Rihanna Buys $13.8 Million Beverly Hills Mansion with Seven Bedrooms, Open-Air Courtyard, and 1930s Pool
Rihanna has added another stunning property to her real estate portfolio, purchasing a lavish Beverly Hills mansion for $13.8 million. The estate, featuring an open-air courtyard and a pool built in the 1930s, sits directly across from music legend Sir Paul McCartney, with whom Rihanna collaborated on the hit song “FourFiveSeconds” in 2015. The luxurious home, nestled in a secluded, tree-lined cul-de-sac in the hills, includes five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, and spans a sprawling 21,958-square-foot lot.
The 33-year-old superstar shares the quiet neighborhood with other A-list celebrities, including Mariah Carey, who has rented a property just a few doors down for years, and Madonna, who recently moved in amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The mansion was previously owned by Mary Sheldon, daughter of “I Dream of Jeannie” creator Sidney Sheldon. It was later purchased by Daniel Starr for $4.3 million, who then documented his extensive renovations on Bravo’s “Million Dollar Listing.” Despite reportedly spending millions to remodel the home from the ground up, Starr later sued his contractors, alleging fraud and poor workmanship, according to real estate publication Dirt.
Initially listed at $15 million, the property was ultimately sold to Rihanna for $1.2 million less through an off-market deal, as revealed by tax records. The estate offers complete privacy, shielded from the street by towering hedges, making it an ideal retreat for the Fenty Beauty mogul. The home blends contemporary and traditional styles, featuring a modern farmhouse aesthetic and a striking black metal roof.
The property’s open-air central courtyard serves as a focal point, boasting an outdoor terrace, a pool, a spa, and multiple fire pits. Inside, the gourmet kitchen is outfitted with luxurious marble countertops, two islands, and brass fixtures.
This purchase comes just a week after Rihanna announced plans to expand her business empire with Fenty Hair, a new line of haircare products and styling tools. Earlier this month, she filed a trademark application for a variety of items, including relaxers, waxing tools, straighteners, curling irons, and hair color treatments. The application also suggests plans for non-medicated dandruff shampoo, hair restoration lotions, and even hair glitter. While Rihanna has yet to officially confirm the launch, the news aligns with her recent decision to shut down her Fenty fashion line, which debuted in 2019.
Last month, luxury conglomerate LVMH announced it would be “putting Fenty on hold” until market conditions improve—a rare setback for the company, which has fared better than many competitors during the pandemic. Rihanna, who was named the world’s richest female musician in 2019, was reportedly disappointed by the decision. However, her other ventures, including Savage X Fenty lingerie, Fenty Beauty, and Fenty Skin, continue to thrive. According to The New York Times, Savage X Fenty generated about $150 million in revenue as of December last year, though it was not yet profitable at that time.
Fenty Skin brought in $30 million in sales within its first four months, as reported by WWD. Meanwhile, Fenty Beauty raked in an impressive $570 million in revenue in 2018, according to Forbes. The makeup brand launched at Sephora and quickly hit $100 million in sales within weeks.
LVMH’s chief financial officer, Jean-Jacques Guiony, referred to Fenty fashion as “a work in progress” last October, adding, “We are still in a launching phase and need to refine the right product offering. It’s not an easy task.”
On social media, Rihanna’s brands continue to draw massive followings: Fenty fashion’s Instagram page has one million followers, Savage X Fenty has four million, Fenty Beauty boasts 10.6 million, and Fenty Skin has accumulated 852,000 followers.
Fenty fashion, named after Rihanna’s full name, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, was intended to build on her beauty empire with a high-end collection of clothing, shoes, and accessories. However, its steep pricing—such as a nearly $1,000 padded denim jacket and an $810 corset dress—failed to generate the same level of interest as her other ventures.
In a joint statement, LVMH and Rihanna reaffirmed their commitment to the “long-term development” of the Fenty brand, prioritizing beauty, skincare, and lingerie moving forward.
Savage X Fenty recently secured $115 million in funding, led by private equity firm L Catterton, which is linked to LVMH. While the exact reasons for putting Fenty fashion on hold remain unclear, the brand had already been operating at a low profile, with little marketing or product releases even before the pandemic.
Notably, its Instagram page hasn’t posted any updates since January 1, and no new clothing items have been released since November last year.
