A collaboration between one of music’s most influential moguls and fashion’s most prestigious house should have been unstoppable, but even power players aren’t immune to the unpredictable forces of global disruption.
Rihanna lost a staggering $36 million from her Fenty fashion venture with Louis Vuitton, according to accounts for her British company Denim UK Holdings. The Barbados-born superstar, now 37, launched her luxury clothing range in 2019 with the French fashion powerhouse’s parent company LVMH, only to watch the ambitious project shutter in 2021 as pandemic restrictions made hands-on collaboration impossible.
Money Lost
The singer couldn’t visit the Paris atelier or connect with Italian fashion houses manufacturing her designs, creating operational challenges that ultimately proved insurmountable, according to the Daily Mail.
The partnership’s financial structure reflected a serious commitment from both sides.
When the venture launched, Rihanna invested approximately $34.86 million through her holding company, securing a 49.99 percent partnership stake. LVMH matched her commitment with $34.88 million. The French-based business operated under the trade name Project Loud France, nodding to her fifth studio album.
Despite the massive investment and industry excitement, the high-end line struggled to find its footing in a crowded luxury market. A padded denim jacket retailed for nearly $1,000, while a corseted shirtdress commanded $810, pricing that positioned the brand far beyond the accessibility that made her other ventures household names.
Now, rumors suggest LVMH is looking to unload the business, according to Reuters.
The Fenty clothing label targeted the high-end market differently than her other successful brands.
Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty built their success on accessibility and meeting underserved consumer needs, particularly for women of color seeking makeup that matched their diverse skin tones.
Her cosmetics line revolutionized the beauty industry by launching with 40 foundation shades in 2017, directly addressing frustrations she experienced as a Black woman unable to find proper matches in mainstream offerings.
That business model centered inclusion as a strategy, not an afterthought. The approach generated over $100 million within the first 40 days and surpassed $550 million in its inaugural year, according to a case study conducted by Flavor 365, demonstrating that serving overlooked communities yields exceptional financial returns.
Her understanding of her own worth dates back years.
Rapper-turned-podcaster N.O.R.E. shared during a 2024 episode of “Drink Champs” how he passed on featuring a then-rising Rihanna on his 2004 hit “Oye Mi Canto” because Ty Ty, Jay-Z’s best friend, requested $15,000 for her appearance. The Queens native admitted the decision haunted him. That young artist who supposedly cost too much now commands her value confidently across multiple industries.
With an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion primarily derived from her 50 percent stake in Fenty Beauty, the fashion venture’s loss represents roughly 2.5 percent of her total wealth.
In 2021, she and LVMH jointly decided to close the fashion business, releasing a statement affirming their commitment to focus on cosmetics, skin care and lingerie, where their partnership thrived.
The dissolution of the Fenty/ LVMH could show many that even billionaires face setbacks, and that knowing when to pivot demonstrates wisdom rather than weakness.
