We can come up with dozens of names when someone asks us which celebrities we like, and yes, we are that kind of fans that have dozens of them instead of one or two.
However, we have our top like any human being, and some artists and famous people make our hearts flutter more than others, but how wouldn’t they? After all, our top is usually everyone’s top in which celebrities like Rihanna are very close to number 1.
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love Rihanna? She is like an icon and celebrity for the celebrities and famous people themselves, and we are down to be part of that team if we ever jump to stardom for whatever reason.
Since her debut over a decade ago and the singles that made her music career skyrocket, she has been synonymous with sensation, fascination, and many other positive adjectives you could come up with.
With more than our love clear for her, we have to ask, do you share it with us? If not, we won’t call you a heretic-yet-. Instead, we would love to share the details about this woman and let you know one of the reasons why you must be here: Her fortune.
If you are indeed a fan, we are sure you will enjoy this article even more.
Before Stardom: Rihanna’s Childhood & Early Years
One of the common aspects people don’t know about celebrities is their childhoods and teenage years.
In the case of Rihanna, they weren’t easy and, instead, quite chaotic to the point for us to wish fewer children (or none if possible) to go through similar experiences. With this in mind, where shall we start?
Her official name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty; she was born in St. Michael, Barbados, on February 20, 1988. She is the oldest of three children to Monica Fenty (an accountant) and Ronald Fenty (a warehouse supervisor).
What we were referring to in her childhood is the fact that Rihanna was marred in part by her father’s addiction to crack, cocaine, and alcohol, and her parents’ marital problems, bringing a tough situation to her and her two siblings since she was a child until she was 14 and her parents decided to split.
During several interviews, Rihanna mentioned how she suffered from crippling headaches throughout her childhood and how this was something she tried to hide from her classmates and friends so they wouldn’t think she was weird.
This, in addition to her difficult family situation, made her childhood quite difficult to handle.
However, during her teenage years, she found a way to escape from the disaster at home and what surrounded her.
Rihanna began singing as her medicine and temporary solution, which led her to form a girl group with two of her classmates.
When she was only 15, Evan Rodgers, a music producer, invited them to audition during the time when Rodgers was on the island with his Barbadian spouse.
Rogers was amazed by Rihanna’s talent and beauty, much to the detriment of her two best friends. He admitted to being amazed by her personality and how she carried herself in the room, leading to the point of even ignoring the other two girls.
With a very good first impression and his instant love for Rihanna (without any disturbing or dark purpose), she was 16 years old when she left Barbados in order to live with Rogers in Connecticut and record a demo album.
With this new opportunity and the option to leave her family despite loving them no matter the odds, she was convinced to do what she had to do.
From here, Rihanna’s career would start and, later on, go right to the top.
From Nobody to “The One” – Music Career & Success
If there’s someone with one of the best music careers to this date, Rihanna can be named without a doubt.
After moving to the USA with Rogers, Rogers got her an audition at Def Jam Records.
The newly minted president of the label, the legendary rapper Jay Z, was added to the equation of this big opportunity that made her shake because of how nervous she was about being given this huge opportunity.
She gave her all during the audition, and with her difficulties due to nerves, she still killed it by forgetting about everything while performing.
Jay-Z, impressed by her performance and natural presence, didn’t think twice about signing her on the spot, and this is when her biggest dream started to come true.
Following her signing to the label and immediate work in producing music, it was only eight months later when she released her first track, “Pon de Replay.” This reggae-influenced club track reached number 2 on the Billboard singles chart placing Rihanna right in the spotlight as the next pop star.
Following this single, her album “Music of the Sun” was released only a month later and reached number 10 on the albums’ chart.
The album had a great reception in the USA but also internationally despite not booming as much as in the main country.
Next, she didn’t wait too long until releasing her new album “A Girl Like Me” the following year that came with two big singles: “Unfaithful” and “SOS.” The latter became her first number 1 single of the many to come.
Although she was clearly a sensation right after her debut and second album, it wasn’t until 2007 when Rihanna’s fame skyrocketed.
With her third album, “Good Girl Gone Bad,” Rihanna’s appearance from an inoffensive girl transformed into a superstar and sex icon that remains today.
The album came with one of her most successful hits and the reason many came to know her from here onwards: “Umbrella.”
This hit features Jay-Z, who praised the lyrics and her evolution in the music industry only a few years after starting her journey.
Naturally, “Umbrella” became a Billboard singles leader and stayed in the charts as the topper for several consecutive weeks and many months in the top 10.
The success of the song was to the extent of earning Rihanna her first Grammy Award in Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The album also reached No. 2 on the charts and was a hit in sales.
In it, other singles like “Shut up and Drive” and “Don’t Stop the Music,” which featured a sample of Michael Jackson’s song “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” became quite popular.
With her success striking everyone’s hearts and minds, “Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded” was released in the following year, and it continues Rihanna’s supremacy with the hits “Disturbia,” “Take a Bow,” and “Hate that I Love You.”
But after such great successes, doesn’t an era of poor songs and albums come? For her? Not really.
In 2009, Rihanna released “Rating R” with the singles “Hard” and “Rude Boy.” However, it wasn’t until her 2010 album “Loud” that another commercial success topped the charts.
With the singles “What’s My Name,” “Only Girl (In the World),” and “S&M,” Rihanna was unstoppable and continuing to make history.
During this time, she gained more popularity for her songs but also for collaborating with other artists like Jay-Z, Maroon 5, and Kanye West.
Her next success came in 2011 when she released her sixth studio album, “Talk That Talk,” which included the single “We Found Love,” which was a song featuring DJ Calvin Harris and won the 2013 Grammy Award as the best short-form music video.
