From Model to Mogul: Hailey Bieber Toasts Rhode’s $1 Billion Acquisition in Effortless Style
In a masterclass of understated elegance, Hailey Bieber proved that when you’ve just closed a billion-dollar deal, sometimes the most powerful statement is the quietest one. Last evening, as news of Rhode’s monumental acquisition by E.l.f. Beauty reverberated through the beauty industry’s corridors of power, Bieber emerged at an intimate celebration looking every inch the modern mogul she’s become—radiant, composed, and utterly magnetic in her sartorial simplicity.
The setting was Alba, that jewel box of Italian sophistication nestled in Los Angeles’ glittering landscape, where Bieber gathered with her inner circle to toast a triumph three years in the making. Among the constellation of friends raising glasses to her success were industry darling Yris Palmer and supermodel Winnie Harlow, while the evening’s glamour was elevated by a partnership moment with luxury timepiece house Audemars Piguet—a fitting collaboration for a woman whose timing in business has proven impeccable.
But it was Bieber’s chosen uniform for this pivotal moment that spoke volumes about her evolution from model muse to beauty empire architect. Clad in Saint Laurent’s interpretation of the little black dress—that eternal symbol of feminine power—she embodied the kind of effortless authority that money simply cannot buy. The strapless silhouette, with its architectural curved neckline cascading into a precision-fitted skirt, served as the perfect canvas for a woman stepping fully into her CEO era.
Every detail was calibrated to perfection: nude slingback heels that whispered rather than shouted, a timepiece that caught the light with understated luxury, and most tellingly, a complexion that glowed with the very products that had just commanded a nine-figure valuation. Her signature glossy, clear manicure—that Rhode aesthetic distilled to its essence—paired with beach-tousled waves that moved with California insouciance, created a study in accessible glamour that has become her trademark.
The beauty look was pure Rhode DNA: a nude lip that enhanced rather than overwhelmed, blush-stained cheeks that suggested an inner radiance rather than artifice, and that unmistakable dewy finish that has spawned a thousand tutorials and launched a beauty revolution. It was brand storytelling at its most sophisticated—a living, breathing advertisement for the empire she’s built.
The numbers behind the celebration are staggering in their precision: $212 million in revenue generated over the past fiscal year with merely ten products in her arsenal. It’s a testament to the power of curation over saturation, quality over quantity—a philosophy that extends seamlessly from her product development to her personal style aesthetic. The acquisition by E.l.f. Beauty, valued at up to $1 billion, represents not just a financial milestone but a cultural moment where digital-native beauty brands achieve traditional luxury valuations.
“When I launched Rhode in 2022, I always had big dreams for the company,” Bieber shared on Instagram, her words carrying the weight of vindication for every entrepreneur who’s been told their vision was too ambitious. The upcoming expansion to Sephora locations across the US, Canada, and UK by year’s end signals Rhode’s transition from direct-to-consumer darling to global beauty powerhouse.
As the evening unfolded in Alba’s golden glow, with Bieber’s inner circle bearing witness to this historic moment, there was something almost cinematic about the scene. Here was a woman who had transformed from tabloid fixture to business titan, all while maintaining an aesthetic philosophy rooted in the democratic beauty ideal that “less is more”—a principle she embodied flawlessly in Saint Laurent black.
The message was clear: when you’ve built something truly extraordinary, you don’t need bells and whistles to announce it. Sometimes, a perfectly cut black dress, your own beauty products, and the quiet confidence of a woman who’s just redefined an industry is statement enough.
