logo
episode-header-image
Sep 2023
35m 13s

Rihanna: Turning beauty into billions

Bbc World Service
About this episode

How did pop star Rihanna become the richest-ever person from Barbados? Simon Jack and Zing Tsjeng explain, and then decide if she's good, bad, or just another billionaire.

In the podcast that uncovers how the world's 2,668 billionaires made their money and asks if they are good or bad for the planet, Simon and Zing talk about the richest woman in music. Discover how Robyn Rihanna Fenty went from a modest childhood in the Caribbean to being signed by Jay-Z as a teenager before going on to found a beauty product empire that would take her earnings to over $1billion. And find out how much she spends on her hair along the way!

We’d love to hear your feedback. Email goodbadbillionaire@bbc.com or drop us a text or WhatsApp to +1 (917) 686-1176.

To find out more about the show and read our privacy notice, visit www.bbcworldservice.com/goodbadbillionaire

Up next
Oct 26
Jack Dorsey: Twitter squared
Jack Dorsey founded a social media behemoth, but made more cash from card payments. He built Twitter, but was removed as CEO, before going on to found fintech firm Square.BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng uncover Dorsey’s unusual billionaire biography. He ... Show More
41m 36s
Oct 19
Khaby Lame: The King of TikTok
The pandemic hit and Khaby Lame lost his factory job. Less than three years later, he was the world’s most-followed person on TikTok.Khaby Lame has turned his silent online persona and trademark shrug into a global comedy empire. In early 2026, a deal for his company valued his f ... Show More
40m 33s
Oct 12
Gautam Adani: The multiple mogul
Gautam Adani’s businesses span almost every part of life in India. From energy to food, ports to mining, and drinks to weapons, the Adani group has widespread influence over millions of people day to day. From his early career as a diamond trader, Gautam built a reputation as alw ... Show More
44m 16s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 2020
Pop History: Rihanna Pt II
tail spinning
1h 10m
Apr 2022
Rihanna debuts on Forbes annual Billionaire list!!
Rihanna makes her debut on the annual Forbes Billionaire list! She's only 34 and so massively accomplished from her music and movies to her Fenty Beauty and Lingerie lines. Lisa Allen discusses what sets Rihanna apart from most and gives credit where credit is definitely due! Eve ... Show More
6m 56s
Mar 2024
Bonus: Good Bad Billionaire
In this special episode, Ed Butler brings you a podcast from our friends at Good Bad Billionaire. In the series, presenters Simon Jack and Zing Tseng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and then they judge them. Are they good, bad, or just another b ... Show More
58m 19s
Aug 2021
Rihanna
Rihanna is officially worth $1.7 Billion! Chris & Lisa are happy for her in the latest Trends in 10! Every afternoon at 5:05pm, Chris & Lisa from The Afternoon Mix play Trends in 10 on 101.9fm The Mix in Chicago. They'll give you a trending topic and you'll have ten seconds to na ... Show More
8m 36s
Jun 2025
Celebrity Beauty Brands
Hailey Bieber just sold her 3 year old beauty company Rhode for $1 billion. Is the girlboss back? We investigate the world of celebrity beauty—how are these brands created and what makes one hit vs flop?Topics covered:e.l.f. Beauty Acquires Rhode for $1B—was it a good dealThe ori ... Show More
53m 14s
Feb 2023
Rihanna to Drop an Album and a Baby
<p>It’s Rihanna’s world, and we’re just living in it. Fresh off her halftime performance at Sunday’s Super Bowl, RiRi’s interviewed in the March issue of British Vogue. The notoriously private billionaire is opening up about motherhood, her history-making halftime show, and wheth ... Show More
15m 44s
May 2023
Music and business: Breaking in
The music industry is worth billions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs across the world, but how do you become part of such a lucrative but exclusive industry? The global head of music operations at Tik Tok tells us how the app has become a game-changer in the industry. Ke ... Show More
18m 45s
Sep 2020
Rihanna
In 2012, Oprah travelled to Rihanna's home on the island of Barbados for a rare, no-holds-barred conversation with the pop star about her career, her family, the passing of her grandmother and the price of fame. In an emotional discussion, Rihanna reveals how she really feels abo ... Show More
31m 7s