Selena Gomez Misses Out While Rare Beauty Makes Billion-Dollar Headlines

In a year where celebrity empires are booming like never before, Selena Gomez has once again proven she knows how to build a brand — but even that wasn’t enough to earn her a coveted spot among the world’s billionaires. While her cosmetics company Rare Beauty was reportedly valued at a jaw-dropping $2 billion in March 2024, according to Bloomberg, fans were left stunned when Selena’s name was nowhere to be found on the latest billionaire lists circulating social media.

So what happened?

How does a global pop star, actress, producer, and founder of one of the most successful beauty brands of the decade still fall short of the billionaire benchmark?

Let’s dive deep into what’s really going on behind the numbers — and why the internet can’t stop freaking out.

Rare Beauty Explodes in Value, Selena Gomez Trends Worldwide

Rare Beauty, launched by Selena Gomez in September 2020, didn’t just enter the makeup world — it disrupted it. With its sleek packaging, inclusive messaging, and massive online presence, the brand quickly gained a cult following. By 2022, Rare Beauty was already outperforming established competitors. By 2023, it was dominating Gen Z cosmetics conversations across TikTok and Instagram.

Then came the March 2024 valuation.

When Bloomberg confirmed that Rare Beauty was now worth $2 billion, fans were ready to celebrate Selena Gomez’s billionaire status. After all, when other celebrities — from Rihanna to Kim Kardashian — crossed the billion-dollar mark thanks to beauty ventures, their fans were quick to claim victory.

So why didn’t it happen for Selena?

The Billion-Dollar Illusion: Who Really Owns Rare Beauty?

Here’s where the drama really starts. While Rare Beauty is indeed worth $2 billion, Selena Gomez does not own 100% of the company. In fact, insiders suggest she may own less than 50%—perhaps significantly less.

Multiple investors, parent companies, and private equity backers are involved behind the scenes. That means the $2 billion headline does not automatically translate into Selena’s personal net worth.

As fans scrolled through the Forbes Billionaires List 2024, expecting Selena’s name, they were hit with disappointment — and confusion.

“How is Rare Beauty worth two BILLION but Selena Gomez isn’t a billionaire? This doesn’t make sense,” one Twitter user wrote in a post that went viral with over 100,000 likes.

“They really did her dirty. Everyone profits off her name except her,” another fan commented on TikTok, echoing the frustration of millions.

The truth? Celebrity ownership in business is rarely as straightforward as fans think.

Strategic Branding or Corporate Power Play?

While Selena Gomez is the face and founder of Rare Beauty, the real power may lie in the boardrooms, not the makeup tutorials.

Business analysts suggest that Rare Beauty’s rapid growth likely involved significant capital from outside investors, who in turn take a larger slice of the pie. This is standard in the beauty industry — but when it comes to celebrity-founded brands, the public often assumes that the founder owns it all.

In this case, Selena may have creative control, a strong equity stake, and brand influence — but not enough to singlehandedly push her into billionaire territory.

And for some fans, that realization hit hard.  “She literally created this brand from scratch, and it’s being used to build other people’s fortunes,” one viral comment read.

Some called it “unfair,” others called it “reality,” but everyone agreed — this was one of the most shocking celebrity finance stories of the year.

Selena Gomez’s Current Net Worth: Impressive but Not Billionaire-Level

So how much is Selena Gomez actually worth?

According to multiple estimates, including Celebrity Net Worth and Forbes, Selena’s current net worth is between $800 million and $900 million — a massive jump from her earlier reported figures just a few years ago, which ranged between $75 million and $100 million.

That surge is largely due to Rare Beauty’s valuation, combined with her successful acting projects like Only Murders in the Building, her producing credits, endorsement deals, and ongoing music royalties.

Let’s not forget: $800 million is nothing to scoff at.

Still, the fact that she’s so close yet so far from the billionaire milestone has turned her into one of the most talked-about figures on the internet — again.

Fans React: Outrage, Memes, and TikTok Conspiracies

The online reaction was swift, emotional, and — in true Gen Z fashion — meme-filled.

One TikTok user jokingly stitched a video of Selena applying Rare Beauty blush with the caption: “Me using Rare Beauty knowing Selena isn’t getting billionaire benefits.”

Another created a mock “Forbes Billionaire Rejection Letter” addressed to Gomez, racking up over 3 million views.

Some users speculated that Selena intentionally structured her business to avoid the billionaire label, suggesting she didn’t want to be associated with the “billionaire elite.” Others spun wild theories about secret contracts, shadow investors, and corporate sabotage.

One thing was clear: Rare Beauty’s $2 billion valuation didn’t settle anything — it lit a fire.

Did Selena Gomez Respond?

So far, Selena Gomez has remained silent on the issue — at least publicly. No comments have been made regarding the Rare Beauty valuation or her current net worth.

But that hasn’t stopped fans from demanding answers.

“Selena, blink twice if you’re okay,” one user wrote in a comment under her latest Instagram post, which ironically promoted new Rare Beauty products.

Even mainstream media has begun speculating about whether Selena will eventually sell her stake, buy out investors, or pivot toward another venture entirely.

Industry Experts Weigh In: The Bigger Picture

According to brand strategist Maya Crawford, the situation with Rare Beauty is a textbook example of celebrity branding meeting corporate capitalism.  “Rare Beauty is incredibly successful, and Selena Gomez deserves credit for that,” Crawford said. “But the beauty industry — especially at this scale — is run like any other major business. Ownership is shared, risk is shared, and so is profit.”

Another financial analyst, Jerome Valdez, added, “It’s easy for the public to confuse a company’s value with a celebrity’s personal wealth. In most cases, the founders don’t own more than 20-30% by the time a brand reaches $2 billion.”

Which means that even with Rare Beauty’s success, Selena might only be seeing a fraction of the billions.

Is Billionaire Status Even Worth It?

Surprisingly, some fans and commentators argue that Selena dodging billionaire status might actually be a good thing.

As internet sentiment toward billionaires becomes increasingly negative, some believe Selena is better off not joining that club.  “She’s still rich, still iconic, and hasn’t sold her soul to the billionaire machine,” one viral post read.

Others argue that the label would only invite criticism, scrutiny, and backlash — especially considering her long-standing advocacy for mental health, equality, and transparency.

So maybe missing the mark is part of the brand.

Final Thoughts: A Win in Disguise?

In the world of celebrity business empires, Selena Gomez’s Rare Beauty is an undeniable success story. From underdog startup to a multi-billion-dollar valuation, the brand has reshaped how we see celebrity-driven cosmetics.

Whether or not Selena holds the billionaire title, she has built something far more powerful — a brand that connects, inspires, and resonates.

But make no mistake: the drama around her net worth is far from over. As Rare Beauty continues to climb and Selena expands her empire, the line between “almost billionaire” and “official billionaire” may blur sooner than we think.

Until then, the internet will keep guessing, obsessing, and speculating.

Because when it comes to Selena Gomez, every number comes with a headline.