Fenty Beauty Has Made Rihanna a Billionaire

When celebrities launch beauty brands, it’s typically done with a passion for beauty, a drive to connect with fans in a new way, and a mission to fill in glaring gaps in what was once less inclusive shelf space. The extra cash is pretty nice, too. 

When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, it was apparent that it was more than just a money grab. She tangibly changed the shade-range game when she made Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation available in 40 — and then 50 — skin-matching hues, and it was clear that she genuinely loved makeup nearly as much as (maybe more than?) the music that made her a star. But it was also apparent that the brand was going to be a huge success. And while people half-joke that Rihanna doesn’t make music anymore, it’s hard to blame her for concentrating so much of her time on her beauty empire — which now includes Fenty Skin — because it’s proven to be so incredibly lucrative. In fact, Forbes has just declared that Rihanna is officially a billionaire, thanks in large part to Fenty Beauty.

Calling her “the richest female musician on the planet,” Forbes estimates Rihanna’s net worth at $1.7 billion, a whopping $1.4 billion of which comes from owning 50 percent of Fenty Beauty. So yeah, it’s pretty safe to say Rihanna is a billionaire because of makeup.

That’s not to say other pursuits didn’t help Rihanna reach such a significant level of wealth. Forbes says her Savage x Fenty line of lingerie tosses a couple hundred million dollars her way. And music! Remember her music? While it’s not the most profitable aspect of her career, it’s arguably the reason she was able to so triumphantly launch a beloved and fruitful beauty brand.

Allure has reached out to Fenty Beauty for a statement on Rihanna’s newly declared billionaire status, even though it’s admittedly a little tacky to ask someone about their boss’s moolah. 

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