Dave’s Hot Chicken Owner — Does Drake Own It? Full Story (2026)
Last verified: May 2026 Ownership details and leadership roles may change. Always verify with official sources.
Drake is not the owner of Dave’s Hot Chicken. He became a minority investor in 2021 after the brand had already started expanding nationally. This guide explains who actually owns Dave’s Hot Chicken, what Drake’s real role is, and how ownership changed in 2025.
Does Drake Own Dave’s Hot Chicken?
No. Drake does not own Dave’s Hot Chicken.
Dave’s Hot Chicken was founded in May 2017 by four Armenian-American childhood friends: Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan. They started the business with $900 in a parking lot in East Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Drake became a minority investor in September 2021, when the chain already had 22 locations and an active national franchise plan. He purchased a stake of less than 50 percent. The exact percentage was never publicly disclosed. Drake did not found the company and is publicly known as a passive investor rather than an active operator.
Why Do People Think Drake Owns Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The confusion is understandable. Drake is the most famous name consistently attached to the brand.
Several moments created this perception. When Drake announced his investment, Dave’s posted on Instagram using his handle @champagnepapi and referenced his 2013 hit “Started From the Bottom.” The parallel between Drake’s story and the brand’s own $900 parking lot origin resonated widely.
Drake then posted a photo of himself eating Dave’s chicken tenders with a knife and fork, one of his Billboard trophies visible in the frame. The image spread quickly. Media headlines began regularly describing Dave’s as “the Drake-backed chicken chain.”
Every year on October 24, his birthday, Drake’s name is tied to a free slider promotion through the Dave’s app. That annual tradition keeps him visible in food media.
None of this reflects ownership. It reflects a minority investment and a well-executed celebrity marketing partnership.
How Did the Dave’s Hot Chicken and Drake Connection Start?
Drake tried the food before making any decision. After eating it, he met the founders and heard their story. The $900 parking lot origin clearly resonated with him.
In September 2021 he announced the investment publicly. He said in a statement to Bloomberg, “I tried the food and it was amazing. After meeting the founders and hearing their story, I jumped at the opportunity to invest.”
Dave’s Hot Chicken announced it on Instagram: “Welcome to the Dave’s Hot Chicken family, @champagnepapi and @futuretheprince.”
At the time of Drake’s investment, the brand had 22 locations concentrated in California and was planning expansion to Chicago, Houston, and other major markets. The celebrity investor playbook was already in motion. The same management team had used a similar approach at Blaze Pizza, where LeBron James became a minority investor and helped grow the brand’s cultural profile nationally.
What is Drake’s Actual Role at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Drake is publicly known as a passive minority investor. His role is a financial interest in the company’s performance.
There is no public information showing Drake in an operational leadership role at Dave’s Hot Chicken. He is not publicly associated with menu decisions, location management, or strategic planning.
His value to the brand is cultural visibility and marketing reach. When Drake mentions Dave’s, the brand reaches his audience of hundreds of millions. That visibility is the primary practical benefit of his involvement.
This structure is standard for celebrity minority investments in the restaurant industry.
Who Are the Real Dave’s Hot Chicken Founders?
Four people founded Dave’s Hot Chicken. All four are Armenian-American childhood friends from Los Angeles.
Dave Kopushyan created the recipe. He trained under Thomas Keller at the Bouchon restaurants and applied precision culinary technique to developing the spice blend and dry rub that defines the brand.
Arman Oganesyan built the brand identity. He conceived the concept, drove early marketing through Instagram, and is widely credited as the marketing force behind the brand’s rapid rise.
Tommy Rubenyan was one of the earliest financial backers. When others declined to invest, he provided the initial support that made the parking lot pop-up possible.
Gary Rubenyan, Tommy’s older brother, joined after the Eater LA article drove the first major surge in demand. He helped manage operations as the brand scaled.
Drake had no involvement in founding the company. He arrived as an investor when these four had already built something worth buying into.
