In the entertainment and business fields, there are few names that shine as brightly as Rihanna.

Rihanna’s real name is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, born on February 20, 1988 in Saint Michael, Barbados. As a child, Rihanna and her father made a living selling clothes at a street stall. Her childhood was deeply affected by her father’s drug addiction, which led to family tensions and her parents’ divorce.

Rihanna as a child.

Early start in music career

While in high school, Rihanna formed a musical trio with two Barbadian classmates and auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers, who was immediately drawn to her talent. 

After a successful audition, she was invited to record a demo tape. Over the course of about a year, intermittent recordings produced tracks such as “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time”, both of which were later included on her debut album “Music of the Sun”. 

“Music of the Sun” was released in August 2005. The album was a commercial success, debuting at number 10 on the Billboard 200. Her second album “A Girl Like Me” topped the charts in several countries, cementing Rihanna’s status as a global star.

In the summer of 2010, Rihanna collaborated with Eminem on “Love the Way You Lie”, a global hit that reached number one in over 20 countries and became the best-selling song of 2010 in the UK. She then co-headlined a tour with Eminem, grossing over $36 million after just six shows.

While in high school, Rihanna formed a musical trio with two Barbadian classmates and auditioned for American record producer Evan Rogers.

According to BET, Rihanna embarked on the Loud Tour in support of her self-titled album in a year, earning an estimated $90 million. The Loud Tour marked a record-breaking 10 sold-out nights at The O2 Arena in West London, making her the female artist with the most sold-out shows in the venue’s history. The tour was ranked as the seventh highest-grossing tour worldwide in 2011.

In 2015, Rihanna began work on her latest studio album, “Anti.” She signed a $25 million deal with Samsung, which involved her endorsing Samsung’s Galaxy line of products. In return, Samsung sponsored the release of her studio album and accompanying tour. Since then, Rihanna has collaborated with stars such as Kanye West, Calvin Harris, Drake, and DJ Khaled.

Fenty Fashion Empire

Transitioning effortlessly from stage to business, Rihanna’s influence extends far beyond music. The launch of her Fenty fashion line marked a groundbreaking moment in the industry. Fenty not only broke traditional beauty standards but also championed inclusivity with its diverse range of products.

In 2019, Rihanna unveiled her collaboration with LVMH (a French international conglomerate specializing in luxury goods), revealing the name and logo of the joint venture on her social media platforms. In a message of appreciation, she praised LVMH as an ideal partner, expressing her readiness to let the world witness their joint creation.

The partnership makes Rihanna the first woman of color to lead an LVMH brand. Fenty represents the latest addition to LVMH’s clothing, footwear, fragrance and accessories lines since 1987, joining iconic brands like Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Christian Dior.

Easily moving from stage to business, Rihanna’s influence extends far beyond music

Savage X Fenty: Redefining Lingerie

Rihanna’s foray into the lingerie industry with Savage X Fenty has shown her business acumen, with the brand not only redefining lingerie but also celebrating body positivity for women of all shapes and sizes.

Savage X Fenty was recognized as one of Fast Company’s “10 Most Innovative Lifestyle Companies of 2020.” By 2021, the brand’s valuation had reached an impressive $1 billion, boasting over 4.5 million followers across various social media platforms.

In 2022, Rihanna announced that Savage X Fenty brick-and-mortar stores would be opening soon. The first five locations selected include Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

Fenty Beauty: Beauty Revolution

The majority of Rihanna’s net worth comes from the value and sales of her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line. In 2017, at the age of 29, Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty. Prior to this venture, she had collaborated with MAC Cosmetics and released 10 fragrances, but Fenty Beauty marked her first foray into an independent cosmetics brand.

Rihanna has made it clear that Fenty’s core goal is to cater to “every type of woman” and embrace “every skin tone.” In just one month since its launch, Fenty Beauty has generated a total of $72 million in sales and seen widespread sell-outs.

The majority of Rihanna’s net worth comes from the value and sales of her Fenty Beauty cosmetics line.

In the UK, Fenty Beauty has overtaken MAC Cosmetics to become Harvey Nichols’ most successful beauty launch to date. In September, the department store sold one Fenty Beauty foundation every minute and one lipstick every three minutes. The launch contributed significantly to LVMH’s 17% increase in cosmetics and fragrance sales in the third quarter of 2017.

Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH, reported that Fenty Beauty’s revenue reached nearly $573 million by the end of 2018. Forbes noted that in its first 15 months of operation, Fenty Beauty generated $570 million in revenue in 2018. The overall business is valued at $2.8 billion, with Rihanna, the CEO, owning a 50% stake in the business.

With her tireless efforts, Rihanna has been consistently listed among the richest self-made women in America in recent years. The 9-time Grammy winner once said that she wants to use her fortune to do greater things for the community: “My money is not for me. I always think that I can help others. This world can really make you believe that the wrong things should be prioritized and make you miss the core values ​​of life, as well as the meaning of being alive.”