(1994-)

Who Is Justin Bieber?

Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Born in 1994 in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, to a single mother, Bieber took second place in a local talent competition at a young age. After his mother posted YouTube clips of her boy performing, Bieber went from an unknown, untrained singer to a budding superstar with a big-time record deal with Usher within two years.

Bieber went on to become the first solo artist to have four singles enter the Top 40 before the release of a debut album. His 2009 album, My World, went platinum in several countries. He later experienced significant media exposure from offensive activity. Nonetheless, the singer made his comeback in 2015 with his first number one song, “What Do You Mean?” His 2017 collaboration with Luis Fonsi, “Despacito,” broke the all-time record for most consecutive weeks at the number one spot on the Top 100. Bieber broke another record in early 2020 when the success of Changes made him the youngest artist to have seven albums reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 200.

Net Worth

According to Wealthy Gorilla, Justin Bieber’s net worth is $285 million as of 2019, thanks to his music sales, merchandise, product endorsements, touring and other business ventures.

Justin Bieber and Hailey Baldwin

After Bieber and model Hailey Baldwin were frequently spotted together during the summer of 2018, TMZ reported that the two had gotten engaged during a dinner in the Bahamas on July 7. The lovebirds had previously dated before splitting in 2016, even enduring a “long period of time when we weren’t friends,” according to Bieber, before rekindling their friendship and then their romance.

Bieber and Baldwin reportedly obtained a marriage license at a New York City courthouse on September 13, 2018, just two months after getting engaged. According to TMZ, Bieber was overheard saying, “I can’t wait to marry you, baby.” Later that year he confirmed he was a married man.

On September 30, 2019, the couple held a second, larger marriage ceremony at the Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton, South Carolina.

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

Teen idol Justin Bieber broke the hearts of many of his young female fans in 2010 when he started dating television actress and singer Selena Gomez. It wasn’t easy for Gomez to be Bieber’s girlfriend, as she was accosted by some of his devoted followers. There were even death threats posted against her on Twitter after the pair was photographed kissing while on a 2011 vacation. The couple ended their relationship in November 2012, though they remained in touch on and off. In November 2017, Bieber and Gomez were spotted together publicly several times, stoking rumors that they had gotten back together.

Gomez’s chart-topping ballad “Lose You to Love Me,” released in fall 2019, was speculated to be about her relationship with Bieber.

Justin Bieber’s Albums and Songs

Bieber’s debut album, My World, hit stores in November 2009, selling more than 137,000 copies within a week. In 2010, Bieber released My World 2.0, which offered his growing fan base 10 new songs. Never Say Never was released in 2011, with a holiday album, Under the Mistletoe, coming out the same year. In 2012, the album Believe sold 374,000 copies in its first week, before the disappointment of the following year’s Journals, a downbeat album without a hit single.

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Bieber made a big comeback in 2015 with Purpose, which became his fifth million-selling record in the U.S. by the end of the year. Following the release of Changes in February 2020, the 25-year-old became the youngest artist to have seven albums reach the top spot on the Billboard Hot 200, breaking the record once held by a 26-year-old Elvis Presley.

Some of Bieber’s hit songs include:

“One Time”

Bieber’s first single, “One Time,” went certified platinum in his native Canada shortly after its release in May 2009.

“Baby”

Bieber broke into the Billboard Top 10 in early 2010 with “Baby,” which also featured rapper Ludacris.

“All I Want for Christmas Is”

In 2011, Bieber released an album featuring his own take on such holiday classics as “All I Want For Christmas Is,” his duet with Mariah Carey.

“Boyfriend”

Bieber had another hit single in April 2012 with “Boyfriend,” which appeared on his 2012 album Believe.

“Beauty and a Beat”

In October 2012, amid controversy over his offensive behavior, Bieber released another Top 10 hit with this party anthem featuring Nicki Minaj.

“Where Are Ü Now”

Bieber nailed a summer Top 10 hit with the Diplo and Skrillex collaboration “Where Are Ü Now” in 2015, helmed by R&B songwriter Poo Bear. In 2016, Bieber landed his first Grammy, winning for “Where Are Ü Now” in the category of Best Dance Recording.

