With a new album release anticipated by the end of 2023 and a new 𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑦 on the way, Rihanna has come a long way from her modest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood in Barbados. With an impressive career as a chart-topping musician and entrepreneur spanning more than 17 years, the star has spent her riches wisely, buying, renting and flipping numerous properties over the years. Click to scroll on and let’s retrace Rihanna’s road to fame and step inside the spectacular houses she’s stayed in along the way…

Youngest self-made female billionaireKevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

Just how rich is RiRi? The Barbadian bad girl currently sits at number 20 in Forbes‘ ranking of America’s richest self-made women, thanks to her success as a pop star and as the founder and owner of her fashion house, Fenty. The ranking puts her fortune at $1.4 billion (£1.2bn), but at 35 years of age, she is officially America’s youngest self-made woman on the list. Kim Kardashian, 42, is at number 21 with a net worth of $1.2 billion (£960m) thanks to her shapewear and beauty business.

Pop-star, entrepreneur, billionaire, motherKevin Mazur / Getty Images for Roc Nation

This remarkable achievement is just another highlight in what has been a truly unforgettable couple of years for Rihanna, and according to Forbes, she also boasts the title of the world’s richest female musician. In her personal life, the star and her partner, rapper ASAP Rocky, welcomed their first 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 together, a son in May of 2022 called RZA Athelston Mayers. It is thought he was named after the leader of the Wu-Tang Clan. The star also has another 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 on the way, as revealed by her noticeable bump during her 2023 Super Bowl halftime show performance!

Where does Rihanna live?Tommaso Boddi / Stringer ; Getty

RiRi is guarded about her private life, but what we know for sure, however, is that the singer owns luxurious properties in Los Angeles and a beach home in her native Barbados. However, the Fenty founder wasn’t 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 into such luxury…

Rihanna’s 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood@badgirlriri / Instagram

A world away from the glitz and glamour that surrounds her today, Robyn Rihanna Fenty was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 on 20 February 1988. Born and raised in the parish of Saint Michael on the Caribbean island of Barbados, she is the eldest of three siblings. The daughter of Monica and Ronald Fenty, the star has spoken about her father’s substance abuse issues during her 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood and her parent’s subsequent divorce when she was 14 years old, which led her to find solace in music at a young age.

Where is Rihanna from?OWN / YouTube

Rihanna and her family lived in this humble bungalow until she was 16 years old. Located on an unassuming street on the outskirts of Bridgetown in Barbados, the house is something of a sightseeing hotspot these days, with some of Rihanna’s biggest fans making a pilgrimage to the street. Back in 2012, the star returned to Saint Michael to give Oprah a tour of her formative home for the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Where did Rihanna grow up?OWN / YouTube

The celebrity’s 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood home features a living room and a small blue kitchen where Rihanna learnt to cook, helping her mother to whip up meals for the family. Located on Westbury New Road, which has since been renamed Rihanna Drive in her honour, she is said to visit her hometown a few times a year.

The start of Rihanna’s career@badgirlriri / Instagram

Growing up, music was a constant for Rihanna, and at the age of 15, she started singing regularly with two school friends. They soon scored an audition with record producer Evan Rogers, who was holidaying on the island with his Barbadian wife. He expressed interest in helping her forge a solo career, and soon the young star-to-be was travelling between the US and Barbados to work on a demo.

Rihanna’s first singleJohn Sciulli / Getty

At 16, the budding star was signed by Jay-Z, who at the time was CEO of Def Jam Recordings. In May 2005, Rihanna released her first debut single, ‘Pon de Replay’, and her first album, Music of the Sun. In 2006, she had her first number one hit with ‘SOS’, which was to set the tone for the rest of her music career. With nine Grammy Awards under her belt, Rihanna has reportedly sold more than 250 million records to date.

