American business magazine Forbes recently declared Robyn Fenty, known to the world as Rihanna, a billionaire.
Rihanna, who was named world’s richest female singer two years ago is currently worth $1.7 billion according to Forbes estimate. That’s quite massive for a female singer isn’t it? But how was Riri able to work her way to the billionaire’s club?
Let’s talk about it.
Rihanna was born on the beautiful island of Barbados in 1988. She grew up in a small bungalow with her two younger brothers and her parents who had a rocky relationship.
Rihanna always loved music and grew up singing along to reggae artists like Bob Marley and Buju Banton, as well as vocal powerhouses like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion and Shania Twain.
From a very young age, she knew she wanted to become a star. Rihanna’s big break came when she was in high school. One of her friends in school introduced her to a vacationing music producer. Right in a hotel, Rihanna sang for him, forever changing the trajectory of her life.
He flew her to the US where they worked on a demo album and went on to audition for none other than Jay-Z. Within 12 hours of the audition, she was signed to Def Jam Recordings. She released her debut album “Music of the Sun” in 2005.
One year later, she dropped her platinum selling “Sophomore album,” but her third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” shot Rihanna into major stardom earning her a first Grammy.
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From there she released hit after hit. Rihanna became a global phenomenon, touring all over the world. Her face was everywhere and she secured several high-profile partnerships with beauty and fashion brands as well as successful perfume lines. But it wasn’t until 2017 that she launched the brand that would take her to billionaire status and would make her the first black woman with creative control at a major fashion house.
Her makeup line Fenty Beauty was one of the industry’s first inclusive lines, offering 40 different shades of foundation. The brand, co-owned with French luxury goods giant LVMH was an immediate hit.
In 2018, Rihanna launched Savage X-Fenty and in 2020 she launched Fenty Skin, also with LVMH. This February, her lingerie line Savage X-Fenty raised 115 million dollars in funding at a one billion dollar valuation.
Her Clara Lionel foundation which raises money from fans and supporters has made donations to Coronavirus relief efforts to New York’s needy, to abuse victims in Los Angeles and more.
