All About Rihanna’s Parents – Monica Braithwaite And Ronald Fenty

Rihanna’s parents are Monica Braithwaite and Ronald Fenty, and they are a very important part of her life. The 36-year-old globally renowned singer, businesswoman, and actress has spoken fondly of her mother and father in past interviews and occasionally posts about them on social media.

Rihanna has had some widely reported fallouts with her father in the past and has even dragged the man to court once. But through all their troubles, Rihanna has always been there for her father and has always adored her mother, whom she often refers to as her queen.

Who is Rihanna’s Dad?

• Full name: Ronald Fenty
• Gender: Male
• Date of birth: August 16, 1954
• Age: 69 years old
• Ethnicity: Mixed
• Nationality: Barbadian
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Religion: Christianity
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Ronald Fenty’s Ex-Wife: Monica Braithwaite
• Ronald Fenty’s Children: Rihanna, Rorrey Fenty, Rajad Fenty, Kandy Fenty, Samantha Fenty, Jamie Fenty
• Famous for: Being Rihanna’s father

Rihanna’s dad is Ronald Fenty. According to our findings, Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, was born on the 16th of August, 1954. This means he is currently 69 years old. It also means his star sign is Leo. Ronald was born in the Caribbean country of Barbados and reportedly grew up there with his family.

Very little is known about his days as a boy growing up in Barbados. It is not clear who his father and mother were or what they did for a living to raise him. It is also not clear who his siblings were or if he had any at all. According to reliable reports, Rihanna’s father is of mixed ethnicity because he has African, Irish, English, and Scottish roots.

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Ronald Fenty’s Ethnicity

Ronald Fenty has mixed ethnicity. He is part Barbadian and Part Caucasian, specifically Irish, English, and Scottish. Rihanna’s father is a descendant of Irish indentured slaves who were sent to work in the Caribbean in the 1600s. They were known by the derogatory term Redlegs and were discriminated against.

Rihanna has since confirmed that she has Irish and Scottish roots and disclosed her willingness to explore it further. It goes without saying that her part Caucasian roots account for her light skin tone.

Ronald Fenty’s Nationality

Ronald Fenty is of Barbadian nationality, as he was born there to Barbadian parents and grew up there as well. Ronald Fenty appears to be an educated man. However, there are no details about what schools he attended or what he studied in school. There are no details about what his early experiences were that may have prompted him to live the kind of life he later lived. However, we know that he did live a rough life at some point.

As a young man, Ronald got into bad habits and used drugs very dangerously. This would go on to affect him deeply even after he got married to Rihanna’s mother and had children with her. He was also very controversially outspoken and often got into trouble because of the words that came out of his mouth.

Ronald also later explained that in his youthful days, he was a serial womanizer who wooed and had affairs with different girls. Because of this, he ended up having children with different mothers, some of whom he didn’t even know existed until several years after their birth.

Ronald Fenty is a Former Warehouse Manager and Clothes Seller

As for his occupation, Ronald Fenty, Ronald’s professional journey has been marked by a troubled history with drugs and questionable decision-making, which has hindered his ability to achieve a successful and illustrious career. Over the years, he has worked in a variety of low-skilled jobs with little stability or advancement opportunities.

This included designing clothes and selling them on the street in the 1990s.  In fact, according to our findings, Rihanna used to help him sell clothes in a stall on the street when she was very little. He also worked as a supervisor at a warehouse before going to work as a chef in Canada. He later returned to Barbados to do other kinds of work.

Despite these varied experiences, Ronald has struggled to establish a stable career path and has not seen significant success in any of these fields. The result is a career that is marked by frequent job changes and a lack of upward mobility rather than a steady trajectory of professional growth and achievement.

But, with even all his troubles, one thing that was clear about Ronald is that he loved his kids. This was his one redeeming quality. He showed them affection in the way he could and helped keep his children together, even those who were birthed by different women apart from his ex-wife, Monica.

