Is LVMH selling its 50% stake in Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty? What it means for the brand

Rihanna doesn’t just make headlines, she makes history. The Barbadian-born superstar, mom to three - RZA, Riot Rose, and her newborn Rocki Irish Mayers - has proven time and again that she’s more than music, more than fashion, and more than celebrity; she’s a movement.

Adding to the growing number of accolades to her ever-growing list of wins: "TIME" magazine’s 2025 Best Inventions Hall of Fame inductee, thanks to the foundation that changed the face of beauty forever, Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Foundation.

The foundation that changed the game

When Rihanna launched Fenty Beauty in 2017, the world was watching. But no one, not even the beauty giants, expected what was coming: 40 foundation shades, in a single drop. It wasn’t just makeup; it was representation.

“It was important that every woman felt included,” Rihanna told the magazine back then. That statement became more than a brand ethos; it became a cultural reset.

Before Fenty, the beauty aisle had long ignored deeper skin tones. After Fenty, every brand had to rethink inclusivity or risk being left behind. Beauty insiders even coined the term.

“The Fenty Effect” refers to how the launch prompted an entire industry to redefine its concept of beauty. Fast forward to 2025, and that same foundation has officially earned a spot among the world’s best inventions, proving that innovation isn’t just about tech, it’s also about impact.

But as the "We Found Love" singer celebrates another milestone, whispers are swirling in the beauty business world.

According to Reuters, LVMH, the French luxury powerhouse behind Sephora and Benefit Cosmetics, is reportedly exploring a sale of its 50% stake in Fenty Beauty. The brand was built through LVMH’s incubator, Kendo Brands, in a 50/50 partnership with Rihanna.

LVMH has reportedly brought in investment bank Evercore to explore potential buyers. Neither Fenty Beauty nor LVMH has commented on the speculation, but the move has piqued the curiosity of beauty insiders.

Could Rihanna be gearing up to own Fenty Beauty outright?

If so, it would mark yet another bold business move from a woman who’s made a career out of rewriting the rules.

Rihanna’s journey from pop superstar to billionaire mogul has been nothing short of revolutionary. When Forbes first crowned her a billionaire in 2021, largely thanks to Fenty Beauty, she became the richest female musician in the world, second only to Oprah Winfrey.

Since then, her empire has expanded beyond beauty into Fenty Skin and Fenty Hair, with each new launch met with the same mix of excitement and cultural conversation.

Her beauty brands alone have contributed around $1.4 billion to her $1.7 billion net worth. And that’s not counting her fashion ventures, including the now-paused Fenty Fashion House with LVMH, which debuted in 2019 and became one of the first luxury lines helmed by a Black woman.

Even Bernard Arnault, LVMH’s chairman and CEO, and one of the richest men in the world, had nothing but admiration.

“Everybody knows Rihanna as a wonderful singer,” he told CNN. “But through our partnership at Fenty Beauty, I discovered a true entrepreneur, a real CEO, and a terrific leader.”

Sure, Rihanna’s products are bestsellers, from her lip glosses and highlighters to her cult-favorite primer, but the reason Fenty Beauty endures goes deeper. It’s because the brand is rooted in authenticity. Rihanna built Fenty for the girls who couldn’t find their shade, the ones who had to mix two bottles at the back of the store just to match their skin tone.

And she made it cool to be seen.

If you’ve ever had the chance to use the Fenty foundation, you will concur with its buildable, sweat-resistant formula that gives that “real skin but better” finish rather than the mask-like look many of us grew up with.

Since its debut, Fenty has expanded the line to include the Soft’Lit Naturally Luminous Longwear Foundation, the Eaze Drop Tint Stick, and the Blurring Skin Tint, all designed for modern skin that glows without the heavy layers.

“Make-up is like a secret weapon,” Rihanna told "TIME". “It can go from very subtle to a complete transformation.”

But for millions of fans, her real weapon has always been vision, the kind that sees every shade, every tone, and every story as worth celebrating.

As rumours swirl about LVMH’s next move, one thing’s certain: Fenty isn’t just Rihanna’s brand, it’s her legacy.

And if history has taught us anything about RiRi, it’s that she’ll keep pushing boundaries and breaking ceilings.