Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, on February 20, 1988, Robyn Rihanna Fenty grew up in a setting far removed from the glitz and glamour she would later be known for. In her formative years, Rihanna helped her father sell clothes at a street stall, an experience shadowed by his struggles with addiction, which inevitably led to familial tensions and her parents’ subsequent divorce.
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Her musical journey began in high school when Rihanna formed a trio with two classmates and auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers. Captivated by her extraordinary talent, Rogers immediately saw potential and invited Rihanna to record a demo tape. Over the course of a year, intermittent recording sessions gave birth to tracks like “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time,” both of which featured on her debut album, “Music of the Sun.”
Released in August 2005, “Music of the Sun” enjoyed commercial success, breaking into the top 10 of the Billboard 200. Her second album, “A Girl Like Me,” topped charts internationally, consolidating Rihanna’s status as a global phenomenon.
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The summer of 2010 witnessed Rihanna’s collaboration with Eminem on the global smash “Love the Way You Lie,” which claimed the top spot in more than 20 countries and earned the title of the UK’s best-selling song of 2010. A co-headlined tour with Eminem generated over $36 million from just six shows. Within a year, Rihanna launched her Loud Tour to promote her album of the same name, grossing approximately $90 million. The tour’s unprecedented success included ten sold-out nights at The O2 Arena in West London, establishing Rihanna as the female artist with the most sold-out shows in the venue’s history. The Loud Tour ranked as the seventh-highest-grossing worldwide in 2011.
In 2015, Rihanna commenced her latest studio album “Anti” and entered into a $25 million contract with Samsung, endorsing the electronics giant’s Galaxy product line. In exchange, Samsung sponsored the release of her studio album and accompanying tour. Since then, she has collaborated with stars like Kanye West, Calvin Harris, Drake, and DJ Khaled.
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Transitioning from music to a burgeoning fashion empire, Rihanna’s Fenty brand marked a pivotal breakthrough, challenging conventional beauty standards and championing inclusivity with its diverse range of products.
In 2019, Rihanna revealed her partnership with LVMH, making the announcement on her social media platforms. She praised LVMH as the ideal partner, eager for the world to witness their joint creativity. This collaboration made Rihanna the first woman of color to lead an LVMH brand, adding Fenty’s apparel, footwear, perfumes, and accessories to the conglomerate’s portfolio, which includes venerable houses like Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Christian Dior.
But it didn’t stop there—Rihanna’s foray into the lingerie industry with Savage X Fenty showcased her business acumen. The brand redefined lingerie and celebrated body positivity across all shapes and sizes. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies of 2020, the brand achieved an impressive valuation of $1 billion by 2021, amassing more than 4.5 million followers across various social media platforms. In 2022, Rihanna announced plans to establish traditional Savage X Fenty stores, initially targeting locations including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.
Fenty Beauty, another ground-breaking venture, represents a substantial portion of Rihanna’s net worth. At just 29 years old, she launched Fenty Beauty, a pioneering independent cosmetics brand. Although previously collaborating with MAC Cosmetics and launching ten fragrances, Fenty Beauty marked her most significant entrepreneurial leap.
Rihanna clarified that Fenty’s core mission is to serve “women of all shades, personalities, attitudes, cultures, and races”. Within its first month, Fenty Beauty generated $72 million, witnessing widespread sell-out situations. In the UK, the brand eclipsed MAC Cosmetics as Harvey Nichols’ most successful beauty launch ever. The store reported selling a Fenty Beauty foundation every minute and a lipstick every three minutes during September, contributing to a 17% increase in LVMH’s cosmetics and perfume sales in the third quarter of 2017.
Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, reported that Fenty Beauty’s revenue neared $573 million by the end of 2018. Forbes noted that in its initial 15 months, Fenty Beauty generated $570 million in 2018, valuing the entire business at $2.8 billion, with Rihanna as CEO owning a 50% stake.
Rihanna’s relentless efforts have consistently earned her a place among America’s wealthiest self-made women in recent years. The nine-time Grammy Award winner has expressed a desire to use her wealth for greater community endeavours: “My money is not for me; it’s always been the thought that I can help someone else. The world can really make you believe that the wrong things are a priority, and it makes you really miss the core of life, what it means to be alive.”