Who Are All the Celebrity Investors in Dave’s Hot Chicken?
| Investor | Known For | Joined | Stake |
| Drake | Rapper and recording artist | 2021 | Minority — undisclosed |
| Samuel L. Jackson | Actor | 2019 | Minority — undisclosed |
| Maria Shriver | Author, former California First Lady | 2019 | Minority — undisclosed |
| Michael Strahan | TV host, former NFL player | 2019 | Minority — undisclosed |
| Tom Werner | Boston Red Sox chairman | 2019 | Minority — undisclosed |
| Usher | Recording artist | 2021 | Minority — undisclosed |
All are passive minority stakeholders. No exact ownership percentages have been officially confirmed for any celebrity investor. Their involvement is financial and promotional rather than operational.
Who is the current Dave’s Hot Chicken owner?
Roark Capital Group became the majority owner of Dave’s Hot Chicken in June 2025. According to reporting at the time of the deal, the transaction was valued at approximately $1 billion.
Roark Capital is a private equity firm whose restaurant portfolio includes Subway, Arby’s, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, Sonic, and Buffalo Wild Wings. The acquisition gave Roark ownership of one of the fastest-growing chicken chains in the United States.
The founding team retained a portion of equity following the deal. Co-founder Arman Oganesyan confirmed in a published interview that the founders retained ownership. Drake and other celebrity minority investors retained smaller stakes following the transaction, which diluted all pre-existing minority positions.
Regarding current leadership: according to publicly available information at the time of writing, Jim Bitticks serves in a senior leadership role at Dave’s Hot Chicken. Readers should verify the current CEO with official sources, as leadership details may change.
Drake’s Birthday Free Slider: What Is It?
Every year on October 24, Drake’s birthday, Dave’s Hot Chicken promotes a free slider for app members. The tradition started after Drake’s investment and has become one of the most consistent annual promotions tied to his association with the brand.
This is a brand marketing event. It is not funded personally by Drake. Dave’s Hot Chicken uses the date to drive app engagement and media coverage, which benefits the entire company.
How Much Did Drake Make From the Dave’s Hot Chicken Deal?
No confirmed figures are publicly available. Drake’s original stake percentage was never officially disclosed. The Roark Capital deal was valued at approximately $1 billion, according to reporting from multiple outlets at the time of announcement.
Any financial return would depend on Drake’s original entry price in 2021 and the specific terms of the Roark transaction, neither of which has been confirmed publicly. The brand grew significantly between 2021 and 2025, from 22 locations to over 400. For any early investor, the trajectory of that growth would generally be reflected in the value of their stake.
Does Drake own Dave’s Hot Chicken?
No. Drake is a minority investor since 2021. Roark Capital Group became the majority owner in June 2025.
Who really owns Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Roark Capital Group became majority owner through a deal reportedly valued at around $1 billion in June 2025. The founders retained equity. Celebrity investors retained smaller stakes.
When did Drake invest in Dave’s Hot Chicken?
September 2021. The brand had 22 locations at the time.
Who founded Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, Tommy Rubenyan, and Gary Rubenyan founded it in May 2017.
What percentage of Dave’s Hot Chicken does Drake own?
Never officially confirmed. His original stake was described as less than 50 percent when announced in 2021.
Why does Drake promote free food on his birthday?
Dave’s Hot Chicken runs a free slider promotion through the app every October 24. It is a brand marketing event tied to his birthday date.
Did Drake start Dave’s Hot Chicken?
No. He invested in 2021, four years after the brand launched in 2017.
What other celebrities invested in Dave’s Hot Chicken?
Samuel L. Jackson, Maria Shriver, Michael Strahan, Tom Werner, and Usher all hold minority stakes as passive investors.
Drake holds a minority financial stake in Dave’s Hot Chicken. The company was built by four founders who started it in a parking lot with $900. It is now majority-owned by Roark Capital following a deal reportedly worth around $1 billion. Drake’s name is attached to the brand for cultural and marketing reasons. The food and the business were built by people who were there from the beginning.