Selena Gomez
Born 1992 · Age 33
American actress, singer, songwriter, producer and businesswoman; rose from child actor to global pop star, producer and founder of Rare Beauty.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Grand Prairie, Texas
Selena Marie Gomez born to Mandy Teefey and Ricardo Joel Gomez in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Parents divorced
Gomez's parents divorced when she was five; she was raised primarily by her mother.
Television debut on Barney & Friends
Begins acting career portraying Gianna on Barney & Friends (appeared in 13 episodes between 2002–2004 and two direct-to-video films).
Film debut in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over
Small/walk-on role in the feature film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.
TV film role on Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
Bit part in the made-for-TV film Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.
Guest role on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
Guest-starred in an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (Disney Channel).
Cast as Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place
Wins lead role on Disney Channel sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012), which becomes her mainstream breakthrough.
Forms July Moon Productions
Creates her production company, July Moon Productions, with plans to produce films (projects later evolve into other productions).
Signs with Hollywood Records
At age 16 Gomez signs a recording contract with Hollywood Records to begin her music career.
Appears in Horton Hears a Who!
Provides the voice of Helga in the animated feature Horton Hears a Who!; film grosses over US$300M worldwide.
Stars in Another Cinderella Story
Plays Mary Santiago in direct-to-video Another Cinderella Story and contributes three songs to the soundtrack including 'Tell Me Something I Don't Know'.
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie premieres
TV film based on series premieres to 11.4 million viewers; series wins Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program (62nd Primetime Emmys).
Debut album 'Kiss & Tell' released (Selena Gomez & the Scene)
Selena Gomez & the Scene release Kiss & Tell; debuts at #9 on Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 66,000 copies.
Single 'Naturally' released
Second single from Kiss & Tell; becomes a breakthrough, peaking at #29 US and #7 UK, later certified platinum in the U.S.
Release 'A Year Without Rain' (Selena Gomez & the Scene)
Second studio album debuts at #4 on Billboard 200 with sales over 66,000 in its first week.
Appears in 'Ramona and Beezus'
Stars as Beezus Quimby; film is well received by critics.
Film 'Monte Carlo' released
Stars in the romantic comedy Monte Carlo (learned polo, dialect coaching for role).
Release 'When the Sun Goes Down' (Selena Gomez & the Scene)
Third and final band album debuts at #4 with first-week sales of 78,000 and later peaks at #3 on Billboard 200.
Wizards of Waverly Place ends
Series concludes its run on Disney Channel (2007–2012); Gomez transitions away from Disney teen image.
Premiere of Spring Breakers at Venice Film Festival
Stars in Harmony Korine's Spring Breakers which premieres at the 69th Venice International Film Festival; marks a departure to adult roles.
Voices Mavis in Hotel Transylvania
Voices the character Mavis in Hotel Transylvania; film grosses US$358M worldwide.
Wins Best Pop Video at MTV VMAs (Come & Get It)
Music video for 'Come & Get It' wins Best Pop Video at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards.
Single 'Come & Get It' released
Lead single from her solo debut reaches #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 — her first top-ten single as a solo artist.
Solo album 'Stars Dance' released
Debut solo studio album Stars Dance released; debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 with 97,000 first-week sales.
Stars Dance Tour begins
Launches headlining Stars Dance Tour (North America & Europe legs performed; Asian and Australian legs canceled in Dec 2013).
Cancels tour legs and enters treatment
Cancels Australian and Asian legs of Stars Dance Tour and later spends time at a treatment center (Dawn at The Meadows).
Fires mother and stepfather as managers
In April 2014 Gomez parts ways with her mother Mandy Teefey and stepfather Brian Teefey as managers.
Receives high-school diploma (homeschooling)
Earned high-school diploma via homeschooling in May 2010 (note: diploma completed earlier; included here per sources).
Releases 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' and 'For You' greatest hits
Surprise single 'The Heart Wants What It Wants' released; compilation For You released and debuts at #24 with 35,506 album-equivalent units first week.
Signs with Interscope Records
Officially parts with Hollywood Records and signs to Interscope Records to continue solo career.
Replay: Hotel Transylvania 2
Reprises voice of Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 2; film grosses US$474M worldwide and she wins Favorite Animated Movie Voice at People's Choice Awards.
Billboard Women in Music Chart-Topper Award
Receives the Chart-Topper Award at Billboard's Women in Music event for chart performance.
Lead single 'Good for You' released
'Good for You' featuring A$AP Rocky debuts at #1 on Digital Song Sales with first-week sales of 179,000 and becomes a top-five Hot 100 hit.
Release of 'Revival' (second solo album)
Revival is released and debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 with 117,000 album units first week; later certified platinum.
Becomes most-followed person on Instagram
At this time Gomez is the most-followed person on Instagram and becomes the first person on the platform to reach 100 million followers.
Performs on Saturday Night Live
Serves as musical guest on SNL (January 2016).
Feature on 'We Don't Talk Anymore' (Charlie Puth)
Featured on Charlie Puth's single 'We Don't Talk Anymore' which becomes an international top-ten hit and is certified multi-platinum (RIAA 5× platinum).
First person to reach 100M Instagram followers
Becomes the first person on Instagram to reach 100 million followers (achieved in 2016).
American Music Award (Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist)
Wins Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist at the 2016 American Music Awards.
Forbes 30 Under 30 (music) inclusion
Named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the music category (2016); later included again in 2020 as an 'All-Star Alumni'.
