*A few weeks when Soulja Boy was boasting about a potential $400 million deal in the works, most folks just assumed he was talking a whole lotta you-know-what.
Well guess what? He wasn’t. Dude really was talkin’ the real deal. And just who is going to forking up that much money to the young ATL rapper? That would be World Poker Fund Holdings, the publicly traded gaming company behind CelebrityWorld.com, according to Billboard.
World Poker Fund confirmed the 5-year endorsement deal on Friday, calling Soulja Boy “one of most influential urban entertainers and artist on social media today.” The 25-year-old Atlanta native will harness his sizable social media following (15 million strong) to help promote World Poker’s gaming assets, which will soon include an “in-flight gaming” platform.
“I invest in things I understand,” Soulja Boy said. “I enjoy music, and of course gaming. Being an influencer is a form of currency. Having portfolio diversification is critical if you want to be an effective brand ambassador. With regards to World Poker Fund, I believe in its strategy, its team, the vision, and management’s ability to target its financial goals.”
Because he’s an influencer, Soulja Boy, and not the brands themselves, drive loyalty, said Matthew Bird, publicist for World Poker.
“We no longer are fed content from major news networks — we seek it out and consume it by individual influencers that enrich our lifestyles,” commented Bird. “Soulja Boy represents the best of the best and we are already seeing the impact from his presence.”
Also, last week, Soulja Boy announced a partnership with the FilmOn Records family.