Barbados singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman, Rihanna named the world’s richest female musician after she debuted at No.3 in the Sunday Times’ list of the wealthiest musicians in the world.
With an estimated asset of £468m, the singer has entered the list Andrew Lloyd Webber and Paul McCartney, who are both reportedly worth £800m.
She is ahead of Elton John, with her worth being largely attributed to a 15% stake in the French luxury company LVMH, which is worth £351.6million.
Her rise to the top of Britain’s elite list appears to have even shocked Robert Watts, who compiles it. “She somewhat caught us by surprise,” he told the BBC. “Very few people knew she was living in the UK until last summer; now she’s well placed to be the first musician to reach billionaire status in the UK.”
Although Rihanna made her name in music, she hasn’t released an album since 2016’s Anti, instead concentrating on her fashion empire. Fenty Beauty launched in September 2017, and was designed to cater to a wider range of skin types and tones than typical cosmetic brands.
Thanks to the star’s endorsement, and her 82 million Instagram followers, it was an immediate success, racking up sales of £78m in its first few weeks. The company is now valued at $3bn (£2.4bn).
Rihanna also has a lingerie line, Savage X Fenty, and continues to receive royalties from hit songs like SOS, Umbrella and Only Girl In The World. Her £468m fortune makes her the richest female musician not just in the UK, but the world, ahead of Madonna (£462m), Celine Dion (£365m) and Beyoncé (£325m).