Ronald Fenty Net Worth

Ronald Fenty’s net worth is put at $5 million, but there is no confirmation of this. It is possible that his net worth is not up to this amount, given the low-paying jobs he has had, as well as some disputes with his famous daughter. Rihanna has sued him for violating her trademark and profiting off her name. She has also alleged that he sold information about her to the press following the domestic abuse incident involving her ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown.

Father and daughter have, however reconciled, and Rihanna often helps her dad out whenever he needs financial support.

Ronald Fenty’s Marriage and Family Milestones

Year	Event
1980s	Ronald Fenty married Monica Braithwaite.
1988	Birth of Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty), their daughter.
November 13, 1989	Birth of Rorrey Fenty, son of Ronald and Monica.
April 15, 1996	Birth of Rajad Fenty, another son of Ronald and Monica.
Over the years	Ronald Fenty’s relationship with his children has been publicized through the media, particularly in relation to Rihanna’s career.
Over the years	Struggles with addiction and relationship challenges with family, as mentioned in various interviews and reports.
Ongoing	Ronald Fenty continues to be a public figure primarily due to his relationship with Rihanna.

Who is Rihanna’s Mom?

• Full name: Monica Braithwaite
• Gender: Female
• Date of birth: April 5, 1969
• Monica Braithwaite’s Age: 55 years old
• Ethnicity: Mixed
• Nationality: Barbadian
• Zodiac Sign: Aries
• Sexual Orientation: Straight
• Religion: Christianity
• Marital Status: Divorced
• Monica Braithwaite’s Ex-Husband: Ronald Fenty
• Monica Braithwaite’s Children: Rihanna, Rorrey Fenty, Rajad Fenty (Stepchildren – Kandy Fenty, Samantha Fenty, Jamie Fenty)
• Monica Braithwaite’s Parents: Lionel Braithwaite and Clara Brathwaite
• Monica Braithwaite’s Height in Inches: 5 ft 6 inches
• Monica Braithwaite’s Height in Centimetres: 170 cm
• Famous for: Being Rihanna’s mother

Rihanna’s mom is Monica Braithwaite. Born on April 5, 1969, Monica is currently 55 years old and has the Aries zodiac sign. She was born in Barbados and grew up there with her parents. It is not very clear if she has any siblings, although some reports suggest that she does.

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Monica Braithwaite was born to a father called Lionel Braithwaite and a mother called Clara Brathwaite, who are Rihanna’s grandparents. Rihanna is very fond of her grandparents and has celebrated them publicly several times in the past.

In 2018, Rihanna flew to Barbados to be present at her grandfather Lionel’s birthday party and then shared photos from the event on social media. She has also celebrated her grandmother during her birthday, showing great chemistry between them.

Reports show that Rihanna’s mother is an Afro-Guyanese woman, and she is proud of her heritage. Not much is known about her educational qualifications as it is not clear what schools she went to or what courses she read while there. However, we know that she is educated because she is a qualified accountant.

Monica worked full-time as an accountant in the 1980s and 1990s to support her children. However, these days, she is living very comfortably thanks to her daughter’s incredible success in the music industry.

Rihanna’s Parents Got Married in Barbados in the 80s

According to reports, Rihanna’s parents were married for over 10 years in Barbados. It is not clear exactly when they tied the knot, but some reports say they got married in the 1980s, sometime before Rihanna was born. Not much is known about how they first got in touch with other and fell in love. It is also not known how long they dated before tying the knot.

However, it is widely reported that their marriage happened in Barbados, where they eventually lived throughout the duration of the marriage. Ronald and his wife lived in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados. But, their marriage was not a smooth affair as different reports point out that the former couple had a very rocky relationship which was mainly the fault of Ronald Fenty.

They had Three Children Together 

During their marriage, Monica Braithwaite and Ronald Fenty had three children together. Their first child was Rihanna, who was born on February 20, 1988, and is now 36 years old. They then had two sons after her; Rorrey Fenty, who was born on November 13, 1989, and is now 34 years old, and Rajad Fenty, who was born on April 15, 1996, and is now 28 years old.

