Michael Rainey Jr. grew up on one of television's biggest stages and turned that foundation into something bigger. He became the lead of Power Book II: Ghost, but more importantly, he became the kind of person Mary J. Blige gets excited to meet. When he tells that story, genuinely surprised that an icon was starstruck by him, you understand something essential about who he is off-camera: still the Staten Island kid who's a little amazed this is his life.
That groundedness isn't an accident. It comes from a Caribbean mother who saved every acting paycheck until he turned 18, from being surrounded by the same family and friends who knew him before the fame hit, and from ten years of watching legends like 50 Cent and Method Man treat every crew member with respect. Now, at 24, Rainey is channelling that foundation into something bigger than acting.
There's 22 Entertainment, the production company he's building with creative partner Gianni. There's WHEREIS22, his YouTube car channel that taps into a passion that started when he could identify any make and model at age five. There's a Tommy Hilfiger campaign, financial literacy speaking engagements, and plans for a music album. And there's his most important goal: getting his entire family to live on the same block.
When Deeds Magazine sat down with Michael, we talked about leadership, money, family, and what it really means to build something that lasts while staying true to who you've always been. This is Michael Rainey Jr. unfiltered.
Looking back on taking Tariq from a minor in jail in the original Power to a lead character in Ghost, how do you feel you've grown as an actor? What did you learn about yourself while working on Power for ten years?
"Stepping into Tariq, I definitely did not expect to be taking over the series and having my own spinoff in the franchise. As time went by and the seasons got deeper, I started believing in my skill and my craft, and putting more on my plate as far as workload. As they started writing more for Tariq, I prepared more as the years went by. I always felt like I was ready for whatever they were throwing at me, as far as the character. It's been a fulfilling journey."
You've worked closely with people you admired, like 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige and Method Man. What was it like to have those figures as collaborators? Can you share a moment on set or a piece of advice from them that really resonated with you?
"It wasn't something they said, it was how they acted, how they carried themselves on set, and how they treated everybody in the crew: gaffers, lighting, sound. Mary, Method, and 50 treat those people with a lot of respect. No matter how big or legendary they are, they treat everybody the same. Seeing them make people comfortable and keep folks smiling inspired me. As the lead, everyone's energy kind of relies on you, and how you come to set bounces off everyone else. They showed me how to keep morale good and make sure we're enjoying long 15–16 hour days, even when I'm going through something off-set."
Your mother homeschooled you and later managed your early acting finances. How has your family shaped your outlook on work and success? Do you still turn to them for guidance now that you're older?
"Ever since I started, I've been surrounded by the same people, my closest family and friends. It's hard to forget where you come from when you're with the people you were with before everything took off. Being around my family keeps me grounded. My mom's Caribbean, she makes sure I've got a level head and stay humble. Being with the people I've always been around helps me remember who I am and where I come from."
You've mentioned that your mom saved your acting paychecks, and you didn't fully know your earnings until age 18. How did growing up with that financial discipline change the way you handle money today? What advice do you have for young people in the industry about managing money?
"As a kid, you might be bringing in money, but you don't really know what to do with it. My mom didn't hide it, she tucked it away until I was old enough to understand financial literacy and respect the dollar. When she opened everything up to me at 18, I had a different understanding than before. I didn't do all the right things at first; it's a learning experience. You do certain things to realise what you won't do again. I appreciate that my mom kept it for me until I was 18 and then said, 'Here, this is what you've been working for.'"
You star in Tommy Hilfiger's new campaign and have won awards in standout suits. How important is fashion and personal style to you? Does it influence how you feel in a role or how you want to be seen by the world?
"Fashion is more fun for me. I like looking cool and feeling good. If people receive me and my fashion differently, I love it, but I'm not in it for that purpose. I love clothes, and seeing other people in super cool clothes inspires me, not just fashion-wise, but to not care what anybody else thinks. Do what makes you feel comfortable. Fashion is a great way to express yourself. People have been seeing me tapped into fashion a lot more lately, it's cool."
You have a YouTube car channel ("WHEREIS22") where you speak enthusiastically about cars. What is it about cars and automotive culture that excites you? Do you see yourself pursuing more projects in that space or other hobbies becoming businesses?
"Music and cars have been my love since before I was an actor. Me and my cousin DJ were racing on Midnight Club on PSP and playing Asphalt since we were kids. Every Christmas, I wanted a new model car. At five years old, I could name the make and model of anything on the street. With music, I heard KRS-One's 'The Bridge Is Over' at my grandparents' and went home and played the melody by ear on the piano. Now that I'm older, car content is everywhere. I want to show people my real passion, bring a web series to life for the automotive stuff (that's in development) and have a brand coexisting with it, an automotive, street-wavy kind of brand. In my free time over the next few months, I'm putting my passions to the forefront and getting people to see what I love to do."
Growing up Jamaican-American on Staten Island is unique. How do your Jamaican heritage and your Staten Island upbringing influence the roles you choose or the stories you want to tell? Is there something you feel you're bringing to Hollywood that comes from those experiences?
"I lived a normal, simple life before acting, YMCA kid, loved playing basketball and football, riding bikes, just having fun. I'd go to Jamaica here and there as a kid. The craziest part of my childhood was moving to Italy to film my first movie, living there for a year, and staying in Arches National Park's Canyon area for almost a month while filming. Those experiences were undefeated at that age."
You've spoken at events about empowerment and financial literacy (for example, the NAACP 'Young, Gifted & Black' brunch). Are there causes or messages that you're passionate about promoting now? How do you balance public activism with your entertainment career?
"I love being in a position where I have a voice people listen to and feel inspired by. My message is: be resilient. The only person who can really get in the way of your journey to your goal is you. Anybody else is an obstacle you can move. Don't limit yourself. If you want it enough, you can achieve it."
After a decade on one of TV's biggest franchises, what has surprised you most about yourself or life? How do you think you've changed as a person from where you started at age 10 to today?
"What surprised me most is people I looked up to growing up, being excited to meet me. It's crazy. Not just actors, icons too. When I first met Mary J. Blige, she was so excited to meet me. I was surprised, like, Mary rocks with me like that? It was a blessing. Ten-year-old me would be proud; he'd probably wish I played basketball a little longer, but everything I dreamed of since I was a kid, like meeting 50 Cent and asking him for advice, that's real now."
What are your personal goals for the next phase of your career and life?
"Within the next four to five years, I want all of my immediate family living on the same block, in the same neighbourhood. That's a big goal. I want to get some development projects out there. Me and Gianni's production company, 22 Entertainment, getting stuff under our belt. Maybe put out a music album produced by me with my favourite artists, I'm not rapping or singing. But mainly, getting my family living next to each other, once that happens, I'll be at peace and chilling. That's something I have to 100% scratch off the list."
Michael Rainey Jr. carries his past not as baggage but as ballast. In our conversation, what stood out was his clarity: success isn’t about escaping his roots but about building a future where his family thrives together. He has turned child stardom and a decade on Power into a deliberate, multi-dimensional hustle: acting, fashion, cars, entrepreneurship, all grounded in humility and legacy. With 22 Entertainment, WHEREIS22, and his dreams still in motion, Rainey is shaping longevity on his own terms.
Oh, and before we wrapped, Michael wanted to clear something up: “I want to clear this up for everybody who thinks I’m from Louisville. I was just born in Louisville, Kentucky. My parents moved back to New York when I was a month old. Born in Kentucky, raised in New York. Shout out to Kentucky, I’ve got a lot of support out there, and I gotta come to the Derby one day, but I’m from New York.”
