Rihanna is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress born on February 20, 1988. She’s known as one of the biggest music stars of our time. Rihanna started her music career with Def Jam Recordings in 2005. Her first albums “Music of the Sun” (2005) and “A Girl Like Me” (2006) both drew from Caribbean music and became popular in the US. Her third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” (2007) marked a shift to pop music and made her a pop icon with hits like “Umbrella” which won her a Grammy.
After that Rihanna mixed pop dance and R&B styles in albums like “Rated R” (2009), “Loud” (2010), “Talk That Talk” (2011), and “Unapologetic” (2012) all of which did well on the charts. Her album “Anti” (2016) released after she moved to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation topped the charts with singles like “Work.”
Rihanna’s sold over 250 million records globally making her one of the best-selling female artists ever. She holds numerous records including seven diamond-certified singles in the US and has won nine Grammys and many other awards. Time and Forbes have recognized her as one of the most influential and powerful celebrities.
Outside music, Rihanna is also known for her charity work and impact on fashion. She founded the Clara Lionel Foundation created Fenty Beauty cosmetics and launched the fashion brand Fenty under LVMH making history as the first black woman to lead a luxury fashion house for LVMH.
In addition to her music and business ventures, Rihanna has starred in several movies and was honored by her home country of Barbados as a National Hero in 2021.
| Full Name | Robyn Rihanna Fenty |
| Date of Birth | February 20, 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Saint Michael, Barbados |
| Occupation | Singer, Actress, Fashion Designer, Businesswoman |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Spouse | A$AP Rocky (partner) |
| Children | RZA Athelston Mayers, Riot Rose Mayers |
| Net Worth | $1.4 billion |
Rihanna Early Life and Education
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in Saint Michael Barbados. Her mom Monica worked as an accountant and her dad Ronald was a warehouse supervisor. Monica is Afro-Guyanese while Ronald is Barbadian with African Irish English and Scottish roots. Rihanna has two brothers Rorrey and Rajad Fenty and half-siblings from her dad’s previous relationships.
Growing up in Bridgetown Rihanna lived in a modest three-bedroom house. She helped her dad sell clothes on the street. Her childhood was tough due to her father’s struggles with alcohol and crack cocaine which strained her parents’ marriage. Her father also physically abused her mother and Rihanna often intervened to stop their fights.
During her early years, Rihanna suffered from severe headaches that required many CT scans. She even feared it might be a tumor because of the intensity of the pain. When she turned 14 her parents divorced and her health began to improve.
Rihanna’s love for music started early influenced by the reggae tunes she heard growing up. She attended Charles F. Broome Memorial Primary School and Combermere School in Barbados. At 11 she was part of the Cadet Corps under the command of Shontelle who later became a famous singer-songwriter.
Initially planning to finish high school Rihanna decided to pursue a music career instead.
Music Career
In 2003, Rihanna formed a music group with two classmates in Barbados. They didn’t have a name or any songs but they auditioned for music producer Evan Rogers. He was immediately struck by Rihanna’s talent and invited her to the US to record demo tapes during school breaks. Two of those songs “Pon de Replay” and “The Last Time” ended up on her first album.
Evan Rogers then sent Rihanna’s demo to Def Jam Recordings. Jay-Z the CEO initially thought “Pon de Replay” was too big for her but he eventually signed her after a successful audition in New York City. Rihanna canceled other meetings and moved from Barbados to the US to work on her music career.
After signing with Def Jam Rihanna released her debut single “Pon de Replay” under her first name. It became a hit worldwide reaching high positions on charts like the US Billboard Hot 100. Her first album “Music of the Sun” came out in 2005 and sold over 2 million copies globally.
Following her debut’s success Rihanna started on her second album “A Girl Like Me” which came out in 2006. It featured singles like “SOS” and “Unfaithful” which topped charts in many countries. The album was praised for its diverse styles and sold well internationally.
In 2007, Rihanna released “Good Girl Gone Bad” which marked a shift to more upbeat dance tracks. The album’s lead single “Umbrella” became a massive hit staying No. 1 in the UK for 10 weeks. The album also included hits like “Don’t Stop the Music”.
