You’ve probably seen the pictures. Two icons of the early 2000s standing side by side, looking like they own the world. On one side, you have Mike Tyson—the youngest heavyweight champion in history, a man whose aura of menace was so thick you could feel it through a TV screen. On the other, 50 Cent, the rapper who took nine bullets and turned them into a billion-dollar empire.
But their relationship isn't just about two famous guys hanging out at a fight or a club. It’s way weirder than that. Honestly, it’s a story that involves a massive Connecticut mansion, some of the deadliest streets in Queens, and a connection to a man who once tried to end 50 Cent's life.
The $4 Million House That Neither of Them Wanted
Back in 2003, 50 Cent was the hottest thing in music. Get Rich or Die Tryin’ was everywhere. When you have that much money coming in that fast, you buy things. Big things. He ended up buying Mike Tyson’s former 50,000-square-foot estate in Farmington, Connecticut.
Tyson had lived there during his more... let's say "eccentric" years. We’re talking about a house with 19 bedrooms, 25 bathrooms, an indoor pool, a recording studio, and even its own nightclub. Mike actually tried to talk 50 out of the purchase. He told him the place was a money pit.
"No one was gonna buy it... it’s gonna cost them $25,000 just to mow the lawn," Tyson famously warned.
He wasn't lying. 50 Cent later admitted that the upkeep on the mansion cost him roughly $700,000 a year. He held onto it for 14 years before finally selling it for $3.1 million in 2019—a significant loss considering he paid $4.1 million for it. For both men, that house represented a specific peak and the heavy price of maintaining it.
The Deadly Connection: Darryl "Hommo" Baum
This is where the story gets dark. Most people think their bond is just "rich guy stuff," but there is a gritty, street-level tie that most fans miss.
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In the year 2000, 50 Cent was shot nine times in front of his grandmother's house in Queens. The man widely alleged to be the shooter was Darryl "Hommo" Baum. Here is the kicker: Hommo was Mike Tyson’s close friend and bodyguard.
When Tyson fought Lou Savarese in 2000, he famously dedicated the win to his "brother" Darryl Baum, who had been killed just weeks earlier. At the time, 50 Cent was still a rising name in the underground, and Tyson was the king. There have been rumors for years—fueled by lyrics in 50's songs like "Many Men"—that there was a "bag" on 50's head.
In some corners of the internet, people even speculated that Tyson himself put up $50,000 for the hit. While that has never been legally proven, the tension between those two worlds was very real. Imagine buying a mansion from the man who was best friends with the guy who tried to kill you. That’s some movie-level drama.
Why 50 Cent Fears No One Except Mike Tyson
Despite the dark history, the two eventually developed a mutual respect. 50 Cent is known for being a bully in the industry. He’s gone after Ja Rule, Rick Ross, Diddy, and Jay-Z without blinking. But when it comes to "Iron Mike," 50 changes his tone.
Basically, 50 has said Mike is the only person he’s actually afraid of. Not because of a beef, but because of Mike's unpredictable nature. He respects the "vibe" Mike carries.
"Mike is the only one who can make you feel like you're in danger while he's being nice to you," 50 once joked in an interview.
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They’ve been seen together at CES in Las Vegas, at boxing matches, and even collaborated on promotion for SMS Audio. When 50 Cent tried his hand at boxing promotion with SMS Promotions and The Money Team (TMT), Tyson was one of the first people to give him a reality check.
Tyson's Warning About the "Flesh" Business
In 2012, when 50 was getting into the promotional game with Floyd Mayweather, Tyson went on the record to warn him. He didn't do it to be a hater. He did it because he’s been chewed up and spit out by that business.
- Tyson’s perspective: He called boxing "peddling the flesh." He warned 50 that in boxing, everyone who was your friend becomes your enemy the second money is on the table.
- 50’s perspective: He thought he could apply his "hustle" from the music industry to the ring.
As it turns out, Mike was right. 50 Cent's boxing promotion venture eventually filed for bankruptcy. It’s one of the few times 50’s business "Midas touch" actually failed him.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Beef"
If you search for "Mike Tyson 50 Cent beef," you'll find a lot of clickbait. People want them to be enemies because of the Darryl Baum connection. But if you look at their actual interactions over the last decade, there’s a lot of warmth there.
They are both survivors. Tyson survived a career that saw him lose $300 million and spend time in prison. 50 survived the streets and the fickle nature of the rap game. They both reinvented themselves as "elder statesmen" of their respective crafts.
In a weird twist of fate, 50 Cent was recently cast to play Balrog in the new Street Fighter movie. If you know your gaming history, Balrog was originally named M. Bison in Japan—a direct parody of Mike Tyson. It’s like their lives are constantly looping back into each other.
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The Real Legacy of the Duo
When we look at Mike Tyson and 50 Cent today, we aren't looking at a rapper and a boxer. We’re looking at two masters of the "pivot."
- Reinvention: Tyson went from "The Baddest Man on the Planet" to a beloved podcaster and cannabis mogul.
- Survival: 50 went from a "target" to a television executive producing shows like Power.
- Mutual Respect: They acknowledge each other's scars. In the world of high-level celebrity, that’s rare.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Entrepreneurs
What can we actually learn from the weird saga of these two?
- Heed warnings from those who came before you: When Tyson told 50 the house was a money pit and the boxing business was a "flesh" market, he was speaking from trauma. 50 ignored him both times and lost millions. Experience is the most expensive teacher.
- Separate the man from the associate: 50 Cent was able to move past the fact that Tyson’s best friend shot him. That takes a level of emotional intelligence most people don't have. He realized Mike wasn't the trigger man.
- The "Pivot" is your best friend: Both men could have been "has-beens" by 2010. Instead, they used their names to build entirely new categories for themselves.
The relationship between Mike Tyson and 50 Cent is a lesson in how the most chaotic beginnings can turn into a stable, respectful friendship. It’s not about the money or the fame—it’s about being the last two guys standing when the smoke clears.
If you're tracking their current moves, keep an eye on 50's Street Fighter production. Seeing how he channels Mike’s early-career energy into that role will be the ultimate full-circle moment for a connection that started in the crosshairs of a gun in Queens.
Next Steps to Understand the Connection:
- Watch Mike Tyson's 2000 post-fight interview where he mentions Darryl "Hommo" Baum to see the raw emotion of that era.
- Read 50 Cent’s book Hustle Harder, Hustle Smarter for his breakdown of why some of his celebrity business ventures (like boxing) didn't pan out.