Launches the Revival Tour
Begins the worldwide Revival Tour (May 2016); later cancels European and South American legs in August due to health concerns (anxiety, panic attacks, depression linked to lupus).
Named Billboard Woman of the Year
Honored by Billboard as Woman of the Year in recognition of influence and commercial success.
Collaborates on 'It Ain't Me' with Kygo
Release of 'It Ain't Me' with Kygo; reaches top ten worldwide and becomes one of her best-selling UK songs (>1.4M chart units sold in UK over time).
Executive producer: 13 Reasons Why premieres
Exec produces Netflix adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why; series premieres in March 2017 and becomes heavily discussed and controversial.
Releases 'Bad Liar'
Releases critically acclaimed single 'Bad Liar' with a vertical video that premiered exclusively on Spotify — the first music video to do so.
Reveals kidney transplant due to lupus
In September 2017 Gomez reveals she underwent a kidney transplant earlier in 2017; close friend Francia Raisa was the donor.
Honored at Lupus Research Alliance Gala
Honored for helping raise more than $500,000 toward lupus research.
Releases 'Back to You' for 13 Reasons Why
Single 'Back to You' released for 13 Reasons Why Season 2 soundtrack; achieves top-ten and top-five placements across several countries.
Voices Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 3
Reprises Mavis in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation; film grosses US$528M worldwide.
Featured on 'Taki Taki' (DJ Snake) released
Collaboration with DJ Snake, Ozuna and Cardi B becomes global hit; peaks at #11 in the U.S., tops several countries and wins Song of the Year at 2019 Latin AMAs.
Stars in A Rainy Day in New York and donates >$1M to Time's Up
Appears in Woody Allen film; donates over $1 million (exceeding her salary) to Time's Up following renewed allegations against Allen.
World premiere of The Dead Don't Die at Cannes
Appears in Jim Jarmusch's The Dead Don't Die which premieres at Cannes Film Festival (May 2019).
Exec produces Living Undocumented on Netflix
Executive producer for docuseries about undocumented families; series released Oct 2019 and nominated for a News & Documentary Emmy Award.
Releases 'Lose You to Love Me' (lead single Rare era)
Lead single released Oct 23, 2019; becomes her first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Releases 'Look at Her Now' (promotional single)
Surprise-releases promotional single 'Look at Her Now' following 'Lose You to Love Me'.
Multiple Guinness World Records holder
By various dates Gomez holds/has held multiple Guinness World Records (16 cited in sources overall).
Named to Time 100
Appears on Time's list of 100 most influential people in the world (2020).
Releases third solo album 'Rare'
Rare debuts at #1 on Billboard 200 with 112,000 album-equivalent units in its first week; includes #1 single 'Lose You to Love Me'.
Launches Selena + Chef (HBO Max)
Hosts and executive produces cooking series Selena + Chef which premiered Aug 2020; show runs four seasons (Aug 2020–Sept 2022) and donates to food charities.
Founds Rare Beauty and Rare Impact Fund
Launches cosmetics brand Rare Beauty (Sept 2020) and affiliated nonprofit Rare Impact Fund focused on mental health; pledges 1% of sales to philanthropy.
Releases Spanish EP 'Revelación'
Spanish-language EP Revelación released March 2021; debuts at #22 on US Billboard 200 with 23,000 equivalent album units in first week and tops Top Latin Albums chart.
Performs at UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony
Performs during the opening ceremony of the 2021 UEFA Champions League final.
Only Murders in the Building premieres (lead role & EP)
Stars, executive produces and leads in Hulu comedy-mystery Only Murders in the Building; series premiere sets the record for most-watched comedy premiere in Hulu history.
First major solo acting nominations and SNL hosting
Receives SAG and Critics' Choice Television Award nominations for Only Murders; hosts Saturday Night Live (May 14, 2022) and Apple TV+ documentary My Mind & Me released 2022.
Releases documentary 'Selena Gomez: My Mind & Me'
Apple TV+ documentary about her mental health and career released in 2022, revealing personal struggles and diagnoses (bipolar disorder disclosed in 2020 interview).
Business growth reported (Rare Beauty sales)
Bloomberg reports Rare Beauty sold ~$70M worth of a liquid blush year-to-date and expected to triple overall sales year-over-year (reporting mid-2023).
First woman to reach 400M followers on Instagram
Becomes the first woman on Instagram to surpass 400 million followers (March 2023).
Named member of the Order of Arts and Letters (France)
Made a member of the Order of Arts and Letters by the Government of France (2024).
Bloomberg reports Gomez net worth ~$1.3B
Bloomberg reports (Sept 2024) Gomez is a billionaire with an estimated net worth of approximately $1.3 billion, driven largely by Rare Beauty valuation and acting income.
Rare Beauty valuation reported at $2 billion
By 2024 Rare Beauty is reported to have a valuation of approximately $2 billion.
Emilia Pérez premieres at Cannes; shares Best Actress award
Stars in Emilia Pérez (2024); at Cannes the film and her co-stars receive the festival's best actress award (shared).
Engaged to Benny Blanco
Announces engagement to music producer Benny Blanco via Instagram, posting images and the caption 'Forever begins now.'
Releases fourth studio album 'I Said I Love You First' (with Benny Blanco)
Release of fourth studio album I Said I Love You First (2025) in collaboration with Benny Blanco (noted in sources).
Named Latin Women of the Year
Named Latin Women of the Year (2025) in recognition of cultural and industry contributions.
Key Achievement Ages
Explore what Selena Gomez and others achieved at these notable ages:
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