Rihanna and the Fenty empireHan Myung-Gu / Contributor / Getty

Aside from her music career, she is also a bona fide businesswoman. In 2014, she was named the creative director for Puma and went on to design the Fenty x Puma collection. She expanded the line further by launching Fenty Beauty in 2017 and her Savage x Fenty intimates line in 2018, which have both been huge successes. In February 2021, the lingerie line secured $115 million (£92m) in Series B funding led by L Catterton’s Growth Fund on the same day that she closed her clothing brand Fenty Maison.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles starter homeZillow

Going back to the early days of her success, Rihanna reportedly jumped on the real estate ladder in 2009 with this home in the Beverly Hills Post Office area of Los Angeles – a known celebrity property hotspot. She paid $6.9 million (£5.6m) for the glamorous mansion, situated minutes away from the famous Rodeo Drive, behind private gates.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles starter homeZillow

Having since been given a bespoke makeover, the 8,500-square-foot home boasts a huge main living room with a double-sided fireplace and floor-to-ceiling glazing that opens up onto a luxurious outdoor lounge that’s perfect for alfresco entertaining.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles starter homeZillow

With seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms, the home has a sumptuous master suite with a one-of-a-kind brass and concrete fireplace and two huge celebrity-worthy walk-in wardrobes, as well as an amazing powder room. All of the main living spaces have access to the garden, which features a heated saltwater pool, Jacuzzi, and grapevine-wrapped pergola.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles starter homeZillow

Rihanna sold the grand home in 2011 for $5 million (£4m). The home was plagued with problems, including major flooding issues, leading the star to file a lawsuit against the buyer’s agent and other involved parties, so she must have been glad to move on from the property. In 2016 it was reported that the home was purchased by celebrity duo John Legend and Chrissy Teigen for a shocking $14.1 million (£11.3m) – nearly twice what Rihanna sold it for. The couple stayed in the home until 2021 when they sold it for $16.8 million (£13.5m). The house now looks to have found a new buyer yet again but with a reduced price of $16.5 million (£13.2m).

Rihanna’s Pacific Palisades homeRedfin

With her career skyrocketing after winning her fifth Grammy Award for her single ‘All of the Lights’, Rihanna splashed out on this luxurious home in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Pacific Palisades for $12 million (£9.6m) in 2012. Encompassing 11,000 square feet, it’s definitely a mansion worthy of a megastar.

Rihanna’s Pacific Palisades homeRedfin

Built in 2009, the hilltop estate boasts seven bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Inside, a towering two-storey entryway leads through to the formal living room, featuring a fireplace and picture windows that overlook the garden. Also on this level is a vast dining area with a wine refrigerator – perfect for A-list parties.

Rihanna’s Pacific Palisades homeRedfin

The plush master bedroom includes a double-sided fireplace and a sitting area, while retractable glazed doors lead out onto the terrace. In the plush ensuite bathroom, you’ll find a rainforest shower, a Jacuzzi and a walk-in wardrobe complete with a vanity.

Rihanna’s Pacific Palisades homeRedfin

The rooftop sundeck is the home’s main attraction, featuring a large swimming pool with an adjoining spa and waterfall, as well as a covered outdoor kitchen area with a wet bar with an alfresco dining zone. Following multiple break-ins, the star packed up and rented out the home at a cost of $65,000 (£51.9k) a month and eventually sold it on for $11.2 million (£8.9m) a few years later in 2016.

Rihanna’s Manhattan penthouseRealtor

In 2013, after putting the Pacific Palisades estate on the rental market, Rihanna relocated to the East Coast and moved into this glamorous apartment in lower Manhattan’s Chinatown. The star leased the apartment for a reported $39,000 (£31.1k) per month, forking out a huge amount in rent until she finally left the Big Apple in 2017.

Rihanna’s Manhattan penthouseRealtor

With 4,600 square feet of space spread across the top two floors of the 11-storey building, the penthouse has four bedrooms and three bathrooms. While Rihanna stayed there, the plush property was owned by celebrity fashion photographer Antoine Verglas. Situated on the prestigious penthouse’s upper floor, the living room, dining room and entertaining spaces feature 13-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Elsewhere, there’s also a chef’s kitchen, bar, and a powder room.

Rihanna’s Manhattan penthouseRealtor

Accessed by a floating staircase, the lower floor is home to three guest bedrooms and the corner master suite, which features breathtaking views of the Empire State Building, a huge walk-in wardrobe, and a bathroom with a frameless glass shower.

