A thug that has "made it" to the big time. Originally refered ball players that made it out of the streets to make millions as a pro ball player, but now is used to describe any thug that is living large.

Someone who started out from the bottom and with nothing and have now made it to the top.

a person with swag

this is old 70 s and early 80 s slang for dealers who sold eight balls of cocaine.. it went on in the late eighties to mean anybody who is rolling in money and dealing in drugs... in the early 90s it was attributed to rap stars and anybody who was just rolling in the dough... It is currently (after late 90s) attributed to ball players rolling in the dough.

Livin large, with girls and money

1. A person who plays, and is very successful in basketball.
2. A person who finds success and wealth. The source of income is usually unknown by others, but can tell wealth by the "baller's" attire and usually cocky attitude.

Etymology: Middle English 'bal', from Old Norse 'bollr' and akin to Old High German 'balla'; combined with the commin suffix 'er' denoting one that does or performs (a specified action)

Therefore, a baller is, literally, 'one who balls'

Other connotations of the word include:

(N)
1. One who exhibits a consistent proficency at-, or exuberant love for the game of basketball.
2. One whose person has been fully and successfully established in numerous social circles (esp. one who is extremely popular with both the male and female members of any given social group)
3. One whose status in society has been earned by one's possession of "game" (that is, proficiency at the game of life)

(Adj)
1. Exhibiting those qualitites of a baller; not limited to the description of a person, 'baller' may be used to describe any place, thing or situation.