During her career, Rihanna has continued to evolve her musical style experimenting with pop dubstep and rock influences. She’s collaborated with artists like Eminem and Kanye West achieving further international success.
Rihanna’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. In 2009, she faced a publicized incident involving assault by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown which led to legal proceedings.
Despite setbacks, Rihanna’s albums have consistently sold millions of copies worldwide making her one of the best-selling artists of her generation. Her influence extends beyond music as she’s also made ventures into acting and charity work.
From 2011 to 2013, Rihanna released her sixth album “Talk That Talk” in November 2011. It debuted at number 3 in the US and number 1 in the UK. The album’s lead single “We Found Love” was a huge success topping charts in 27 countries and staying at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 10 weeks the longest in 2011. This made it Rihanna’s biggest hit up to that point. Other singles like “You Da One” and the title track also did well.
In early 2012, Rihanna collaborated on songs with Coldplay and Drake which further boosted her popularity. She won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and was named Best International Female Solo Artist at the BRIT Awards. Later that year her song “We Found Love” won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
Rihanna’s seventh album “Unapologetic” came out in November 2012 and debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Its lead single “Diamonds” topped charts in over 20 countries including the US Billboard Hot 100. The album’s second single “Stay” also did very well.
In early 2013, Rihanna won another Grammy Award and embarked on the Diamonds World Tour to support “Unapologetic.” She also appeared in a comedy film and collaborated on several singles throughout the year.
In 2014, Rihanna took a break from recording to explore other creative ventures. She continued to collaborate on singles and starred in an animated film. Later she signed a major contract with Samsung to promote their products alongside her music.
Rihanna’s eighth studio album “Anti” was released in 2016 and became her second number 1 album on the US Billboard 200. The lead single “Work” featuring Drake topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In the following years, Rihanna continued to release successful collaborations and singles including hits like “Wild Thoughts” and “Lemon.” She also worked on new music including a reggae project though its release date remained uncertain.
Rihanna made a significant return to solo music in October 2022 with “Lift Me Up” a single from the “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” soundtrack. This marked her first solo release since “Anti.” She also headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in February 2023 which became the most-watched halftime show in history.
Net Worth
Rihanna has an estimated net worth of $1.4 Billion, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Personal life
Rihanna owns a $14 million penthouse in Lower Manhattan. She also bought a house in West London for £7 million in June 2018 to be closer to her work with her FENTY fashion label. In December 2018 she put her Hollywood Hills mansion up for sale after a break-in six months earlier selling it for $10.4 million. Forbes started reporting on Rihanna’s earnings in 2012.
Rihanna started dating American singer Chris Brown in 2007. Their relationship ended in February 2009 following a well-known case of domestic violence. After that, she had an on-and-off relationship with Canadian rapper Drake from 2009 to 2016.
In January 2013, Rihanna confirmed in an interview with Rolling Stone that she had reunited with Brown who was still on probation for their earlier domestic violence incident. They split again in May 2013. In 2017, Rihanna began dating Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel but they broke up in January 2020.
On May 19, 2021, rapper A$AP Rocky confirmed in an interview with GQ that he and Rihanna were together. On January 31, 2022, it was revealed they were expecting their first child. Rihanna gave birth to a son on May 19, 2022, and named him RZA Athelaston Mayers after the Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA.
During the Super Bowl LVII halftime show on February 12, 2023, Rihanna announced she was pregnant with her second child becoming the first to headline the show while pregnant. Their second son Riot Rose Mayers was born on August 1, 2023.
On February 8, 2009, Rihanna’s performance at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards was canceled due to a physical assault by her then-boyfriend Chris Brown. Brown was later charged and pleaded guilty to felony assault on June 22, 2009, receiving probation and a restraining order barring him from Rihanna except at public events.
Evolution
Rihanna is known for her voice which spans from low B2 to high C♯6. She didn’t have vocal training until her third album “Good Girl Gone Bad” when Ne-Yo helped her learn techniques like breath control and singing styles. Critics praised her singing on albums like “Loud” and “Unapologetic” noting her powerful and emotional delivery.
In her early days growing up in Barbados Rihanna listened to reggae hip hop and soca. When she moved to the US she discovered rock music and fell in love with its sound. Her debut albums “Music of the Sun” and “A Girl Like Me” blended Caribbean influences with reggae hip-hop and R&B.
