Rihanna's Success and Achievements in Timeline
A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Rihanna.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, and actress, recognized as the best-selling female recording artist of the 21st century and the highest-certified female digital single artist by RIAA. As of 2024, she holds the position of the third wealthiest musician globally. Rihanna boasts seven U.S. diamond certified singles and 14 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. With an estimated 250 million units sold worldwide, she is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time and has received numerous accolades for her work.
2007: Cartier Love Charity Bracelet Ambassador
In 2007, Rihanna was named one of the Cartier Love Charity Bracelet Ambassadors, representing a global charity.
February 22, 2008: Inauguration of "Rihanna Day" in Barbados
On February 22, 2008, former Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson launched the national "Rihanna Day" in their country, celebrating Rihanna's impact and achievements.
2008: Performance at the MTV Video Music Awards
In 2008, Rihanna's performance of "Disturbia" at the MTV Video Music Awards was ranked as the tenth best performance on the MTV Video Music Awards, according to a Billboard poll, showcasing her impactful stage presence.
2010: Positive Reviews for Vocals on Loud
In 2010, Rihanna's vocal performance on her album Loud received positive reviews from music critics.
June 2011: Loud Tour Begins
In June 2011, Rihanna embarked on her Loud Tour to promote her album. The tour included 10 sold-out nights at The O2 Arena in West London, making her the female artist with the most sold-out shows at that venue. The tour was the seventh highest-grossing tour worldwide of 2011.
February 2012: Grammy and BRIT Awards
In February 2012, Rihanna won her third Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "All of the Lights" with Kanye West. She also won Best International Female Solo Artist at the 2012 BRIT Awards for the second consecutive year.
September 2012: "We Found Love" Wins MTV Award
In September 2012, "We Found Love" won the MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year, making Rihanna the first woman to receive the award more than once.
November 2012: Unapologetic Album Release
In November 2012, Rihanna's seventh studio album, Unapologetic, was released. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in the United States, marking her first No. 1 album in the country.
December 2012: Cover of GQ Magazine's "Men of the Year" Issue
In December 2012, Rihanna became the first woman to be featured on the cover of GQ magazine's "Men of the Year" issue, further solidifying her status as a sex symbol.
2012: Rihanna breaks Guinness World Record for digital single sales
As of 2012, Rihanna broke a Guinness World Record for digital single sales of over 58 million, and Nielsen SoundScan ranked her as the bestselling digital artist in the U.S.
2012: Forbes' Social Networking Superstars
In 2012, Rihanna ranked No. 1 on Forbes' list of Social Networking Superstars, highlighting her dominating presence on social media.
February 2013: Grammy Win and UK Charts Success
In February 2013, Rihanna won her sixth Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video for "We Found Love" (2011). That month, the UK's Official Charts Company announced that she had sold 3,868,000 records in the past year, ranking No. 1 among 2013 BRIT Awards nominees.
2013: Rihanna receives the "Icon Award" at the American Music Awards
In 2013, Rihanna received the "Icon Award" at the American Music Awards, recognizing her significant impact and influence in the music industry.
2013: Most Influential Pop Star in the United Kingdom
In 2013, Rihanna was named the most influential pop star in the United Kingdom by UK channel 4Music, highlighting her significant impact on the music scene.
2014: Time Magazine's Pop Star Ranking
In 2014, Time magazine's pop stardom ranking metric ranked Rihanna second in history, based on all-time chart performance and contemporary significance.
August 28, 2016: Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award
On August 28, 2016, Rihanna was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards after performing various medleys of her hit songs.
2016: Rihanna receives the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards
In 2016, Rihanna was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards, celebrating her profound contributions to music videos and popular culture.
February 2017: Harvard University's Humanitarian of the Year
In February 2017, Rihanna was named Harvard University's "Humanitarian of the Year" by the Harvard Foundation, recognizing her philanthropic efforts.
August 2018: Billboard Ranking
In August 2018, Billboard ranked Rihanna as the tenth biggest Hot 100 artist of all time, as well as the fifth biggest female act of all time.
September 20, 2018: Appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary by Barbados
On September 20, 2018, Rihanna was appointed by the government of Barbados to be an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, promoting "education, tourism and investment for the island."
2018: Acting Role in 'Ocean's 8' and Named Barbados Ambassador
In 2018, Rihanna acted in 'Ocean's 8' and was appointed as an ambassador by the Government of Barbados.
2018: Co-chair of the Met Gala
In 2018, Rihanna co-chaired the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination themed Met Gala, wearing Maison Margiela.
2018: Time 100 Most Influential People
In 2018, Time magazine included Rihanna on its 100 Most Influential People in the World list.
2019: Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women
In 2019, Rihanna was listed among Forbes' Top 100 Most Powerful Women, recognizing her influence beyond the music industry.
2020: NAACP President's Award
At the 2020 NAACP Image Awards, hosted by BET, Rihanna accepted the President's Award from Derrick Johnson, recognizing her career achievements and public service.
2020: Debut on the Sunday Times Rich List
In 2020, Rihanna debuted on the Sunday Times Rich List, securing third place among Britain's richest musicians.
2021: Richest Female Musician
As of 2021, Rihanna is recognized as the world's wealthiest female musician with an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion, solidifying her status as a financial powerhouse.
2021: Declared National Hero of Barbados
In 2021, Rihanna was declared a National Hero of Barbados, recognizing her contributions and achievements.
October 28, 2022: "Lift Me Up" Release
On October 28, 2022, Rihanna released "Lift Me Up", the lead single from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, marking her first solo musical release since Anti. The song earned her nominations for the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song.
February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show
On February 12, 2023, Rihanna headlined the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, marking her first live performance in over five years and ending her boycott of the event. The show was a massive success, drawing 121.017 million viewers and becoming the most-watched halftime show in history.
2023: Rolling Stone's 200 Greatest Singers
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Rihanna at number 68 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
