Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian singer. Bieber has made a global influence in modern-day popular music.He was discovered by American record executive Scooter Braun and signed with RBMG Records in 2008, gaining recognition with the release of his debut seven-track EP My World (2009) and soon establishing himself as a teen idol.
Early Life
Justin Drew Bieber was born on March 1, 1994, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario, and was raised in Stratford. He is the son of Jeremy Jack Bieber and Pattie Mallette, who were both 18 when Bieber was born, and split up not long after his birth. Pattie worked a series of low-paying office jobs, raising Bieber as a single mother in low-income housing. Mallette’s mother Diane and stepfather Bruce helped her raise her son. Bieber has maintained contact with his father. Bieber’s ancestry includes French-Canadian, Irish, English, Scottish, and German.
Bieber has three younger half-siblings; the four have the same father, Jeremy Bieber. Jeremy Bieber and his ex-girlfriend, Erin Wagner, who broke up in 2014 after seven years together, have two children, daughter Jazmyn and son Jaxon. Jeremy married his girlfriend Chelsey in February 2018, and they have a daughter named Bay. Bieber also has a stepsister named Allie, the daughter of his stepmother.
Bieber attended a French-language immersion elementary school in Stratford, the Jeanne Sauvé Catholic School. He graduated from high school in Stratford, the St. Michael Catholic Secondary School, in 2012 with a 4.0 GPA. Growing up, he learned to play the piano, drums, guitar, and trumpet. In early 2007, aged 12, Bieber sang Ne-Yo’s “So Sick” for a local singing competition in Stratford and was placed second. Mallette posted a video of the performance on YouTube for their family and friends to see. She continued to upload videos of Bieber singing covers of various R&B songs, and Bieber’s popularity on the site grew. In the same year, Bieber busked shows in front of Avon Theatre steps with a rented guitar during tourism season.
Career Summary
Bieber achieved commercial success with his teen pop-driven debut studio album My World 2.0 (2010), which debuted atop the US Billboard 200, making him the youngest solo male act to top the chart in 47 years. The album spawned the internationally successful single “Baby” (featuring Ludacris), which became one of the best selling singles of all time in the US. His second studio album, Under the Mistletoe (2011), became the first Christmas album by a male artist to debut at number one in the US. Bieber experimented with dance-pop in his third studio album, Believe (2012), and went on to become the first artist in history with five US number-one albums by the age of 18. From 2013–14, Bieber was involved in multiple controversies and legal issues, which had a drastic impact on his public image.
In 2015, Bieber explored EDM with Jack Ü as a lead vocalist on “Where Are Ü Now”, which won the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Recording. The song’s musical direction played an instrumental role in his fourth studio album, Purpose, which produced three US number-one singles: “Love Yourself”, “Sorry”, and “What Do You Mean?”. He became the first artist in history to occupy the entire top three of the UK Singles Chart. Bieber diversified on numerous collaborations between 2016 and 2017, including “I’m the One” and his remix to “Despacito”—both reaching number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 a week apart, making him the first artist in history to chart new number-one songs in consecutive weeks. “Despacito” was named the greatest Latin song of all time by Billboard and earned Bieber his career-first Latin Grammy Award. In 2019, he released a country collaboration with Dan + Shay, “10,000 Hours”, which won the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
In 2020, Bieber released his R&B-inspired fifth studio album, Changes, which debuted at number one in both the UK and US, and a standalone duet with Ariana Grande, “Stuck with U”, which debuted atop the US Billboard Hot 100. Bieber returned to his pop roots on his sixth studio album, Justice (2021). It produced the worldwide hit “Peaches” (featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon) and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, making him the youngest soloist to have eight US number-one albums, a record held previously by Elvis Presley since 1965. The same year, Bieber released “Stay” (with the Kid Laroi), which became his eighth US number-one single.
Bieber is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated sales of over 150 million records worldwide. He is credited with three Diamond certifications from the RIAA for “Baby”, “Sorry” and “Despacito”. He has received numerous accolades, including two Grammy Awards, one Latin Grammy Award, eight Juno Awards, two Brit Awards, one Bambi Award, 26 Billboard Music Awards, 18 American Music Awards, 22 MTV Europe Music Awards (the most wins for any artist), 23 Teen Choice Awards (the most wins for a male individual), and 33 Guinness World Records. Time named Bieber one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2011, and he was included on Forbes’ list of the top ten most powerful celebrities in 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Personal Life
Bieber is reported to possess an O-1 visa for temporary resident status, based on “extraordinary ability or achievement” in a field in United States of America.
