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More than three years after global music icon and Fenty Beauty founder Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty saw her net worth reach $1.7 billion, her fortune has now dropped by $700 million over roughly 40 months. This represents a 41 percent decline since May 2022, highlighting a sobering reality: she may soon lose her billionaire status.
From music star to business leader
Rihanna’s rise as a business figure began in 2017 with the launch of Fenty Beauty in partnership with luxury giant LVMH. By 2020, the brand was generating over $550 million in annual revenue and was available in Sephora stores across the U.S., Canada, France, and Australia, with an online reach extending to more than 150 countries.
Following this, her lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, launched in 2018 with TechStyle Fashion Group, also achieved significant success. In February 2021, the brand raised $125 million in a funding round that valued the company at $1 billion.
These ventures were key drivers in her rise. When her net worth hit $1.7 billion in May 2022, Rihanna became America’s youngest self-made billionaire. At the time, she was preparing to expand Fenty Beauty into Africa and had plans for further growth in India, China, and the Caribbean. Yet, despite these expansions, her brands have not generated enough revenue to sustain her earlier valuation. According to Forbes, her net worth has now fallen to $1 billion.
Celebrity brands face market pressure
The decline in her net worth mirrors broader challenges in the beauty and fashion industries. Celebrity-led brands, once seen as market dominators, are now facing tighter margins, shifting consumer preferences, and slower growth. Rising costs and changing customer habits have made premium products harder to sell, even for well-established names like Rihanna.
The shifts in her wealth also reflect wider trends in the beauty market. The industry’s rapid growth has slowed, competition has intensified, and many shoppers are gravitating toward skincare and wellness rather than high-glam products. Inflation and rising costs have made people more cautious with discretionary spending, putting pressure on premium brands.
Rihanna drives growth despite setbacks
Despite these hurdles, Rihanna continues to push forward. In 2024, she launched Fenty Hair, entering the global hair care market, which Technavio projects will grow by $19.6 billion between 2022 and 2027, reaching $107.5 billion. That year, Fenty Beauty also entered China, with products available at select Sephora locations in Hong Kong and Macau, building on earlier launches in India and Africa.
Savage X Fenty, her lingerie brand, also continues to innovate. In April 2025, the brand launched a Bridal Collection, revived its popular Body Lava luminizers, and expanded into mascara. It even created a virtual experience on Roblox to engage younger audiences. Also in July, Fenty Beauty debuted in Saint Lucia with a vibrant rollout at Castries Duty Free, featuring all of Rihanna’s product lines—makeup, skincare, and fragrance.
