Justin Bieber is a Canadian pop singer-songwriter and musician who achieved global fame as a preteen with his debut R&B and pop-infused album My World in 2009. He was discovered by American record industry entrepreneur Scooter Braun, who saw a video of the then-12-year-old singing covers on YouTube. Bieber signed with Braun’s RBMG Records, and his first singles, “One Time” and “Baby”, reached the top of the charts in North America.
The young star kept touring and making movies, earning himself a worldwide fan base that continues to grow today. He is the eighth most listened to artist on Spotify, with over 30 billion streams and counting, and has sold over 100 million albums worldwide. Bieber has been involved in a number of high-profile relationships and skirmishes with the law that have garnered considerable tabloid interest.
Bieber has since released six studio albums, all of which have charted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and produced hit singles. These include the chart-topping 2010 hit “Boyfriend”, the 2012 summer party anthem “What Do You Mean?” and the 2015 release Purpose, which found the singer delving into more mature subject matter, including soaring ballads like “Sorry” and the rancorous cut that updates the guy-and-guitar setup of his online-sensation days, “Love Yourself”.
In 2019, Bieber made headlines for his highly publicized split from longtime girlfriend Hailey Baldwin. Throughout this period, Bieber has sought to be a positive influence on younger musicians, and he has collaborated with other music industry figures to mentor emerging talent. He also attempts to be the kind of stable presence that he never had as a child celebrity, even when his own personal struggles have resurfaced from time to time.
This is illustrated in a scene from the documentary film Seasons, where Bieber’s wife Hailey can be seen zipping him into and out of a hyperbaric chamber in an attempt to help him feel more joy. Ryan Good, the film’s director, says that after years of performing and being around people constantly, standard levels of dopamine just don’t cut it anymore.
As of 2022, Bieber’s net worth is estimated to be $285 million. He owns a string of properties in Los Angeles and elsewhere, as well as an extensive collection of luxury cars and motorcycles. He has also been an active philanthropist, supporting various youth programs and causes in his native Canada and beyond. He is also an advocate for mental health, raising money and awareness for the cause through his JustBieber Foundation. In addition, he has worked with a range of charities to promote education and clean drinking water. He is a spokesperson for Global Citizen, an organization that seeks to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases through advocacy and activism. He has spoken at Global Citizen events in New York City and at the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva. In 2022, he was named a UN Messenger of Peace for Youth.