Rihanna’s Manhattan penthouseRealtor

The property’s pièce de résistance is without doubt the 2,400-square-foot wraparound terrace on the top floor. Offering a relaxed seating area that’s ideal for entertaining, it offers panoramic views of the city’s glittering skyline.

Rihanna’s Barbados beach houseRightmove

In October 2013, Rihanna also decided to snap up a property in her native Barbados. A far cry from her modest 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood home, she bought an opulent villa in the One Sandy Lane resort. Returning to the island for Christmas the year before, the star rented out the mansion, before deciding she loved it so much she was willing to pay $22 million (£17.6m) to call it home.

Rihanna’s Barbados beach houseRightmove

One of eight properties on the lavish complex, the home has five ensuite bedrooms, each with their own private terrace and dressing room. The ultimate in luxury, the A-list holiday home features a grand entrance with a spiral staircase, complete with intricate, handmade balustrades, that leads up to the bedrooms. That’s the way to make an entrance!

Rihanna’s Barbados beach houseRightmove

Known as the most luxurious accommodation on the island, the property is conveniently located just along the beach from the five-star Sandy Lane resort, which Rihanna is also said to be a fan of. We can’t imagine a more luxurious spot for the star to unwind from her hectic schedule.

Rihanna’s Barbados beach houseRightmove

With a chauffeur, 24-hour concierge, gardener and private chef on hand to help, the home is the perfect pad for Rihanna to kick back, relax and spend some quality time with her family. From the manicured gardens to the swimming pool and the state-of-the-art gym, what more could the star need?

Rihanna’s Los Angeles fortressSotheby’s International Realty

In June 2014, RiRi decided to return to the West Coast and began renting out new digs in Los Angeles for $60,000 (£47.9k) a month. The imposing 12,000-square-foot house, known locally as ‘The Fortress’, has a tough steel-and-concrete façade and plenty of security features, making it the perfect ultra-safe hideout for the star.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles fortressSotheby’s International Realty

Truly built like a fortress, the interior of the home is just as imposing as the exterior. With 60-foot-high ceilings and towering glass windows, the entryway leads through to an array of cavernous living rooms that have been finished in stone, concrete and steel.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles fortressSotheby’s International Realty

The grand master suite not only features opulent dual ensuite bathrooms but also an incredible panic room hidden behind a bulletproof door that slides down from the ceiling. Individual rooms within the seven-bed home also require a security fob to gain entry, ensuring residents are safe and protected at all times.

Rihanna’s Los Angeles fortressSotheby’s International Realty

If all this wasn’t enough, the Bauhaus-style home, which was built in 1994, also features a whole host of luxury amenities including a chef’s kitchen, a two-bedroom guesthouse, a large movie theatre and a gym. It’s not clear how long the star stayed here for, but in 2014, she also snapped up a condo in a super-secure Los Angeles skyscraper.

Rihanna’s Hollywood Hills mega-mansionvia MLS

In 2017, Rihanna purchased this home in the Hollywood Hills for $6.8 million (£5.4m). The property sits on a nearly half-acre parcel behind a towering wall of foliage and secure entry gates. It’s located high above the popular Sunset Strip, ensuring the star had complete privacy. The stucco and terracotta-roofed structure was built on spec and reportedly completed in 2015.

Rihanna’s Hollywood Hills mega-mansionvia MLS

Inside, the home spans 7,100 square feet and includes a poolside guesthouse and two-car garage. The glamorous property boasts high ceilings, arched doorways, and steel-framed windows and doors, while the large formal living room with its rustic tiled fireplace is big enough to accommodate a grand piano.

Rihanna’s Hollywood Hills mega-mansionvia MLS

The three-storey main house is home to three ensuite bedrooms, plus a sprawling master suite with a city-view sitting room, fireplace, and luxurious private bathroom. Imagine waking up to those picturesque views! Unfortunately, it wasn’t all peace and quiet for the Diamonds singer. Once again plagued by disaster, the home was breached by an intruder who stayed in the home for 12 hours when Rihanna wasn’t in residence. Consequently, in 2018, she put the home on the market for $7.5 million (£6m).