Here’s How Rihanna Became the World’s Richest Female Musician (2024)

Nobody knows how to work (*obligatory work work work work*) more than Rihanna; I mean, she’s got literal decades of chart-topping songs under her belt! That said, RiRi is no longer “just” a singer—she’s also an entrepreneur, an actor, a cosmetics company owner, and a fashion designer. Oh, and she just added “Super Bowl performer” to the list! But more on that later. Thanks to Rihanna's ambition, she’s created her own massive empire worth millions billions. Again, that is billions with a “b.”

Quick history lesson: Back in 2019, Rihanna was officially named the world’s richest female musician (yep, she beat both Beyoncé and Lady Gaga), and more recently made the v enviable switch from millionaire to billionaire. Despite being known as a singer first, RiRi has actually made most of her money from other business ventures (read: FENTY!!!). That said, it seems that the A-lister has been dipping her toes back into her original moneymaker aka music as of late! And, no, we're not talking about an album release (*insert "boo" noises here*), but tbh her headlining 2023's biggest football game doesn't exactly make me feel like I'm settling so I'll take it lol. With that, before most of us tune into the Super Bowl for the first time ever to watch Rihanna perform, let's dive into all of the celeb's most lucrative deals and earnings to rub a little salt on the $$$ wound 👀:

Here’s How Rihanna Became the World’s Richest Female Musician (1)

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Fenty Beauty Is Worth Billions

Rihanna’s first major success was Fenty Beauty back in September 2017. The cosmetics brand—which launched with an impressive 40-shade foundation range—was such a hit that it made $100 million in sales within its first month and more than $550 million in annual revenue after its first year. Uhm, casual! With new products launching every season, the brand continues to be a huge success.

Forbes estimates that the bulk of Rihanna’s fortune (around $1.4 billion, specifically) comes from the value of Fenty Beauty, which she has 50 percent ownership of. The company itself, by the way, is worth $2.8 billion.

Here’s How Rihanna Became the World’s Richest Female Musician (2)

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But Wait, Don’t Forget About Savage x Fenty

Because Rihanna is, well, Rihanna and apparently doesn’t need sleep, she decided to also dabble in retail, launching the lingerie line Savage x Fenty in May 2018. The line got well-deserved praise for having inclusive sizing and even managed to have multiple (!!) fashion shows—one of which legit earned the company an Emmy. Yep, you read that right!

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Rihanna also launched luxury clothing house Fenty under the mega-company LVMH, becoming the first Black woman to run a major luxury fashion house. RiRi and LVMH announced in early 2021 that they were hitting pause on the line amid the coronavirus pandemic, but the good news? Around the same time, Savage x Fenty announced $115 million in new funding, putting its brand valuation at $1 billion as of February 2021. Per Forbes, Rihanna’s 30 percent stake in her lingerie company comes to an estimated $270 million.

Let's Get Into Those Partnerships, 'Kay?

Rihanna has successfully used her fame and talent to land her beyond-successful (read: v profitable) business ventures and deals. Case in point? In 2015, she signed a $25 million contract with Samsung to promote their Galaxy line of products, per Celebrity Net Worth. She's also worked with MAC Cosmetics, Budweiser, Armani, Dior, Gucci, and River Island. In 2014 the singer was even asked to be the creative director of Puma, overseeing the brand's women's line. 'Kay, that puts my Etsy side hustle to shame, but whatevs! Oh, Rihanna is also co-owner of the streaming service Tidal, along with other über-rich celebs like Jay-Z, Madonna, and Kanye West. TL;DR: She's in pretty good company!

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And Her Music $$$!

After she was discovered by Jay-Z, Rihanna was immediately signed to a six-album record deal in 2004. And, honestly, the rest is kiiiiind of history, but let's take a trip down memory lane regardless! The singer sold more than 60 million albums and 215 digital downloads of her songs throughout the course of her career, making her the biggest digital-selling artist of all time, per Roc Nation. Just some of her mega hits? "Umbrella," "Work,"Diamonds," "Man Down," and "Hate That I Love You." BRB, legit locking myself in my room and listening to these on repeat for hours lol.

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Her Touring Income Is 🤯🤯🤯

Though the *exact* amount Rihanna makes per show depends on people's attendance, we all know that she def doesn't have an issue in that department. Billboard reports that for her 2016 Anti World Tour, the singer made a cool $25 million over the course of 40 shows thanks to a partnership with Samsung. Plus, in 2013, her Diamonds World Tour was the highest-grossing of the year, raking in $140 million in ticket sales. We can only image the deals coming her way in preparation for the Super Bowl next February 👀.

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So, What Is Rihanna’s Total Net Worth?

