Hailey Bieber is one of the most talked-about women in the world, and in 2026 the conversation is no longer just about who she married. The model turned entrepreneur founded Rhode, a minimalist skincare brand that sold to e.l.f. Beauty in a deal worth up to $1 billion, all before her 29th birthday.
She is also a wife, a mother to son Jack Blues Bieber, and a constant fixture of pop culture headlines, from Met Gala red carpets to Grammy night alongside husband Justin Bieber. This post covers her full story: her Baldwin family roots, her modeling career, the rise and sale of Rhode, the controversies she has weathered, and the latest Hailey Bieber news of 2025 and 2026.
Who Is Hailey Bieber? Early Life and Biography
Hailey Bieber was born Hailey Rhode Baldwin on November 22, 1996, in Tucson, Arizona. She is the younger daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin, of the famous Baldwin acting family, and Kennya Deodato Baldwin, a Brazilian-born graphic designer whose father is the Grammy-winning composer Eumir Deodato. Actor Alec Baldwin is her uncle, and her older sister, Alaia, has also worked as a model.
Long before fashion, Hailey’s first passion was dance. She trained seriously in classical ballet for years, including study connected to the American Ballet Theatre in New York, and once dreamed of a professional dance career. A foot injury in her teens ended that path, and she pivoted to modeling.
Growing up around Hollywood gave her early visibility. She appeared alongside her family in public from a young age, but she has said repeatedly that she wanted to build a name that was her own, first on the runway and later in business.
How Did Hailey Bieber’s Modeling Career Take Off?
Hailey Bieber’s modeling career began in earnest in 2014, when she signed with Ford Models and booked her first major commercial work, including a campaign for French Connection. Her runway debut came around the same time, walking for Topshop Unique and later Sonia Rykiel during fashion week seasons in 2014 and 2015.
From there, her rise was fast:
- Major campaigns: Guess, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and later beauty contracts, including work as a face of bareMinerals.
- Magazine covers: multiple international editions of Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar.
- Agency move: she joined IMG Models in 2016, cementing her status among the top models of her generation.
- Television: she co-hosted the TBS comedy series Drop the Mic with Method Man from 2017 to 2019, showing a personality beyond the catwalk.
By her early twenties, Hailey had become as influential off the runway as on it. Her off-duty street style and her signature “glazed donut” skin aesthetic turned her into one of the most-copied beauty references on social media, an influence she would soon turn into a business.
Rhode: How Hailey Bieber Built a Billion-Dollar Brand
Hailey Bieber launched Rhode, named after her middle name, in June 2022. The brand debuted with just three products, including the Peptide Glazing Fluid and Glazing Milk, built around a philosophy of “one of everything really good” rather than sprawling product lines.
The bet on simplicity worked. Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment became a viral bestseller, and in early 2024 the brand released a now-iconic phone case with a built-in slot to hold the lip treatment, an accessory that sold out repeatedly and became a status symbol in itself. Products routinely racked up waitlists in the hundreds of thousands, and in fall 2025 Rhode moved beyond direct-to-consumer sales into Sephora stores.
Why Did Hailey Bieber Sell Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty?
In May 2025, e.l.f. Beauty announced it would acquire Rhode in a deal valued at up to $1 billion: roughly $800 million upfront in cash and stock, plus up to $200 million more tied to the brand’s future performance. It was a landmark price for a three-year-old company and one of the biggest celebrity beauty deals ever.
Crucially, Hailey did not walk away. She stayed on as Rhode’s chief creative officer and head of innovation, describing the sale as fuel for global growth rather than an exit. The results show it: Rhode expanded into Australia and New Zealand in February 2026, and the brand was recognized on TIME’s list of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2026.
Awards and Recognition
Hailey Bieber’s trophy shelf spans both fashion and business. Early in her career she was named Model of the Year at the Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards in 2017, a readers’ choice honor that reflected her enormous popular following.
Her bigger recognition, though, has come as a founder:
- Forbes recognition: after the Rhode sale, Forbes named her to its list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women in 2025, with her fortune estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
- TIME100 Most Influential Companies: Rhode earned a place on the list, with TIME profiling how Hailey is “writing her own story” through the brand in 2026.
- Industry awards: Rhode products, including the Peptide Lip Treatment, have picked up beauty-editor awards, and the brand is regularly credited with reshaping how celebrity beauty lines are built and valued.
For someone once dismissed as just a famous face, the business recognition has been a pointed answer to critics.
Controversies: The Selena Gomez Drama, “Nepo Baby” Debate, and the Rhode Lawsuit
Hailey Bieber’s fame has come with intense scrutiny, and several controversies have followed her over the years. Here is what actually happened, separated from the rumors.
The Selena Gomez Fan Drama
Because Justin Bieber famously dated Selena Gomez on and off before marrying Hailey, fans of both women spent years pitting them against each other online. Tensions peaked in early 2023, when viral TikTok theories accused Hailey of mocking Selena, claims both women pushed back on. In March 2023, Selena publicly asked fans to stop sending Hailey death threats after Hailey reached out to her about the harassment, and Selena said that kind of hate was never what she stood for. The two were even photographed together at an event in late 2022, and both have repeatedly called for an end to the fan wars.
The “Nepo Baby” Conversation
As a Baldwin, Hailey became a central figure in the internet’s “nepo baby” debate about children of celebrities getting career advantages. Rather than deny it, she leaned in, famously wearing a t-shirt reading “Nepo Baby” in January 2023. She has acknowledged that her last name opened doors while arguing that longevity in modeling and business still has to be earned.