Bieber has said he is not interested in obtaining US citizenship, and has praised Canada as being “the best country in the world”, citing its mostly government-funded health care system as a model example. However, in September 2018, TMZ reported that Bieber had begun the process of becoming an American citizen, following his marriage to Hailey Baldwin. Bieber owns a $25.8 million home in Beverly Hills as well as a lakeside home in Ontario.
Bieber had several run-ins with the law around the world before his first arrest in 2014,including when he was accused of reckless driving in his neighbourhood in 2012, and charged in Brazil with vandalism in 2013. One of his neighbours in Calabasas, California, accused Bieber of throwing eggs at his home on January 9, 2014, and causing thousands of dollars of damage. On January 23, 2014, Bieber was arrested in Miami Beach, Florida, together with singer Khalil, on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI), driving with an over six month expired license, and resisting arrest without violence. Police said that Bieber told authorities he had consumed alcohol, smoked marijuana, and taken prescription drugs. He was released from these charges on a $2,500 bond. A toxicology report revealed that Bieber had THC (a principal constituent of cannabis) and the anti-anxiety medication Xanax in his system at the time of his arrest. However, in January 2021, he reflected on this event, describing it as “not [his] finest hour” and encouraging fans to “let the forgiveness of Jesus take over and watch your life blossom into all that God has designed you to be.”
Following Bieber’s arrest on the DUI charge, more than 270,000 people petitioned the White House seeking to have him deported from the United States. Although the number of signatures received was sufficient to require a response under published White House guidelines, the Obama Administration declined substantive comment on the petition. Immigration Law expert Harlan York noted that the likelihood of Bieber being deported was extremely slim. York stated, “About a decade ago, the Supreme Court ruled that driving under the influence, typically, is not a basis to deport someone.”
In April 2013, Bieber was criticized for writing a message in the guestbook at the Anne Frank House which read, “Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber.” After the message was posted on the museum’s Facebook page, Bieber received widespread criticism on social media for perceived insensitivity and narcissism. The Anne Frank House defended Bieber, stating, “He’s 19. It’s a crazy life he’s living, he didn’t mean bad […] He was very interested in the story of Anne Frank and stayed for over an hour. We hope that his visit will inspire his fans to learn more about her life and hopefully read the diary.”
On July 9, 2014, Bieber was charged with one misdemeanour count of vandalism in California for throwing eggs at his Calabasas neighbour’s home in January. Police earlier claimed that they had video footage of him high-fiving friends after the eggs were thrown. With him pleading no contest to the charge, the Los Angeles County Superior Court sentenced him on July 9 to pay $80,900 in restitution, serve two years’ probation, complete 12 weeks of anger management, and five days of community service in what the district attorney termed a negotiated settlement. Since then, he has permanently moved to Beverly Hills, California.
On August 13, 2014, the January DUI case was settled with a plea bargain; Bieber pleaded guilty to resisting an officer without violence and a lesser charge of driving without due care and attention. He was fined US$500 and sentenced to attend a 12-hour anger management course and a program that teaches the impact of drunken driving on victims. As part of the plea bargain, he made a US$50,000 contribution to Our Kids, a local children’s charity.
On September 1, 2014, Bieber was arrested and charged with assault and dangerous driving near his hometown of Stratford, Ontario, after a collision between a minivan and Bieber’s all-terrain vehicle on August 29. Ontario police said that he then “engaged in a physical altercation” with an occupant of the minivan. He was released shortly and his lawyer blamed the incident on “the unwelcome presence of paparazzi”. On September 8, Toronto dropped an assault charge against him originally brought up on January 29 for an incident with a limousine driver in December 2013. In November 2014, he was ordered to appear in Argentina within 60 days by a Buenos Aires court to give testimony on an alleged assault on a photographer on November 9, 2013. When he failed to do so, an arrest warrant was issued and two of his bodyguards were released in Argentina in April 2015.
In June 2014, a video emerged of a 15-year-old Bieber telling a joke about black people, which used the word “nigger” multiple times. In the same month, a second video showed a 15-year-old Bieber giggling as he croons his song “One Less Lonely Girl”, but parodying the main lyric as “One less lonely nigger”, and stating that if he were to kill one, he would be “part of the KKK”. He apologized the day the latter was released: “Facing my mistakes from years ago has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever dealt with.”