“What Do You Mean?”

In October 2015, Bieber landed his first No. 1 single with “What Do You Mean?,” also produced with Poo Bear.

“Despacito”

In January 2017, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Luis Fonsi released the hit “Despacito” on YouTube; the video soon became the most-watched video of all time on YouTube. A few months later, after hearing the song in a nightclub in Colombia, Justin Bieber asked Fonsi to collaborate on a remix. Their song went on to hit the number one spot on the Hot 100; after 16 consecutive weeks in the top spot, it broke the all-time record as the longest-standing chart-topping song in August 2017.

“I Don’t Care”

Thanks in part to a surreal video, Bieber enjoyed more success with this spring 2019 collaboration with Ed Sheeran, a breezy track which went to No. 1 in several countries and topped out at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

When and Where Was He Born?

Justin Bieber was born on March 1, 1994, in the small town of Stratford, Ontario, Canada.

Height

Justin Bieber has said he’s 5-foot-9-inches tall. However based on photographs of the star next to other celebrities, there has been speculation that he measures in at 5-foot-7-inches.

Justin Bieber’s Dad and Mom

Justin Bieber was raised by a single mom. His dad, Jeremy Bieber, left to start a family with another woman. According to some media reports, Justin and his father weren’t close growing up; his dad has been at times described as being a “deadbeat” who only resurfaced after Justin achieved YouTube fame. Jeremy reportedly considered becoming a rapper himself and has struggled with addiction problems. It was also reported that Justin had been partying with his dad just before his January 2014 arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Despite their allegedly complicated relationship, Justin has maintained that he and his dad are close. In 2010, 16-year-old Justin told Seventeen magazine: “I have a great relationship with my dad. When I was younger, he taught me how to play some songs on the guitar, like ‘Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door’ by Bob Dylan.” Justin’s first tattoo, a seagull that he got in 2010, matches one his father has.

In February 2016, Justin told GQ magazine, “I’m a lot closer to my dad than I am to my mum.” Two months later, Justin attended a party to celebrate his dad’s engagement to girlfriend Chelsey Rebelow. When Jeremy became a father again in August 2018, Justin welcomed little sister Bay to the family.

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YouTube & Rise to Fame

Bieber always had an interest in music. His mother gave him a drum kit for his second birthday and, as he tells it, he was “basically banging on everything I could get my hands on.” But it was an obscure talent contest in his hometown, in which the 12-year-old Bieber finished second that put him on the road to superstardom. As a way to share his singing with family, Justin and his mom began posting clips of Bieber performing covers of Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Ne-Yo on YouTube.

Within months, Justin was an Internet sensation, with a large following of fans and an eager manager arranging for the teenager to fly to Atlanta to consider a record deal. There, Bieber had a chance meeting with Usher, who eventually signed the young singer to a contract.

Calvin Klein Ad

In the spring of 2015, Justin Bieber was featured in a prominent Calvin Klein ad with Dutch model Lara Stone. The shots, which show a grown-up Bieber stripped down to his underwear, were a fan favorite.

A year later, Bieber was featured in another Calvin Klein ad campaign, this time with model and reality star Kendall Jenner.

‘Never Say Never’ Movie

In 2011, Bieber took to the big screen in the concert documentary Never Say Never. His fans crowded movie theaters to catch him in action on stage and get a glimpse of his life behind the scenes. The movie, which eventually earned more than $73 million at the box office, also had guest appearances by Kanye West, Miley Cyrus and Bieber’s musical mentor Usher.

Courting Controversy

While still only in his teens, Bieber survived his first public scandal. A woman filed suit against Bieber in 2011, claiming that he was the father of her child. But a DNA test proved that the young pop star was not the father and the woman dropped her lawsuit. Bieber sang about the scandal in the song “Maria.”

That was only the beginning of a string of scandals, bad behavior and unfavorable press for the young pop artist. In March 2013, Bieber’s neighbor accused the singer of spitting on him, in addition to making threatening comments. Two months later, denizens of Bieber’s neighborhood in Calabasas, California, complained that he was driving too fast in a residential area.