The Rhode Trademark Lawsuit
Days after Rhode launched in June 2022, Hailey’s company was sued in New York federal court by an existing fashion label also called Rhode, founded in 2014 by designers Purna Khatu and Phoebe Vickers. The fashion brand alleged trademark infringement and unfair competition, arguing the beauty line would overwhelm its smaller, senior brand. A judge denied the request to immediately block Hailey’s brand from operating, and after months of litigation the two sides reached a confidential settlement, allowing both companies to move forward. The dispute became a case study in trademark law, especially notable given that Rhode’s own products, like its viral lip-treatment phone case, went on to become some of the most recognizable in beauty.
Hailey Bieber’s Relationships and Personal Life
Hailey’s romantic life has been global tabloid material for a decade, but the real story is more settled than the headlines suggest.
Before Justin: The Shawn Mendes Rumors
In late 2017 and early 2018, Hailey was briefly linked to singer Shawn Mendes, and the two attended the 2018 Met Gala together. Both later described the connection as short-lived, and Mendes confirmed they parted on friendly terms.
Marrying Justin Bieber
Hailey first met Justin Bieber in 2009, introduced by her father backstage at a TV appearance. They were friends for years, dated briefly around 2015 and 2016, then split before reconnecting in June 2018. Things moved quickly: Justin proposed in the Bahamas in July 2018, and the couple legally married at a New York City courthouse on September 13, 2018. They celebrated with a formal wedding ceremony in South Carolina on September 30, 2019.
Motherhood and a Health Scare
In May 2024, Hailey and Justin announced her pregnancy while renewing their wedding vows in Hawaii. Their son, Jack Blues Bieber, was born in August 2024, continuing the family’s “JB” initials tradition. The couple has deliberately kept Jack’s face out of public photos, with Hailey saying she wants him to be old enough to understand before his image is shared.
Hailey has also been open about a frightening health episode. In March 2022, at age 25, she suffered a mini-stroke, a transient ischemic attack caused by a small blood clot that traveled to her brain. Doctors discovered a patent foramen ovale, a small hole in her heart, which was closed in a procedure that same year. She has since spoken publicly about the experience to raise awareness among young women.
Hailey Bieber in 2025 and 2026: The Latest News
The past two years have arguably been the biggest of Hailey Bieber’s life. Here are the latest updates as of mid-2026:
- The Rhode windfall: the e.l.f. Beauty acquisition closed in 2025, and estimates now place Hailey’s personal net worth around $300 million or more, meaning she is widely reported to have out-earned her pop-star husband.
- Rhode keeps growing: under Hailey’s creative leadership, Rhode entered Sephora, launched in Australia and New Zealand in February 2026, and unveiled a summer 2026 collection featuring Pocket Bronze, Pocket Brush, and Highlight Milk. The brand teased further innovations during her 2026 Met Gala appearance.
- Justin’s Swag era: Justin Bieber surprise-released his album Swag in July 2025, followed by a companion release, and the project earned major Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, with Hailey celebrating the nods publicly.
- Marriage rumors addressed: divorce speculation has trailed the couple for years, fueled by out-of-context clips online. Hailey has dismissed the rumors directly in interviews, and in January 2026 the couple celebrated “10 New Years together and counting” with an affectionate post.
- Family life: Hailey has said Jack, now a toddler, is “just like daddy,” and that she definitely wants more children.
Hailey Bieber FAQ: People Also Ask
How old is Hailey Bieber?
Hailey Bieber is 29 years old. She was born Hailey Rhode Baldwin on November 22, 1996, in Tucson, Arizona, and will turn 30 in November 2026.
What is Hailey Bieber’s net worth?
Hailey Bieber’s net worth is estimated at roughly $300 million or more in 2026. Most of her fortune comes from Rhode’s sale to e.l.f. Beauty, a deal worth up to $1 billion in cash, stock, and performance payouts, plus her modeling and endorsement income.
Are Hailey and Justin Bieber still married?
Yes. Hailey and Justin Bieber have been married since September 2018, renewed their vows in 2024, and remain together in 2026 despite recurring online divorce rumors, which Hailey has called untrue.
Does Hailey Bieber have a baby?
Yes. Hailey and Justin welcomed their first child, a son named Jack Blues Bieber, in August 2024. The couple keeps his face private, and Hailey has said she hopes to have more kids.
Does Hailey Bieber still own Rhode?
Hailey sold Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty in 2025 but remains deeply involved as the brand’s chief creative officer and head of innovation, leading its product launches and international expansion.
What happened with Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez?
Fans of Selena Gomez, Justin’s ex-girlfriend, targeted Hailey with online harassment for years. In 2023, Selena publicly asked her followers to stop sending Hailey death threats, and both women have urged fans to end the feud narrative.
Final Thoughts
Hailey Bieber’s story is a rare one: a nepo baby who acknowledged her head start and then outran it. In under a decade she went from runway newcomer to the founder behind one of the fastest billion-dollar exits in beauty history, all while navigating a very public marriage, motherhood, a health scare, and relentless internet scrutiny.
With Rhode expanding worldwide, a growing family, and her influence on beauty culture stronger than ever, Hailey Bieber’s next chapter, entering her thirties, may be even bigger than her twenties. That is saying something.