The three siblings were raised in Bridgetown, the capital and largest city of Barbados. They developed a strong connection with each other and are still very close today, with the two brothers supporting their big sister, who keeps making history with her music.

However, it is noteworthy that before his marriage to Monica, Rihanna’s father, Ronald Fenty, had relationships with other women in his heyday, and this resulted in the birth of three additional children called Kandy Fenty, Samantha Fenty, and Jamie Fenty, each from different mothers. Despite the existence of these children, Ronald Fenty was not even aware of their existence for several years after their birth.

He only became aware of their existence after they began to seek him out one after the other to tell him he was their father. Despite this, Ronald Fenty has managed to bring all his six children together to love each other with the help of Monica Braithwaite. Today, all the siblings maintain a close bond.

Their most famous sibling, Rihanna, is on record making sure all her siblings keep their close relationship alive. She has established a habit of frequently meeting with them. Also, fact that now has immense fame and popularity around the world, the rest of the siblings have been shot into significant attention through her.

Their Marriage was Marred by Physical Abuse and Substance Abuse by Rihanna’s Dad

As we have already explained, Rihanna’s father, Fenty, suffered from alcoholism and crack cocaine addiction for many years, causing his marriage to Monica to be tumultuous. His cocaine addiction was a major concern during his marriage to Monica, and its impact on his health and mental state was significant and alarming. It got to the point that he physically abused his wife and subjected her to emotional torture too.

Rihanna, who was a witness to the events, later revealed that sometimes she had to intervene to try and break the fight and stop the physical violence her mother was suffering at her father’s hands. She also claimed Ronald was indulging in some very dangerous activities, such as attempting to purchase drugs from street dealers who could not be trusted and getting into heated arguments with her mother due to his recklessness in exposing their young children to drugs.

As his addiction worsened, Ronald’s actions became more desperate and erratic, resorting to stealing money intended for food, which was a basic necessity for the family. This left Rihanna with no other choice but to take on the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings, as her mother was occupied with working full-time to support the family. These events highlight the devastating impact that addiction can have on an individual, as well as their loved ones.

In those days, the Fenty family lived in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown, where Fenty sold clothing from a street stall near their home. Rihanna often assisted with the business. The family also had to cope with Rihanna’s severe headaches, which led to multiple CT scans from doctors who feared a possible tumor. At 14, Rihanna’s health improved, and she discovered her love for music.

The Couple Divorced in 2002

Rihanna’s parents are not together anymore. As a matter of fact, they have been divorced for over 20 years. According to our findings, due to the mistreatment she endured from her husband, Fenty, Monica Braithwaite made the decision to end their marriage in 2002, when Rihanna was just 14 years old.

Monica then focused on providing care for her children, working full-time as an accountant to support them financially. However, her busy work schedule often kept her away from home, leaving Rihanna, as the eldest sibling, to take on the role of caregiver for her younger siblings in her mother’s absence.

Ever since they got divorced, both Monica and her ex-husband, Ronald, have remained unmarried. There are no records to show that either of them got into a marriage contract with other people since their marriage was dissolved. They have also been friendly with each other.

Over the years, they have been occasionally pictured together, especially when Rihanna brings the family together on special occasions. Monica and Ronald have also been pictured together on other occasions showing that there is no bad blood between them despite their troublesome history.