Hitting More Charts & Current Success
Following her back-to-back top albums, Rihanna didn’t disappoint for her next one in 2012 when she released the Grammy-winning “Unapologetic” that featured singles like “Diamonds” (one of our favorites) and “Stay” that were part of the 2012 charts for months and ranked as the most popular in several lists.
The album was full of other hits like “Princess of China” featuring Coldplay and “The Monster” with Eminem.
Since her debut with “Umbrella” and change to a sexy icon, Rihanna has been known for her provocative images and wild style.
Many fashion icon awards have come her way due to her sense of style and how she has made herself a trend over the years.
She has even told the crowd that fashion had always been her defense mechanism. Following her bold choices, she also decided to quit her former label, Def Jam, and went to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation.
In August 2015, NBC revealed that Rihanna would serve as the main adviser for “The Voice’s” 9th season. She also sang the song “FourFiveSeconds,” which was a collaboration with West and famed Beatle Paul McCartney.
During this year, she also released “B **** better Have My Money,” which she allegedly influenced by court wranglings that she had with her ex-manager.
In 2015, she hit the mark of being the first artist ever to have over 100 million singles downloaded digitally and streamed at the same time.
To close her music career so far, we have 2016’s single “Work” in her album “Anti.” The hit featured rapper Drake and soon became one of the year’s best songs and got two Grammy nominations.
Her participation in the hit “Wild Thoughts” by Dj Khaled just increased the love of her fans (and nonfans) for her.
In the case of Rihanna, we actually have to dive quite deep into her career since music wasn’t her only approach and the reason behind the money we will be mentioning later on.
Rihanna actually got her film debut in August 2006’s “Bring It On,” where she appeared as herself and would bring a new phase for her career and as a celebrity.
Later on, she had her own television show, “Styled to Rock,” which was first broadcasted in the UK in 2012, while the American version followed in 2013.
She has also appeared in “Battleship” (2012), “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (2017), and “Ocean’s 8” (2018).
She took part in the film “Home” in 2015 by voicing Tip. Her participation also included a concept album soundtrack for the film.
Net Worth & Business Empire: More than a Singer
After releasing albums almost every year, it is weird for many to feel the absence of the superstar after all these years. After all, we are in 2021, and she has yet to release a new song so far.
However, we don’t blame her; she has been quite busy.
Her reason for being busy is what actually takes us to her fortune or net worth since more than a singer, Rihanna is currently known for her business ventures.
Thanks to her successful career in music, she was able to reach more than a $20 million mark in 2015 for her music.
However, her success and net worth would only come to increase when she signed a $25 Million contract with Samsung during this year in order to promote their Galaxy products.
She has also worked with MAC Cosmetics and Secret Body Spray. Rihanna was appointed the brand’s creative director in 2014 and just added more revenue to her pockets.
Her responsibilities included overseeing Puma’s women’s collection and releasing footwear and apparel collaborations. Along with Jay-Z, Madonna, and Kanye West, she is co-owner of Tidal music streaming service.
Following her business ventures in the other niches, Fenty Beauty was Rihanna’s first makeup line, which was launched in September 2017 by Kendo Brands, luxury goods manufacturer LVMH.
In its first two months, the brand generated $100 million in revenue and earned $570 million in 2018.
Based on a 7X revenue multiplier, it is possible that the brand’s total value would range from $2 to $3 billion. According to official reports, Rihanna holds 50% of the brand.
Along with this beauty line, she co-founded the lingerie line Savage X Fenty that launched in 2018 and held 30% of the brand.
But where does this leave us regarding her total fortune?
With the domestics company she co-owns with LVMH, $550 million was generated in revenue in 2020, and her stake in the company is what brings most of her fortune.
Meanwhile, the Savage X Fenty is worth $1 billion to this date, and thanks to the recent release in September-October, the profits gained from it are only increasing and adding to her $1.7 billion.
Yes, Rihanna has the billionaire status and even ranks Nº 16 in Forbe’s America’s Self-Made Women list in 2021 and is considered the wealthiest female musician to this date.
Finally, she owns several real estate properties, including a $15 million home in Beverly Hills and other Hollywood Hills properties worth over $8 million through the country.
Charity & Social Work: Philanthropy at Its Best?
With all the billions in her bank account and despite being known for a pretty savage celebrity in buying cars and other items, she is the richest female musician thanks to the singer’s company. She is also known for her philanthropist work.
Rihanna is one of the celebrities who donate and collaborates the most with charities and general social work, especially those helping children in need.
In fact, she founded the Believe Foundation back in 2006 to help terminally ill children.
Several concerts have been conducted with her as the main performer to raise funds for her foundation, but other charities like Kids Wish Network, Feeding America, and many more.
In addition to her continuous social work with children’s charities, she takes part in the foundations regarding music, including the GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares.
Her donations to cancer research, health and education funds, and other purposes have been made public or remain anonymous regardless of the not-so-secret behind them.
Currently, her most notable contributions involve donating over $9 million to support coronavirus relief, and her other charity, Clara Lionel Foundation, over $2 million have been provided to give support to abuse victims in Los Angeles.
$5 million have been donated to more charities over the last year, and most of the funds in her Believe Foundation come from her own profits.
She sure dedicates a lot of heavy work to charities and foundations, and some of them include organizations from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey.
5 Unforgettable Quotes by Rihanna
- “I’m really looking forward to seeing what life brings to me.”
- “I always believed that when you follow your heart or your gut when you really follow the things that feel great to you, you can never lose because settling is the worst feeling in the world.”
- “When I see myself as an old woman, I just think about being happy. And hopefully, I’ll still be fly.”
- “I could never identify with that word, ‘weak.'”
- “Making music is like shopping for me. Every song is like a new pair of shoes.”
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