Thanks to all her brands—and her tireless work ethic—Rihanna is now worth a whopping $1.7 billion, according to Forbes most recent estimatesmaking her the wealthiest female musician in the ENTIRE WORLD, not to mention the second richest female entertainer. (Oprah came in first, in case you were curious.) Meanwhile, Celebrity Net Worth notes that Rihanna earns approximately $70 million in any given year and also points out that she has millions tied up in a fleet of fancy homes, including a $13.75 million mansion she bought in Beverly Hills back in December 2020.

BTW, Rihanna has given away a ton of money too. Forbes reports that she has donated upward of $8 million (so generous!) to coronavirus relief efforts alone. Back in 2019, Rihanna gave T: The New York Times Style Magazine a bit of insight into how she thinks about her fortune:

“The money means that I can take care of my family. The money means that I can facilitate the businesses that I want to. I can create jobs for other people. My money is not for me; it’s always the thought that I can help someone else. The world can really make you believe that the wrong things are priority, and it makes you really miss the core of life, what it means to be alive. It could literally be walking outside in the sun. That makes me happy.”

Hell yes to that, but I’m still gonna need to sit down for a minute ’cause my brain is spinning trying to comprehend all that cash.

I’m Amanda, and I’m Cosmopolitan’s Editorial Fellow/Timothée Chalamet’s number one fan.

Here’s How Rihanna Became the World’s Richest Female Musician (2024)

FAQs

How does Rihanna have 1.7 billion dollars? ›

Rihanna is valued by Forbes at 1.7 billion dollars (£1.4 billion) thanks to the success of her cosmetics line Fenty Beauty.

How did Rihanna gain her wealth? ›

Rihanna's net worth is an estimated $1.7 billion as of 2021, according to Forbes. She's made profits from a variety of industries including music, fashion, and beauty. Rihanna has also signed major endorsem*nt deals and appeared in some popular films.

Is Rihanna a billionaire or billionaire? ›

Rihanna has become the youngest self-made female billionaire after hitting the $1.4 billion net worth mark.

Who has more money Rihanna or Beyonce? ›

Rihanna's net worth is $1.8 billion whiles Beyonce net worth is $500, million.

Who is richer Rihanna or oprah? ›

Rihanna is now worth $1.7 billion, Forbes estimates—making her the wealthiest female musician in the world and second only to Oprah Winfrey as the richest female entertainer.

Who is richer between Rihanna and Kim Kardashian? ›

Rihanna Takes Over Kim Kardashian To Become America's Youngest Self-Made Billionaire, Here's Her Net Worth.

What made Rihanna so successful? ›

Rihanna came into contact with Shawn Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z, who was president and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. The rapper was quick to offer her a contract, which led to her debut release “Pon De Replay” in 2005. Her debut album, “Music of the Sun” followed shortly after and was a commercial success.

Who is the youngest billionaire? ›

Kim Jung-youn is the world's youngest billionaire, according to reports. While both Kim and her elder sister Jung-min inherited equal shares of a 30.78 per cent stake each in NXC, the teenager has now become the world's youngest billionaire.

Who is the wealthiest entertainer? ›

Actress and investor Jamie Gertz is the richest actor in the world. The '80s star's net worth is estimated to be $3 billion. She is the owner of the Atlanta Hawks NBA team and has acted in many films and TV series throughout her career.

Which company is owned by Rihanna? ›

Fenty was founded in 2017 and launched in May 2019. The fashion label made Rihanna the first woman and also the first person of colour to head a luxury brand for the LVMH group. Fenty was closed in 2021.

What business does Rihanna own? ›

Fenty Beauty
A Fenty Beauty display at Sephora on September 23, 2017, shortly after launch
Trade nameFEИTY BEAUTY
Key peopleRihanna (Founder, CEO, Owner), Jahleel Weaver (Creative Director)
ProductsCosmetics
OwnerRobyn Fenty (50%) LVMH (50%)
8 more rows

Who is youngest self made billionaire in the world? ›

Six years later, he's the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Alexandr Wang grew up in the shadow of New Mexico's Los Alamos National Lab, the top-secret site where the United States developed its first atomic bomb during World War II.

What is Ariana Grande salary? ›

Ariana Grande earns $20-30 million per year.

How many No 1 does Rihanna have? ›

In the United States, Rihanna has amassed 14 number-one songs and 31 top-ten songs on the Billboard Hot 100. She has tallied 60 weeks at number one and is the artist with the most weeks in the top ten (360).

Who is richer Beyonce or Taylor Swift? ›

Who is richer, Beyoncé or Taylor Swift? With an estimated net worth between $450 million-$500 million, Beyoncé is wealthier than Swift as of this writing in October 2022.

