Vaishali Varu
Rihanna's net worth has excelled thanks to her later business ventures including Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty, her lingerie brand. Robyn Rihanna Fenty is also a hugely popular singer, songwriter and actress.
She was born in Barbados and rose to fame in the mid-2000s with hits such as Pon de Replay and Umbrella.
Rihanna's net worth according to Forbes is $1.4 billion. The artist may not be the richest person in the world, but she became America’s youngest self-made billionaire in 2022.
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While she hasn't released a new album since 2016, Rihanna still performed recently at Anant Ambani's pre-wedding celebration, the son of India’s billionaire business tycoon Mukesh Ambani. She was also the headline artist for the 2023 Super Bowl.
But new music could be on the cards soon. Here we look at how Rihanna built her fortune and the factors contributing to her net wealth today.
Rihanna's net worth and her music career
Rihanna was born and raised in Barbados, where she formed a girl group with two classmates at the age of 15. Her talent for singing was quickly picked up by a local music producer named Evan Rogers, who invited her to New York.
The singer’s career took off from there. In New York, Rihanna recorded a series of demo tracks. These impressed the industry and, most importantly, Jay-Z, who signed her to his record label, Def Jam Recordings.
It wasn’t long before the young star began to make waves around the world with her records. Debut single, Pon de Replay, was released in 2005 and quickly became a hit, reaching the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her debut album, Music of the Sun, followed shortly after.
Over the years, Rihanna has built a reputation for herself with her music and her network, surrounding herself and collaborating with artists like Kanye West, Eminem and Drake. The singer previously dated artist Chris Brown in 2008 (the couple broke up in 2009), and she has now started a family with rapper A$AP Rocky.
The singer has also gone on to perform for the Super Bowl halftime show and win the prestigious Vanguard Award, which has been taken home by Madonna, Beyoncé and Michael Jackson.
Rihanna’s music stood out for its mix of influences. Featuring a mix of reggae, dancehall and R&B influences, the singer’s music appealed to a wide range of listeners and fans. And she’s continued to use this approach as she’s built her business empire.
The artist slowed down the release of new music. Her latest album ANTI, came out in 2016. This is down to Rihanna’s other business ventures taking priority. She’s also become a mother in the last few years, giving birth to sons RZA and Riot.
But fans should watch this space, as there are rumours Rihanna is working on a new album, and reports suggest she could be going on a worldwide tour in 2025.
Rihanna's business interests boost her net wealth
Rihanna is not only a talented musician and actress, but she is also a successful entrepreneur. She has launched several businesses over the years, including Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, and Fenty Skin. All of these businesses were born out of a desire to appeal to a wide audience and appeal to customers other brands have been leaving behind.
Fenty Beauty, which was launched in 2017, revolutionised the makeup industry with its inclusive range of shades for all skin tones. The brand has received numerous accolades for its innovative products, such as the Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation and the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer.
Savage X Fenty, launched in 2018, is a lingerie brand that celebrates diversity and body positivity. The brand offers a wide range of sizes and styles and has become a fan favourite for its comfort and affordability.
In 2020, Rihanna launched Fenty Skin, a skincare line that emphasises simplicity and effectiveness. The brand's products, such as the Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser and the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer, have gained a loyal following.
More recently, in August 2024, Rihanna became the face of Dior’s J’adore fragrance – the first new face of the campaign in 20 years.
With a huge fan base already as an artist, there was no doubt that with good products, these ventures would be a success.
Rihanna and Fenty Beauty
While Rihanna’s other businesses have helped the star build her wealth, it’s Fenty Beauty that’s been the most successful enterprise for the entrepreneur. According to Forbes, Fenty Beauty has made more than $600 million in sales.
Since its launch in 2017, Fenty has grabbed a large share of the global cosmetics market by appealing to a wide range of skin tones, and heavy use of social media to promote its products.
The combination of both social media expansion and inclusive cosmetics has helped Fenty Beauty tap into previously underserved markets, boosting the brand's popularity. Moreover, the brand is seen as accessible to everyone, regardless of their background.
Within this inclusive framework, Fenty has created a sense of community around its brand. It hosts events and pop-up shops, which allow customers to interact with the brand and its products in real life. It also sponsors users on social media, which feeds back into the market strategy, but it also shows users just how much the brand cares about them, reinforcing the kind of brand loyalty other firms would kill for, and spend billions of dollars building.
Of course, no brand will survive today without offering a high-quality product, and for Fenty, that’s even more important. A brand with a high social media presence needs to be able to stand up to scrutiny – users will quickly see through all the glossy marketing if it can’t stand up to real life.
This is where Fenty really stands out. The brand's products are known for their long-lasting wear, impressive pigmentation and innovative formulas. The brand's Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation is known for its ability to even out skin tone and provide a flawless finish that lasts all day.
It’s this attention to detail that’s helped Fenty gain such a loyal following, and it’s one of the main reasons why the brand comprises such an important part of Rihanna’s net wealth.
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