On 4 August Forbes estimated Rhianna’s net worth to stand at $1.7 billion, making her the wealthiest woman in the music industry today.
This new revelation also places her as the second wealthiest woman in entertainment falling only behind Oprah Winfrey. While a total of 2,755 people appeared on the Forbes annual billionaires list only 328 were women and so this is no mean feat.
With men still making up around 90% of this prestigious group, Rhianna’s achievement is all the more awe-inspiring. Girl power!
While the singer became famous for her classic hits like Diamond and Umbrella, it is not music but her eye for business that has launched her into billionaire status.
Most of Rhianna’s wealth is believed to come from her 50% stake in Fenty Beauty which launched in 2017, with the rest attributed to the artist’s music, acting roles, and her Savage X Fenty lingerie company which is worth around $270 million.
Becoming a billionaire is impressive full stop, but Rihanna’s success is especially praise-worthy. Notably, her businesses are all rooted in a desire to create diverse and inclusive brands. Savage x Fenty recently partnered with Caramel Curves, an all-female motorcycle crew, to create an empowering campaign. Why not check it out below?
Rhianna’s achievements are far-reaching. She’s acted, won Grammys, and designed luxury clothing brands all while investing in young creators. However, some of her past decisions have not gone without scrutiny.
In February, she was accused of cultural appropriation when she posed topless on Instagram, wearing only a necklace featuring the Hindu god Ganesh and silk underwear.
The post was a promotional one for her Savage X Fenty line and some fans were less than impressed, with one branding the post ‘ disrespect 101.’
In the same month Legal Rights Observatory, an NGO filed a complaint against Fenty Beauty for child labour in India.
While these acts of bad judgment have overshadowed Rhianna’s creative prowess in the past, hopefully moving forward she will learn from her mistakes. While her fashion brands are reaching new heights we also hope to see some new music from the singer soon- it’s been a while!