Who is the richer woman on earth? ›

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and Family: $71.1 Billion

Francoise Bettencourt Meyers of France is the richest woman in the world, ranked No. 14 on Forbes' list of billionaires.

Who is the richest lady alive? ›

Françoise Bettencourt Meyers is currently the richest woman in the world with a net worth of $74.1 billion, per Forbes. She originally inherited her wealth from her grandfather's business ventures, specifically from L'Oréal cosmetics.

Which singer is a billionaire? ›

Aug 4 (Reuters) - Pop star Rihanna's net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion, making her the richest woman musician in the world, but her music is not the primary source of her wealth, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

Is Rihanna the youngest billionaire? ›

At the age of 34, Rihanna has become the youngest self-made billionaire in America, with a staggering net worth of USD 1.4 billion. Forbes published this on the list of America's Richest Self-Made Women in 2022. In 2019, Kylie Jenner, the makeup mogul, held this title, whose current net worth stands at USD 600 million.

Who is richer Kanye West and Rihanna? ›

Kanye West Net Worth 2022

Kanye West, on the other hand, is the wealthiest of the three music superstars. Kanye West is an entrepreneur and musician who is estimated to have a net worth of $2 billion.

What is Rihanna's most successful song? ›

Rihanna's Official Top 40 biggest songs:
POSTITLEARTIST
1LOVE THE WAY YOU LIEEMINEM FT RIHANNA
2WE FOUND LOVERIHANNA FT CALVIN HARRIS
3THIS IS WHAT YOU CAME FORCALVIN HARRIS FT RIHANNA
4WORKRIHANNA FT DRAKE
36 more rows
26 Oct 2022

How many businesses does Rihanna own? ›

The majority of her wealth comes from her three businesses — Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin and Savage x Fenty — rather than her music.

Who is the richest black? ›

For the eleventh time in a row, Aliko Dangote (b. 1957) has been named the richest man in Africa in 2022, with an estimated net worth of around $13 billion. 1 He is also the richest black man in the world.

Who is the oldest billionaire still alive? ›

He was the world's oldest billionaire after the death of David Rockefeller in 2017.
...
Chang Yun Chung
Died4 September 2020 (aged 102) Singapore
NationalitySingaporean
Other namesTeo Woon Tiong
Alma materXiamen Datung College
3 more rows

Who is the richest woman in the US? ›

Top 10 Richest Women in America
Top 10 overallNameSource of wealth
#1Alice WaltonWalmart
#2MacKenzie ScottAmazon
#3Julia Koch & familyKoch Industries
#4Jacqueline MarsCandy, pet food
6 more rows
22 Nov 2021

Who is the No 1 actor in world? ›

Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office
RankNameMovies
1Scarlett Johansson34
2Robert Downey, Jr.43
3Samuel L. Jackson64
4Chris Hemsworth25
79 more rows

Which celebrity has the most money? ›

Leading the ranking of highest-paid celebrities in 2021 was Peter Jackson, with an annual income of 580 million U.S. dollars. In second place was Bruce Springsteen with 435 million dollars in earnings, followed by Jay-Z with an income of 340 million U.S. dollars that year.

What actress is married to a billionaire? ›

Earlier this year, actress Salma Hayek received criticism over her marriage to billionaire businessman François-Henri Pinault. Haters accused her of marrying for money, but the Like A Boss star shut down the nasty comments about her and her husband.

Is Rihanna worth more than Jay Z? ›

Rihanna is said to be Barbados' first billionaire worth a cool $1.7 billion, thanks to her stake in the Fenty Beauty cosmetics line and the Savage X Fenty lingerie business. RiRi comes in at No. 1,729 on the 36th annual list, and is the world's richest female musician. JAY-Z has 99 problems, but assets ain't one.

How much is Rihanna's business worth? ›

Forbes estimates that the bulk of Rihanna's fortune (around $1.4 billion, specifically) comes from the value of Fenty Beauty, which she has 50 percent ownership of. The company itself, by the way, is worth $2.8 billion.

How much does Rihanna make a year? ›

Rihanna Net Worth
Net Worth:$1.7 Billion
Salary:$70 Million Per Year
Date of BirthFeb 20, 1988 (34 years old)
Place of BirthSaint Michael Parish
GenderFemale
3 more rows

What kind of car does Rihanna drive? ›

CHEVROLET, MERCEDES, & ESCALADE

Polishing up her nine-car collection journey comes Rihanna's Chevrolet LTZ, Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes S Class, and Maybach 57S. One of the "cheapest" cars that she owns, the six-liter V8-powered Chevrolet Suburban LTZ costs $51,000.