Throughout her career, Rihanna has explored different musical genres like pop, R&B, reggae, dubstep and EDM. Her albums especially “Good Girl Gone Bad” marked a shift towards dance-pop and showcased her evolution as an artist. After her personal experiences influenced “Rated R,” she returned to more upbeat tunes with albums like “Loud” and “Talk That Talk.”
Rihanna’s musical style is influenced by diverse artists such as Madonna Mariah Carey Bob Marley Whitney Houston and many others. She admires Madonna’s ability to reinvent herself and cites Mariah Carey’s “Hero” as an early inspiration. Her music videos are often compared to Madonna’s for their creativity tackles themes like love empowerment and social issues.
On stage Rihanna’s performances are known for their energy and style featuring elaborate choreography and striking outfits. She has been praised for her live shows which blend her hits with theatrical elements.
In interviews, Rihanna has expressed her desire to keep evolving as an artist and exploring new musical territories. Her impact on pop culture and music continues to be felt worldwide cementing her legacy as an influential figure in the industry.
Other ventures
Rihanna has expanded beyond music into various businesses. Starting in 2005 she began endorsing Secret Body Spray. She also appeared in commercials for Optus and Kodak in 2010. That same year she released a photo book to accompany her album Rated R. In 2011 Rihanna became the face of Nivea and Vita Coco.
In 2012, Rihanna launched her TV show Styled to Rock in the UK helping new designers. The US version aired in 2013. She also teamed up with MAC Cosmetics for her makeup lines and partnered with Budweiser for their “Made For Music” campaign in 2013.
Fashion has always been important to Rihanna. She started with Armani in 2011 and later collaborated with River Island in 2013 for London Fashion Week. Rihanna has also worked with Dior Stance and Manolo Blahnik. In 2015 she became the first black woman to be Dior’s face.
In 2014, Rihanna became Puma’s creative director for their women’s line. Her first Puma shoe sold out in hours in 2015. She continued releasing successful footwear and debuted her Puma clothing line at New York Fashion Week in 2016.
Rihanna’s acting career began with a cameo in Bring It On All or Nothing in 2006. Her major film roles include Battleship in 2012 Home in 2015 Bates Motel in 2017 Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in 2017 and Ocean’s 8 in 2018. She also starred in the film Guava Island released in 2019.
Throughout her career, Rihanna has consistently expanded her influence across industries from music and fashion to film and beyond.
Philanthropy
In 2006, Rihanna started the Believe Foundation to help children who are very sick. She also became an ambassador for the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet program in 2007. Each celebrity ambassador supports a different charity around the world. To raise awareness and fight HIV/AIDS Rihanna and other famous people designed clothes for a special line by H&M in February 2008. In the same year, she did free concerts called A Girl’s Night Out to raise money for the Believe Foundation. The funds from sponsors and advertisers were used to buy medical supplies school things and toys for kids in need.
In September 2008, Rihanna joined fifteen other female artists to perform the song “Just Stand Up!” live on TV for the “Stand Up to Cancer” event. The money made from the song was given to cancer research and helped raise $100 million.
In 2012, Rihanna created the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) in memory of her grandparents Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. The foundation runs the Clara Braithwaite Center for Oncology and Nuclear Medicine at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados and also helps with education. Every year the CLF holds a big event called the Diamond Ball to raise money for charity. The first event in 2014 raised over $2 million and the second raised over $3 million.
On February 12, 2012, Rihanna performed a special show at the House of Blues to raise money for the Children’s Orthopaedic Center and the Mark Taper-Johnny Mercer Artists Program at Children’s Hospital. In November 2012 she donated $100000 to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy get food.
In January 2014, Rihanna joined the MAC Viva Glam campaign which helps women men and children who have HIV/AIDS. In March 2020 she donated $5 million to help with COVID-19 relief efforts. She also sent protective equipment to New York and offered $700000 worth of ventilators to Barbados.
In April 2020, Rihanna gave another $2.1 million to help people especially children who were experiencing domestic violence during the lockdown. Her donation matched a contribution by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey totaling $4.2 million.
The Clara Lionel Foundation is also involved in climate justice and resilience. In 2022 it donated 13 million euros to support these causes.
