Rihanna, has made her debut appearance on The Sunday Times music rich list, with an estimated fortune of £468 million.
The 32-year-old Bajan pop star, has toppled music moguls like Mick Jagger, Elton John and Ed Sheeran to claim third place on the list of Britain’s richest musicians, less than a year after she moved to London.
Rihanna who moved to the UK in May 2019 was, however, toppled by Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer) and Paul McCartney (singer-songwriter), both of whom were joined first with fortunes of £800m per capita.
It is believed that Rihanna’s wealth was boosted by the success of her Fenty cosmetics brand and other partnerships such as her lingerie line alongside the record sales from her eight albums.
Top ten on UK music rich list
Lord Lloyd-Webber — £800m, down £20m
Sir Paul McCartney — £800m, up £50m
Rihanna — £468m, new
Sir Elton John — £360m, up £40m
Sir Mick Jagger — £285m, up £10m
Olivia and Dhani Harrison — £270m, up £20m
Keith Richards — £270m, up £10m
Sir Ringo Starr — £260m, up £20m
Michael Flatley — £206m, up £2m
Ed Sheeran — £200m, up £40m , Sir Rod Stewart — £200m, up £10m, Sting — £200m, no change
Robert Watts, its compiler, said Rihanna’s inclusion marks a “seismic change” taking place at the top of the list in recent years as those with inherited wealth are usurped by younger self-made stars.
“If you look through the yellowing pages of the first list in 1989, it looks like a rogues’ gallery of middle-aged and elderly white men,” he said.
“It was earls, dukes, and figures from manufacturing and finance. Now money is being made in different ways, and by all sorts of different people – like Rihanna.
“The cancellations of tours and the pulling of albums (due to COVID-19) mean it will be a thin year.
“We expect most artists’ earnings to flatline, but not for them to necessarily lose money; because the bulk of their wealth is already earned and safely in their bank accounts.”
Sunday Times Rich List details the wealth of the 1,000 richest people in Britain.
