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

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.

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.

a person with swag

A person that makes shit happen. Without additional context, "baller" typically is assumed to imply demonstrated ability in generating prodigious amounts of cash money, and/or a proficiency with creating frequent and mind-blowing sexual opportunities (note the non-gender specific reference, implying that ballers can be men or women, gay or straight -- it is a matter of perspective).

In modern usage, baller does not refer to sports ability -- although the term is likely to have originated with basketball. Still, the reference to "game" is important to the definition of a baller. A baller must have game. A mad baller must have mad game. (Here, game is referenced according to the current definition (which pretty can mean pretty much anything, but generally refers to business, social relationships, or desired activities in general).

See also: Mad Baller; Game; Pimp; Rock Star

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.