In July 2017, the Chinese government banned Bieber from performing in China. A Chinese Bieber fan contacted the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Culture requesting the reason for the ban. The Bureau released a statement, explaining “Justin Bieber is a gifted singer, but he is also a controversial young foreign singer”, and “In order to maintain order in the Chinese market and purify the Chinese performance environment, it is not suitable to bring in badly behaved entertainers.” In 2021, Chinese streaming sites Youku, iQIYI, and Tencent Video removed Bieber’s scenes in Friends: The Reunion donning Ross Geller’s iconic “Spudnik” costume.
In June 2020, Bieber was accused of sexual assault by a woman known pseudonymously as “Danielle”, who claimed on Twitter that the singer had engaged in non-consensual sexual acts at a Four Seasons hotel in Austin, Texas, in March 2014 while with then-girlfriend Selena Gomez. In a series of tweets, Bieber denied all allegations, stating that sexual abuse “is something I don’t take lightly” and provided evidence that he was not at the Four Seasons at the time of the alleged incident.
Bieber’s father, Jeremy Bieber, is a former carpenter and pro-am mixed martial artist. In March 2014, Rolling Stone characterized Jeremy as having “split with Justin’s mom when Justin was a toddler, and wasn’t always around afterward. But he has, as of late, accepted a place of honor in his superstar son’s entourage”.
From 2008 to 2009, Bieber was in a relationship with Caitlin Beadles; the two remained friends, and Beadles attended Bieber’s wedding. From December 2010 to March 2018, Bieber was in an on-again, off-again relationship with singer and actress Selena Gomez.In an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Bieber stated that some of his songs including “Sorry”, “Mark My Words”, and “What Do You Mean?” are about his relationship with Gomez. From August to December 2016, he was linked to model Sofia Richie.
Bieber became engaged to model Hailey Baldwin on July 7, 2018. They had briefly dated from December 2015 to January 2016 before splitting, then reconciled in June 2018. Bieber and Baldwin reportedly obtained a marriage license in September 2018, leading to reports that they had a civil marriage.On September 14, 2018, Baldwin said on Twitter that she and Bieber had not yet married, but deleted the tweet afterward. On November 23, 2018, Bieber stated he was married to Baldwin.Bieber and Baldwin had an official ceremony in Bluffton, South Carolina, on September 30, 2019.
Bieber has described himself as a faithful Christian, said he communicates with God via prayer, and that “He’s the reason I’m here”. He reflected his faith in a music video with Brandon Burke, titled “#iPledge”, in which he talks about God’s forgiveness.Bieber was baptized on January 9, 2014, by Pentecostal pastor Carl Lentz of Hillsong Church, New York, after a born again experience. He has described Lentz as a good friend. In 2021, he announced that he had become a member of Churchome, an evangelical church. On July 24, 2021, Bieber led worship with Gospel singers Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes during the “Freedom Experience” at SoFi Stadium. The trio performed “The Blessing”.
When asked how he wants to raise his children, Bieber replied, “I’m a Jesus follower. When you accept Jesus, you walk with the Holy Spirit. I just want to be led by the Holy Spirit.” Many of Bieber’s tattoos have religious significance including the medium-sized cross on his chest and a tiny cross under his eye. Bieber also covered up the “Son of God” text tattooed on his abdomen with a large design that features two angels, gothic arches, a skeleton, and a serpent.
Regarding sexual abstinence, Bieber told music magazine Rolling Stone in 2011, “I don’t think you should have sex with anyone unless you love them.” He added that he does not “believe in abortion”, and that it is “like killing a baby”. When asked about the case of abortion with regard to rape, however, he said, “I guess I haven’t been in that position, so I wouldn’t be able to judge that.” However, in 2022, amidst Roe v. Wade being overturned, both Bieber and his wife expressed disapproval, with Bieber posting on his Instagram story stating “For what it’s worth, I think women should have the choice what to do with their own bodies.” His view on sexual orientation is quoted as “everyone’s own decision”, and he has contributed to the It Gets Better Project, a non-profit group aiming to prevent suicide among LGBT youth.
Bieber supports Pencils of Promise, a charity founded by Adam Braun, the younger brother of Bieber’s manager. The organization builds schools in developing countries, and Bieber became manager for the organization’s campaign in Guatemala. He serves as a celebrity spokesman for the organization by running ads for the charity and its campaign “Schools4All”. He promises to visit schools that donate the most funds to the organization. He takes part in the charity’s fund-raising galas and donates parts of the proceeds from his concerts and Someday line of fragrances, and various merchandising to the charity. In 2010, Bieber supported a campaign for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) by urging fans to adopt abandoned pets from shelters. Bieber donated his hair to Ellen DeGeneres during his appearance in her talkshow The Ellen DeGeneres Show in March 2011. His hair sold on eBay for more than $40,000 and the proceeds benefited the animal rescue charity, The Gentle Barn. Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March 2011, Bieber donated proceeds from his concerts in Japan to Japanese Red Cross in May 2011. In December 2011, Bieber donated $100,000 to Whitney Elementary School in Las Vegas to provide students from low income families.Bieber supported Charity: Water which is a nonprofit that brings potable drinking water to people in developing countries. On his birthday in 2011 and 2012, he launched his campaign to urge his followers to donate on Twitter. Bieber was named top charitable celebrity of 2011 by American news aggregator and blog HuffPost.
