Robyn Rihanna Fenty, known professionally as Rihanna, is a global superstar born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael, Barbados. Renowned for her versatile voice, bold fashion sense, and entrepreneurial ventures, she has become one of the most influential figures in music, beauty, and fashion. With over 250 million records sold worldwide, Rihanna is the second-best-selling female music artist of all time and the wealthiest female musician, with a net worth of $1.4 billion as of 2025. Her empire spans music, cosmetics (Fenty Beauty), lingerie (Savage X Fenty), and philanthropy, cementing her as a cultural icon.
Early Life and Background
Rihanna was raised in Bridgetown, Barbados, by her parents, Monica Braithwaite, an accountant, and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. She has two younger brothers, Rorrey and Rajad Fenty, and three half-siblings from her father’s previous relationships: Kandy, Samantha, and Jamie Fenty. Her childhood was marked by challenges, including her father’s struggles with alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction, which led to physical abuse in the household and her parents’ divorce when she was 14. These difficulties caused Rihanna to suffer from intense migraines, which improved post-divorce. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere School, where she excelled in beauty pageants and talent shows, winning a high-school talent competition with a rendition of Mariah Carey’s “Hero.”
At 15, Rihanna formed a girl group with two classmates. In 2004, she caught the attention of American record producer Evan Rogers during his vacation in Barbados. Impressed by her voice, Rogers arranged for her to record demo tapes in the U.S. She auditioned for Jay-Z, then-CEO of Def Jam Recordings, and signed a six-album deal at 16, adopting her middle name, Rihanna, as her stage name.
Music Career
Rihanna’s music career took off with her debut single, “Pon de Replay” (2005), which peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over two million copies. Her first album, Music of the Sun (2005), blended reggae, R&B, and dancehall, selling over two million copies worldwide. She followed with A Girl Like Me (2006), featuring hits like “S.O.S.” (her first #1 Billboard single) and “Unfaithful.”
Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), marked a turning point, showcasing a bolder, R&B-pop sound. The lead single, “Umbrella” (featuring Jay-Z), became a global anthem, earning her first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Subsequent albums solidified her dominance:
- Rated R (2009): Reflected personal struggles, including her highly publicized assault by then-boyfriend Chris Brown, with hits like “Rude Boy.”
- Loud (2010): Featured upbeat tracks like “Only Girl (In the World)” and “What’s My Name?” (with Drake).
- Talk That Talk (2011): Produced “We Found Love” (with Calvin Harris), a global chart-topper.
- Unapologetic (2012): Her first #1 Billboard 200 album, with “Diamonds” and a controversial duet with Chris Brown.
- Anti (2016): Her last studio album to date, featuring “Work” (with Drake) and showcasing artistic evolution.
Rihanna has achieved 14 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, making her the youngest and fastest solo artist to reach this milestone. She has sold over 60 million albums and 215 million digital tracks, earning 9 Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 9 American Music Awards, and 4 iHeartRadio Music Awards. She holds multiple Guinness World Records, including “most consecutive years of UK #1 singles” and “most digital #1 singles in the U.S.” Her 2023 Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show drew 121 million viewers, the most-watched in history, during which she announced her second pregnancy.
Since 2016, Rihanna has been on a music hiatus but released singles like “Lift Me Up” (2022, for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Oscar-nominated) and “Friend of Mine” (2025, for The Smurfs Movie soundtrack), which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Dance Digital Song Sales chart. As of February 2025, she is working on her ninth studio album (tentatively called R9), with no confirmed release date, as she aims to surpass the artistic benchmark set by Anti.
Business Ventures
Rihanna’s wealth primarily stems from her entrepreneurial ventures, particularly Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty:
- Fenty Beauty (launched 2017): Co-owned 50% with LVMH, the inclusive makeup line generated $100 million in its first 40 days and $550 million in 2020. Valued at $2.8 billion, it contributes significantly to her wealth. Its diverse shade range revolutionized the beauty industry. In 2022, it expanded to Ulta stores and eight African countries.
- Savage X Fenty (launched 2018): Rihanna owns 30% of the lingerie brand, valued at $1 billion in 2021. Known for inclusive sizing, it sold out its debut collection in a month. Despite a CEO departure in 2024, it continues to release collections like the Bridal line.
- Fenty (launched 2019): A luxury fashion line with LVMH, paused in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rihanna was the first Black woman to head an LVMH luxury brand.
- Fenty x Puma: As creative director (2014–2018, resumed 2023), she oversaw sold-out apparel and footwear collections.
- Tidal: Rihanna is a co-owner of the music streaming service with Jay-Z and others, sold in 2021.
- Endorsements: Collaborations with Dior, Manolo Blahnik, Armani, Gucci, CoverGirl, MAC Cosmetics, Samsung ($25 million for her 2016 Anti World Tour), and more.