On April 15, 2013, Bieber visited a museum in Amsterdam that paid tribute to Anne Frank. Upon writing that the young Holocaust victim “would have been a Belieber,” he faced more backlash from the public. On July 9, 2013, his image was scrutinized once again after he was recorded urinating in a janitor’s bucket and yelling “F— Bill Clinton,” holding a photo of the former president. Although he later apologized, his previously squeaky clean image began to tarnish even more.

On January 14, 2014, Bieber’s home in California was searched after he was accused of egging a neighbor’s house. Nine days later, Bieber was arrested for suspicion of drag racing and driving under the influence. After a Breathalyzer test showed that Bieber wasn’t sober, he was taken into custody where he stayed until he posted bail, which was set at $2,500. The charges were eventually reduced to resisting arrest.

Health Battles

As he matured into his 20s, Bieber seemed intent on cleaning up his act and largely managed to avoid embarrassing incidents. However, the pop star still drew attention for his personal issues, particularly when it was reported in February 2019 that he was being treated for depression.

Bieber confirmed his situation in March, posting a photo to Instagram of himself praying with Kanye West, with the caption: “Just wanted to keep you guys updated a little bit hopefully what I’m going through will resonate with you guys. Been struggling a lot. Just feeling super disconnected and weird.. I always bounce back so I’m not worried just wanted to reach out and ask for your guys to pray for me. God is faithful and ur prayers really work thanks .. the most human season I’ve ever been in facing my stuff head on..”

In a January 2020 Instagram post, Bieber revealed that he had recently battled a case of mononucleosis and been diagnosed with Lyme disease.

Docuseries: ‘Justin Bieber: Seasons’

In late January 2020, the artist debuted his 10-part YouTube docuseries, Justin Bieber: Seasons. The first episode, titled “Leaving the Spotlight,” focused on his retreat from the public eye after cancelling the final weeks of a tour in 2017 and his journey back to recording again, with later episodes delving into his marriage and battles with depression.

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QUICK FACTS

  • Name: Justin Bieber
  • Birth Year: 1994
  • Birth date: March 1, 1994
  • Birth City: Stratford, Ontario
  • Birth Country: Canada
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Justin Bieber is a Grammy Award-winning Canadian pop star who was discovered via YouTube. His hits include “Let Me Love You,” “Despacito (Remix)” and “I’m the One.”
  • Industries
    • Pop
  • Astrological Sign: Pisces
  • Interesting Facts
    • Justin Bieber signed his first record deal with Usher.
    • Bieber first starting sharing YouTube clips of himself singing, as a means of sharing his talent with friends and family.
  • Occupations
    • Singer

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CITATION INFORMATION

  • Article Title: Justin Bieber Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/justin-bieber
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: September 15, 2022
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014

QUOTES

  • My world got very big, very fast and based on a lot of sad examples—people expect me to get lost in it.
  • The journey is just beginning.
  • I’m learning about myself a lot more, especially about growing up. I’m growing up in the business. I’m 18. I’m still not fully a man. I’m a man, but I’m still, like, growing up and learning. I just feel like right now is a perfect time for me.
  • To all the haters out there, I wish you the best. You can’t bring me down. I wake up everyday grateful for the opportunity and grateful to the fans.
  • I’m telling you, people. Every day we wake up is another blessing. Follow your dreams and don’t let anyone stop you. Never say Never.
  • I’m not sure about parties, but whatever they have in Korea, that’s bad.
  • Young people in this business have grown up and made the wrong decisions, or bad decisions, and haven’t been good role models. To be someone that people look up to is important to me.
  • I’m 19 with 5 No. 1 albums. Nineteen and I’ve seen the whole world. Nineteen and I’ve accomplished more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. I’m 19, and it must be scary for some people to think that this is just the beginning.
  • I know who I am, I’m very much in control. I don’t need to address every speculation. Remember when Cam’ron dissed Jay-Z? Jay-Z didn’t even respond. Why didn’t he respond, because he is Jay-Z.
  • “Truly inspiring to be able to come here. Anne [Frank] was a great girl. Hopefully she would have been a belieber,”[A controversial comment written by Bieber in the guestbook of the Anne Frank House.]