy tenders that impressed one of music’s biggest stars.

Have you tried Dave’s Hot Chicken yet? If Drake’s willing to invest millions in it, maybe it’s worth standing in line for!