Her real estate portfolio includes a $5.2 million Century City condo, a $23.8 million Beverly Hills compound, a $6.8 million Hollywood Hills home, and properties in Barbados. She sold a Los Angeles “Mansion in the Sky” for $25 million in 2024.
Acting and Other Ventures
Rihanna has appeared in films like Battleship (2012), This Is the End (2013), Home (2015), Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017), Ocean’s 8 (2018), and Guava Island (2019). She performed at a private concert in India in 2024 for Mukesh Ambani’s son’s pre-wedding celebration, reportedly earning $5–9 million.
Philanthropy
Through her Clara Lionel Foundation (founded 2012, named after her grandparents), Rihanna supports global education, health, and disaster relief. Key efforts include:
- $2–3 million raised annually via the Diamond Ball.
- $5 million for COVID-19 relief in 2020.
- $700,000 in ventilators to Barbados.
- $15 million for climate justice in 2022 across Caribbean nations and the U.S.
Personal Life
Rihanna’s relationships have drawn public attention. She dated Chris Brown (2008–2009), with their relationship ending after his assault, for which he was convicted. She briefly reconciled with Brown in 2012–2013. She has been in a relationship with rapper A$AP Rocky since 2020, and they have two sons: RZA Athelstan Meyers (born May 2022) and Riot Rose Meyers (born August 2023). In May 2025, Rihanna revealed her third pregnancy at the Met Gala.
Her father, Ronald Fenty, passed away in May 2025 at age 70. Rihanna faced legal disputes with him over the use of the “Fenty” name, which she dropped in 2021.
Rihanna is a fashion icon, named the 2018 Best-Dressed Woman by Net-a-Porter and receiving the 2014 CFDA Fashion Icon Award. Her 2015 Met Gala Guo Pei yellow dress garnered a billion social media impressions, inspiring the documentary Yellow Is Forbidden. She co-chaired the 2018 Met Gala.
Net Worth
Rihanna’s net worth is estimated at $1.4 billion as of February 2025, per Forbes, down from $1.7 billion in 2021 due to business setbacks, including Savage X Fenty’s CEO departure and Fenty fashion line challenges. Her wealth sources include:
- Fenty Beauty: 50% ownership, valued at $2.8 billion, generating $550 million in 2020.
- Savage X Fenty: 30% ownership, valued at $1 billion.
- Music and Tours: Earned $140 million from the 2013 Diamonds World Tour, $40 million from the 2010 Last Girl on Earth Tour, and $25 million from Samsung for the 2016 Anti World Tour.
- Endorsements and Performances: $5–9 million for a 2024 private concert in India.
- Real Estate: Properties worth tens of millions.
In 2022, she became America’s youngest self-made female billionaire, surpassing Kim Kardashian, and ranks #35 on Forbes’ 2025 America’s Richest Self-Made Women list.
Summary Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Robyn Rihanna Fenty |
| Date of Birth | February 20, 1988 |
| Birthplace | Saint Michael, Barbados |
| Height | 5’8” (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 61 kg (134 lbs) |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Entrepreneur |
| Music Achievements | 14 Billboard Hot 100 #1s, 9 Grammys, 250M records sold, Super Bowl 2023 |
| Albums | 8 studio albums (2005–2016), latest: Anti (2016) |
| Recent Singles | “Lift Me Up” (2022), “Friend of Mine” (2025, Smurfs soundtrack) |
| Business Ventures | Fenty Beauty ($2.8B), Savage X Fenty ($1B), Fenty x Puma, Tidal |
| Net Worth | $1.4 billion (Forbes, February 2025) |
| Income Sources | Music ($40–90M/year), Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, endorsements, real estate |
| Philanthropy | Clara Lionel Foundation: $15M for climate justice, $5M for COVID-19 relief |
| Family | Partner: A$AP Rocky; Sons: RZA (2022), Riot (2023); Pregnant with third child |
| Fashion Achievements | 2014 CFDA Fashion Icon, 2018 Best-Dressed Woman, 2015 Met Gala viral moment |
| Social Media | Instagram: 152M followers (@badgalriri), Twitter: 110M followers |
Recent Results
Rihanna’s recent music activity includes “Friend of Mine” (2025), which debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Dance Digital Song Sales chart but peaked at #72 on the UK Official Singles Chart, her lowest since 2016. Her catalog remains strong, with “Stay” (with Mikky Ekko) achieving 12x platinum and “We Found Love” (with Calvin Harris) at 11x platinum in the U.S. Her 2023 Super Bowl performance boosted her streams, and she’s reportedly planning a 2025 world tour for R9. For detailed music stats, visit Billboard.com or RocNation.com.