In 2013, Bieber launched his online #GiveBackPhilippines campaign for helping the victims of Typhoon Haiyan and travelled to the Philippines after raising $3 million. His work in the country earned him a star on the Philippine Walk of Fame. He also supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and Alzheimer’s Association. In September 2017, Bieber donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross to help people in Texas after the severe destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey.
On February 7, 2020, Bieber donated $100,000 to Julie Coker, a 22-year-old fan who works in mental health awareness. Coker revealed that her own past struggles with mental health motivated her to work for mental health. She praised Bieber by saying, “[Bieber] has a big following, so if he has a good message about mental health, hopefully everybody else . . . will want to start thinking about mental health in a different way.”
In February 2020, Bieber made a donation to Beijing Chunmiao Children Aid Foundation in China to support COVID-19 relief. Bieber and Ariana Grande collaborated on the single “Stuck With U”, released in May 2020 as the first of series of singles coordinated by entertainment executive Scooter Braun, who is also Bieber’s manager, to support the COVID-19 pandemic. All net proceeds from the song went to the First Responders Children’s Foundation to fund grants and scholarships for children of first responders and health care workers who worked on the front lines during the pandemic. By August 2021, the single had raised over $3,500,000. In September 2020, Bieber and Chance the Rapper announced that they’ve partnered with Cash App and will donate $250,000 to fans who are struggling during the pandemic.
In March 2021, Bieber visited the California State Prison in Los Angeles County along with his wife Hailey and pastor Judah Smith at the invitation of Scott Budnick. Bieber met with inmates involved in The Urban Ministry Institute and expressed support for Budnick’s Anti-Recidivism Coalition. During the visit, Bieber committed to provide buses to transport relatives of the inmates who have been unable to see them due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California. Bieber described his visit to the prison as a “life-changing experience that I will never forget”.
Bieber has struggled with mental health issues, particularly depression and anxiety, at various points during his career. He has generally been open about these issues. In his American YouTube docu-series Seasons, the singer opened up about his struggles with addiction with frequent consumption of lean, pills such as MDMA, and hallucinogenic mushrooms in early stages of his career.
In January 2020, Bieber announced on his Instagram that he had been diagnosed with Lyme disease. He also revealed that he had infectious mononucleosis, which affected his neurological and overall health.
In February 2022, it was reported that Bieber had tested positive for COVID-19, two days after embarking on his fourth concert tour, Justice World Tour. In June of the same year, Bieber announced that he had been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 and that half of his face was paralyzed. He canceled and postponed concerts and appearances due to the condition, but returned to live performances in late July. In September, two days after the first concert in Latin America as part of the Rock in Rio festival, it was announced that all remaining dates of the tour would be suspended due to Bieber prioritizing his health. In a statement shared on social media, the singer said that “After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I need to make my health the priority right now. So I’m going to take a break from touring for the time being. I’m going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better.”
Net Worth
Justin Bieber has estimated net worth of $300 million.
In 2012, an 18-year-old Justin paid $6.5 million for a home in the exclusive Calabasas gated community called The Oaks. It was at this house where Justin had several run-ins with neighbors. Neighbors frequently complained about his loud parties and friends speeding through the quiet streets. Justin sold the home in 2014 for $7.2 million to Khloe Kardashian.
Over the next five years, Justin lived somewhat of a vagabond life renting home after home in various parts of the world. For example, during much of 2019 they were spending a mind-altering $100,000 per month to rent a home in Toluca Lake, California.
In March 2019, Justin paid $8.5 million for a Beverly Hills mansion.
In August 2020, Justin paid $28.5 million for a new home in Beverly Hills. This new Beverly Hills home is located high up in the mountains of Beverly Hills, within an ultra-exclusive gated community called Beverly Park. Nearby neighbors include Denzel Washington, Eddie Murphy, Rod Stewart and Sylvester Stallone, to name a few. Two years prior to the Bieber purchase, the home was listed for $42 million. The estate covers 2.5-acres and has an 11,000 square-foot mansion.
