Shakira is the best-selling Latin music artist of all time, and the question fans ask most often is simple: how old is she? The Colombian superstar is 49 years old, born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia. Across a career that has lasted more than three decades, she has sold over 95 million records worldwide, won four Grammy Awards, and delivered some of the biggest global hits ever recorded. This biography covers Shakira's early life and career, her personal life and children, her record-breaking world tour, and her estimated net worth.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll |
| Born | February 2, 1977 |
| Age | 49 |
| Birthplace | Barranquilla, Colombia |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer |
| Nationality | Colombian |
| Height | 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m) |
| Spouse/Partner | None (currently single) |
| Children | Milan (born 2013), Sasha (born 2015) |
| Estimated Net Worth | $300–350 million |
Early Life and Career
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll was born on February 2, 1977, in Barranquilla, Colombia, to a Lebanese-Colombian father and a Colombian mother, giving her the blend of Latin, Middle Eastern and rock influences that defines her sound. A natural performer from childhood, she released her debut album, Magia, at just 13 years old, followed by Peligro. Her breakthrough came with Pies Descalzos (1995) and ¿Dónde Están los Ladrones? (1998), which made her the biggest star in Latin America and laid the foundation for her later philanthropy.
The 2001 English-language album Laundry Service turned her into a global phenomenon on the strength of "Whenever, Wherever." She followed it with the Fijación Oral / Oral Fixation albums, and in 2006 her single "Hips Don't Lie" with Wyclef Jean became one of the best-selling singles of the 21st century. She coached on The Voice, headlined the 2010 FIFA World Cup with "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" — one of the most-streamed World Cup anthems ever and an early YouTube billion-view pioneer — and co-headlined the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show with Jennifer Lopez.
Her 2017 album El Dorado kept her at the top of the Latin charts, but the defining chapter of her recent career began after her 2022 separation from Gerard Piqué. Channeling heartbreak into music, she released "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" with Argentine producer Bizarrap in January 2023 — a record-breaking global No. 1 that became the fastest Latin song to reach 100 million Spotify streams. The "TQG" collaboration with Karol G extended the run, proving her second act was a commercial triumph.
In 2024 she released Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, her twelfth studio album: 16 tracks spanning reggaeton, Afrobeats, pop-rock and Latin dance. The album debuted at No. 1 in Argentina and Spain, topped Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart, reached No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and was certified seven times platinum (Latin) by the RIAA. In 2025 it won the Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album — her fourth Grammy win, presented to her on her 48th birthday by Jennifer Lopez — and earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
To support the album, Shakira launched the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour on February 11, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro — her seventh concert tour and the most extensive of her career. By January 2026, Billboard confirmed it had grossed $421.6 million across more than 80 stadium shows with over 3.3 million attendees, breaking the Guinness World Record for the highest-grossing Latin tour of all time. In the fall of 2026 she played a historic 13-show residency in Madrid — her first performances in Spain in eight years and her only European stop — while a global Amazon Music livestream of one show set the platform's record for the most-watched broadcast by a female artist, with surprise guests including Dua Lipa, Alejandro Sanz and Laura Pausini. The tour is scheduled to conclude on November 28, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt.
The year 2026 has been one of the biggest of her career: she reportedly co-headlined the first-ever FIFA World Cup final halftime show alongside Madonna and BTS, her "Dai Dai" collaboration with Burna Boy was tied to the tournament's celebrations, and reported August 2026 figures put her Spotify catalog past 31.7 billion total streams — with "Hips Don't Lie" alone above 2.6 billion. At this scale she stands among the streaming era's giants, in the company of crossover superstars like Taylor Swift, while her reggaeton-era reinvention keeps her on the global Latin-music stage with a new generation led by artists such as Bad Bunny.
Personal Life
Earlier in her life, Shakira was in a long-term relationship with Argentine lawyer Antonio de la Rúa. She later met retired Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué in 2010 while filming the "Waka Waka" video, and the couple were together from 2011 until their separation in June 2022. They never married but share two sons: Milan, born in 2013, and Sasha, born in 2015. After the split, Shakira moved with the boys to Miami. In 2026, entertainment outlets reported that Milan and Sasha had landed voice roles in Disney's Zootopia 2.
Shakira has no confirmed new partner. She told The Times in May 2026 that there was "no space or time" in her life for romance, repeating in a June People interview that raising her children was her focus. Rumors linking her to actor Ben Affleck were publicly shut down in the fall of 2026 — no meeting between the two was ever confirmed — and photos with actor Manuel Garcia-Rulfo sparked only unconfirmed buzz. In October 2026, she and Piqué returned to a Barcelona court over logistics of their sons' travel between Miami and Spain; she has asked for fewer short transatlantic trips to protect the children's routines.
Beyond music, Shakira founded the Fundación Pies Descalzos (Barefoot Foundation) in 1997 to build schools for vulnerable children in Colombia, and she has long advocated for education and children's rights worldwide.
Net Worth
Shakira's net worth is estimated at between $300 million and $350 million. The most widely cited figure, from Celebrity Net Worth, currently puts her at $350 million, while some outlets still carry the older $300 million estimate — so the figure should be treated as an estimate, not a confirmed total.
Touring is her biggest earner: the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran run grossed $421.6 million (a gross figure, not her personal earnings), and Forbes placed her among the highest-paid musicians of 2025 with roughly $105 million in earnings that year. She sold her music catalog to Hipgnosis in 2021 in a deal the industry estimates above $100 million, signed a major touring agreement with Live Nation in 2008, and has earned from endorsements and her long-running perfume line. Like fellow songwriter-stars such as Billie Eilish, she writes or co-writes nearly all of her songs, which multiplies her royalty income.
Her wealth has been shadowed by Spain's tax cases: she reached a settlement in 2023 over the 2012–2014 years, and in May 2026 a Spanish court ordered the treasury to refund her roughly €60 million (about $70 million) — money she has not yet received, as the tax agency appealed the ruling. She has also invested in real estate, including property in Miami.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Shakira?
Shakira was born on February 2, 1977, making her 49 years old. She will turn 50 in February 2027.
What is Shakira's net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at $300–350 million, with Celebrity Net Worth currently citing the higher $350 million figure. Touring, royalties, a catalog sale and endorsements drive the fortune.
Who are Shakira's children?
She has two sons with ex-partner Gerard Piqué: Milan Piqué Mebarak, born in 2013, and Sasha Piqué Mebarak, born in 2015. They live with her in Miami.
Is Shakira married?
No. Shakira has never married. She told The Times in May 2026 that she is currently single and focused on her children and career.
What are Shakira's biggest songs?
Her biggest hits include "Hips Don't Lie," "Whenever, Wherever," "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)," "La Tortura," "Chantaje," "Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol. 53" and "TQG" with Karol G.