Who was first female billionaire? ›

BIOGRAPHY OF OPRAH WINFREY: An Inspiring Story of the First Female Billionaire on Forbes List.

How old was Bill Gates when he became a billionaire? ›

Bill Gates became the world's youngest-ever billionaire at the age of 31 in 1987. In 1995, he became the world's richest man with a net worth of $12.9 billion.

Who was the first black trillionaire? ›

He became the first African-American billionaire in 2001. Johnson's companies have counted among the most prominent African-American businesses in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries.
...
Robert L. Johnson
BornRobert Louis Johnson April 8, 1946 Hickory, Mississippi, U.S.
6 more rows

What is Taylor Swift salary? ›

Taylor Swift Net Worth 2022 Income

Taylor Swift has also appeared in commercials for brands such as Apple and Beats 1 Radio and she is one of the most influential female artists in the world. She earns $3 Million as an income which is again very huge.

How much is Blake Shelton paid for The Voice? ›

How much does Blake Shelton make from The Voice? Shelton reportedly makes $13 million per season on The Voice.

What is net worth of Justin Bieber? ›

Justin Bieber's net worth is estimated to be around $285 million as of June 2022. Justin Bieber is a singer and songwriter from Canada who rose to fame at a young age.

Who is the #1 selling artist of all time? ›

Top-selling artists worldwide as of 2022. Perhaps unsurprisingly, British rock band The Beatles are top of the list for best-selling artists worldwide, with 183 million units certified sales. Second is Garth Brooks with over 157 million units sales, followed by Elvis Presley with 139 million units.

What is the biggest selling single of all time? ›

According to Guinness World Records, Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 million copies.

How many songs did Drake do with Rihanna? ›

Drake and Rihanna have collaborated five different times throughout their careers.

How much money is Ed Sheeran worth? ›

Thanks to hits like “Shape of You,” “Bad Habits,” “Castle on the Hill” and “Perfect,” Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has an estimated net worth of $200 million dollars, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.

Is Rihanna bigger than Beyonce? ›

On Instagram, Beyoncé has over 200 million followers while Rihanna is only a little above 100 million followers. One thing that stands out from observing these pages is that Rihanna has actually made more posts on Instagram than Beyoncé.

Who is more richer between Rihanna and Beyonce? ›

By comparing their net worth, I conclude that, Rihanna is the richest. Rihanna's net worth is $1.8 billion whiles Beyonce net worth is $500, million.

How does Rihanna have a billion dollars? ›

Her $1.4 billion comes primarily from the success of her cosmetics line, Fenty Beauty, according to Forbes.

How many billions is Rihanna worth? ›

Rihanna has become the youngest self-made female billionaire after hitting the $1.4 billion net worth mark. Rihanna, 34, appeared at number 21 on Forbes' annual self-made women list. The outlet estimated her net worth comes mostly from her music and cosmetics ventures.

Is Rihanna officially a billionaire? ›

Rihanna is now officially a billionaire and the wealthiest female musician in the world, according to Forbes. The pop star is worth $1.7 billion (£1.2 billion), with an estimated $1.4 billion coming from the value of her Fenty Beauty cosmetics company.

Who's the youngest billionaire in the world? ›

As a kid, Alexandr Wang was a math whiz who liked participating in national math and coding competitions.

Who is youngest self-made billionaire in the world? ›

Six years later, he's the world's youngest self-made billionaire. Alexandr Wang grew up in the shadow of New Mexico's Los Alamos National Lab, the top-secret site where the United States developed its first atomic bomb during World War II.

Who is the youngest billionaire in usa? ›

Alexandr Wang is the youngest self-made billionaire as of November 2022, according to Forbes. At the age of 25, Wang is estimated to have a net worth of $1 billion. His San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company, Scale AI was valued at $7.3 billion earlier this year.

How much does Rihanna make a month? ›

Rihanna Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$100,000$8,333
75th Percentile$63,000$5,250
Average$53,988$4,499
25th Percentile$31,500$2,625

How much is Rihanna worth in cash? ›

Forbes estimates that the bulk of Rihanna's fortune (around $1.4 billion, specifically) comes from the value of Fenty Beauty, which she has 50 percent ownership of. The company itself, by the way, is worth $2.8 billion.

Who has more hits Rihanna or Drake? ›

1 Hits. Drake has tallied 11 No. 1 hits on the Hot 100 in his career, the most among rappers. Among all artists, though, he's tied with Whitney Houston for the seventh-most, after The Beatles (20), Mariah Carey (19), Rihanna (14), Michael Jackson (13), The Supremes and Madonna (12 each).

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