Rihanna’s Relationship With Her Family

Relationship to Rihanna	Name	Key Facts
Father	Ronald Fenty	Warehouse supervisor, of Barbadian and Irish descent
Mother	Monica Braithwaite	Accountant, of Afro-Guyanese background
Sibling (Brother)	Rorrey Fenty	Younger brother of Rihanna
Sibling (Brother)	Rajad Fenty	Younger brother of Rihanna
Half-Sibling (Sister)	Kandy Fenty	Half-sister from her father’s side
Half-Sibling (Sister)	Samantha Fenty	Half-sister from her father’s side
Half-Sibling (Brother)	Jamie Fenty	Half-brother from her father’s side

Rihanna Has Had A Rocky Relationship With Her Father

Rihanna has had a rocky relationship with her father over the years. Recall that her childhood was marked by her father’s struggle with addiction and the resulting turmoil in her parent’s relationship. This made her grow resentful of her father. The resentment increased as she grew up, especially after her parents got divorced and she started living with her mother.

Even after she got famous and became a globally renowned celebrity, Rihanna continued having problems with her father. She accused him of selling sensitive information to the press. For instance, in 2009, when Rihanna was brutally assaulted by her then-boyfriend, Chris Brown, the press badly wanted information about the situation. It reached out to all parties involved for details.

Rohanna said her father, who wanted to make some quick money, decided to sell information to the press about the situation. Rihanna explained that she felt betrayed and heartbroken that he could use her for his own personal gain in that manner. She also said her father did not even call her to check on her and find out if she was okay or not. He was only bothered by how much the press was willing to pay him for the information he was giving them about her. This further made their relationship even rockier.

She also Sued him for Trademark Rights Violation in 2019

In 2019, the relationship between Rihanna and her father broke down so badly that she dragged him to court. The well-known singer and businesswoman took legal action against her father and his business partner, Moses Joktan Perkins. According to documents obtained by TMZ, the lawsuit alleges that Rihanna’s father, Ronald, and Perkins had been using the Fenty name for their own ventures, including a talent development company called Fenty Entertainment, which is a violation of Rihanna’s trademark rights to the Fenty name.

Rihanna had already trademarked the Fenty name to protect her own business interests, including her Fenty Beauty line. The lawsuit claimed that Fenty and Perkins falsely claimed to represent Rihanna and attempted to book 15 performances in Latin America for $15 million without her permission. Despite sending cease and desist letters, they continued to infringe on her trademark rights, leading Rihanna to file the lawsuit.

In the lawsuit, Rihanna sought an injunction to prevent her father, Ronald, and Perkins from using the Fenty name for commercial purposes and also demanded $75 million in monetary damages. The case highlighted the importance of protecting trademarks and the legal recourse available to those whose trademark rights have been violated.

However, despite all the media buzz it created, the case was never heard in court because Rihanna ended her legal dispute with her father just weeks before the scheduled court hearing. The legal dispute was scheduled to take place on September 22, 2021, but Rihanna filed a motion to dismiss the case earlier that week. The reason behind the dismissal was not made clear, but according to US media reports, it is believed that an agreement was reached outside of court between Rihanna, her father, and his business partner.

The details of the agreement between Rihanna and her father remain confidential and have not been made public. The end of the legal case marks a resolution to the dispute and allows both parties to move forward without further litigation.

It is, however, noteworthy that, despite her father’s past mistakes, like selling information about her assault to the media and creating a company with her trademarked name, Rihanna continues to be there for him in times of need. For instance, in 2020, when her father was diagnosed with the deadly COVID-19, Rihanna reportedly sent a ventilator to him back home in Barbados. She also sent him other resources for his treatment.

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Rihanna is Quite Close to her Mom and has Patched Up Things with her Dad

Rihanna is very close to her parents today, including to her father, according to reports. Rihanna has always been a family-oriented person who always puts family first, and this has been demonstrated several times in how she draws her family close to her with every opportunity she gets. Despite all the fallouts she has had with her father, she still maintains a relationship with him.

When news emerged in early 2022 that Rihanna had gotten pregnant with her first child, her father, Ronald Fenty, openly showed his joy and happiness for her. He spoke to the press soon after, during which time he expressed his excitement. He also revealed that Rihanna herself called him the previous night to tell him about the pregnancy, and he gave her his blessings as he was simply thrilled about the development.

Ronald also went on to say that Rihanna has always shown a love for kids and has been very caring towards her cousins’ children, which makes him confident that she will be a great mother. This was a confirmation that despite all the troubles they had in the past about their rocky relationship, Ronald Fenty and his famous daughter have managed to mend the fences and are now one happy family. Many people who saw Ronald’s statement explained that it was heartening to see that her father was supportive of her.

On the other hand, Rihanna is even more fond of her mother, Monica. Rihanna shares a very close relationship with her mother. This close bond between the two can be seen through various public interactions. For instance, Rihanna has posted several tributes to her mother on Instagram, where she thanked her for teaching her the true meaning of beauty. She has also celebrated her mother various times physically, including during her birthdays.

In different interviews, Rihanna is known for celebrating her mother and talking about how much the older woman has helped her become who she is today. Even when things got rough in her childhood following her father’s misuse of drugs, Rihanna explains that her mother stood shielded her from the horrors she was supposed to face and that she would never forget that. It is believed that Rihanna and her mother are inseparable because Rohanna is known to always seek her mother’s advice at every turn of the way.

The Singer has Gifted Both Parents Mansions

Rihanna has made sure that her parents have each received solid gifts from her over the years. As a matter of fact, she has gifted each of them mansions. In 2016, Rihanna bought a new $1.8 million mansion in Barbados’ exclusive Sandy Lane community for her father. The neighborhood is known for housing celebrities like Beyoncé and Jay Z, and Simon Cowell from The X Factor.

Rihanna decided to gift her father the mansion after his previous home was constantly stalked by tourists wanting to get information about her. The situation got so serious that she had to intervene. Rihanna gave her father the option to choose a home on the Caribbean island. He picked one option, and she bought the home without thinking twice about it. It is clear that she is fond of her father, no matter what.

Rihanna also bought her mother a mansion in 2012. The singer shocked her beloved mother, Monica Braithwaite, when she gifted her with a brand new five-bedroom home in Barbados during a highly-anticipated interview on Oprah Winfrey’s Next Chapter. This surprise was orchestrated by the talk show host herself, Oprah Winfrey, who was known for thrilling her guests with grand gestures of generosity.

To make the big reveal, Oprah invited Monica to the home under the false pretense that she would be doing an interview alongside her daughter for the show. When Monica arrived at the mansion with her son, Rihanna’s brother Rajad, and the singer’s aunt, she was immediately impressed by the gorgeous property. It was then that Rihanna made the big reveal, turning to her mother and offering her the keys to the mansion.

With tears in her eyes, Rihanna expressed her gratitude to her mother, telling her she had been wanting to gift her the home for a long time. The surprise left Monica in shock, and she couldn’t help but cry with emotion. It was a heartwarming moment that showcased Rihanna’s love and appreciation for her mother, who had been a constant source of support and encouragement throughout her life. The new home was a symbol of that love and appreciation, and Monica was sure to cherish it for the rest of her life.

Rihanna has also been pictured doing other awesome things with her mother. For example, in 2021, she celebrated her mother’s birthday in New York City by treating her to a luxurious experience that included champagne, caviar, chocolate cake, and other special treats.

FAQs 

Who Is Rihanna’s Biological Father?

Rihanna’s biological father is Ronald Fenty, a Barbadian man who is a former warehouse supervisor as well as a clothes merchant

Who Is Rihanna’s Mother?

Rihanna’s mother is Monica Braithwaite, an accountant, and a Barbadian national. Rihanna is quite close to her mom, who took care of her and her siblings when her father left them

What Is Rihanna’s Parents Nationality?

Rihanna’s parents are Barbadian nationals, but her mother, Monica Braithwaite, is originally from Guyana

Where Are Rihanna’s Parents From?

Rihanna’s parents are from the island country of Barbados. Her mother, Monica Braithwaite, has Afro-Guyanese roots, while her father has African, Irish, Scottish, and English roots.