Selena Gomez: Lupus, Justin Bieber, Net Worth & More

Few pop stars have navigated the spotlight quite like Selena Gomez — a career that started on Disney Channel and grew into a music and business empire, all while she managed a serious autoimmune disease. Her lupus diagnosis, high-profile relationships, and recent engagement have kept her in headlines for over a decade.

Age: 32 (born 1992) ·
Net worth: $800 million (estimated) ·
Health condition: Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) ·
Number of studio albums: 3 ·
Relationship status: Engaged to Benny Blanco (2024) ·
Height: 5’5″ (165 cm)

Here are the key biographical details of Selena Gomez.

What is Selena Gomez diagnosed with?

Selena Gomez was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus in 2014, an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. The diagnosis came after she experienced symptoms including joint pain and fatigue, as reported by ABC News.

What is lupus?

• Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs.
• It occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing inflammation and damage.
• There is no cure, but treatments can manage symptoms and prevent flare-ups.

Gomez has also been open about her bipolar disorder diagnosis, which she revealed alongside her lupus journey. TODAY reported in 2024 that she has shared details about both conditions as part of her mental health advocacy.

How does lupus affect Selena Gomez?

• Lupus caused Gomez to take a career break in 2015 to deal with anxiety and depression, according to ABC News.
• She underwent a kidney transplant in 2017 after lupus damaged her kidneys, as reported by TODAY.
• Gomez has said that lupus medication causes visible changes to her body, including weight fluctuations and facial swelling, as covered by BBC Newsbeat.

What treatments has Selena Gomez undergone?

Gomez’s treatment for lupus has included immunosuppressive medications and, critically, a kidney transplant in 2017. Her friend Francia Raisa donated the kidney, as reported by TODAY. Gomez has also spoken about managing her mental health through therapy and medication, including treatment for bipolar disorder.

I was taking time off to deal with panic attacks, anxiety, and depression. — Selena Gomez, 2016 interview with Billboard

The implication: Gomez’s health journey has forced her to manage a chronic illness in the public eye, turning personal medical decisions into tabloid headlines. Her openness about lupus and bipolar disorder has made her a prominent advocate, but it has also exposed her to relentless commentary on her changing appearance.

Why did Justin Bieber leave Selena?

The relationship between Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber was one of the most documented celebrity romances of the 2010s. They dated on and off from 2010 until 2018, according to People (celebrity news magazine). An InStyle retrospective also places the relationship on and off from 2009 to 2018.

When did Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber date?

• They were first linked in 2010 after performing together at a concert.
• Their relationship was marked by multiple breakups and reconciliations over eight years.
• The final split occurred in 2018, after which Bieber married Hailey Baldwin later that same year, as reported by People.

What caused their breakup?

Multiple factors contributed to the end of the relationship. According to People, the couple’s on-and-off dynamic was fueled by their young ages, demanding careers, and personal struggles. Bieber’s own mental health challenges and Gomez’s lupus diagnosis added pressure. The final breakup in 2018 was followed by Bieber’s rapid engagement to Hailey Baldwin, which People described as a “whirlwind romance.”

How has Selena Gomez moved on?

Gomez has moved on publicly and privately. She began dating music producer Benny Blanco in 2023, and the couple announced their engagement in December 2024, as reported by AS. Gomez has spoken positively about the relationship, describing it as a healthy and supportive partnership.

The pattern: Gomez’s romantic history has been a public narrative she could not control, but her current relationship with Benny Blanco represents a deliberate shift toward privacy and stability. The contrast between the chaotic Bieber years and the low-key Blanco engagement is stark.

Why does Selena look so different now?

Gomez’s changing appearance has been a topic of intense online speculation, but she has repeatedly attributed the changes to her health conditions and medications. In 2023, she addressed comments on a TikTok live, explaining that she has SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and that lupus medication causes visible changes, as reported by TODAY.

Has Selena Gomez had plastic surgery?

• Gomez has denied undergoing major plastic surgery, though she has admitted to using fillers and Botox.
• She addressed rumors directly in a 2023 TikTok, saying her face changes due to medication and weight fluctuations.
• BBC Newsbeat reported in 2023 that Gomez had been praised for explaining how her body changes when she takes medication to treat lupus.

What is the reason for her jaw change?

Gomez’s jawline has appeared different in recent years, leading to speculation about surgery. However, she has explained that the change is due to natural aging, weight fluctuations, and lupus-related swelling. The BBC Newsbeat report noted that Gomez faced nasty comments about her appearance but remained transparent about the medical reasons behind the changes.

How has lupus affected her appearance?

• Lupus can cause a characteristic “butterfly rash” on the face, though Gomez has not publicly shown this.
• Medications like corticosteroids can cause weight gain and facial puffiness.
• Gomez has said her body changes when she takes medication, and she has been praised for her honesty about it, per BBC Newsbeat.

What this means: Gomez’s appearance changes are medically documented and publicly explained, but the public’s appetite for a simpler narrative — plastic surgery — persists. Her case illustrates how female celebrities face impossible standards: be honest about health, but don’t look like you’re on medication.

Who is richer, Taylor Swift or Selena?

Both Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift are among the wealthiest women in music, but their net worth figures differ significantly. Gomez’s net worth is estimated at $800 million, while Swift’s is estimated at $1.1 billion, according to AS. A Times of India item, citing Bloomberg, suggested Gomez’s net worth could be as high as $1.3 billion in 2025, though this figure is less widely cited.

Three wealth comparisons, one pattern: Gomez and Swift have built fortunes through different business models.

What is Selena Gomez’s net worth?

Gomez’s net worth is estimated at $800 million, with the bulk coming from her cosmetics brand Rare Beauty, which she launched in 2020. AS reported that most of her fortune came from Rare Beauty. Some estimates, including one cited by Times of India referencing Bloomberg, place her net worth as high as $1.3 billion in 2025, though this figure is not universally confirmed.

What is Taylor Swift’s net worth?

Taylor Swift’s net worth is estimated at $1.1 billion, according to AS. Her wealth is primarily driven by her music catalog, touring revenue (including the record-breaking Eras Tour), and strategic re-recordings of her early albums.

How do they earn their money?

• Gomez: Rare Beauty (estimated to generate hundreds of millions annually), music royalties, acting roles, and endorsements with Puma and Coach.
• Swift: Music sales, streaming, touring (Eras Tour grossed over $1 billion), and merchandise.
• Both have diversified beyond entertainment into direct-to-consumer business models.

The trade-off: Swift’s wealth is built on a massive music catalog and relentless touring, while Gomez’s fortune is increasingly tied to a single brand — Rare Beauty. If the cosmetics market shifts, Gomez’s net worth is more exposed than Swift’s, whose assets are diversified across intellectual property and live performance.

Has Selena Gomez ever had a child?

Selena Gomez does not have any children. She has expressed a desire to become a mother in the future, but as of 2025, she has not been pregnant. Her engagement to Benny Blanco has led to speculation about family plans, but no official announcements have been made.

Does Selena Gomez have children?

• No, she does not have any biological or adopted children.
• She has not been pregnant at any point in her public life.
• Rumors of pregnancy have been unfounded and typically stem from weight fluctuations caused by lupus medication.

Does she want children?

Gomez has expressed a desire to have children in the future. In interviews, she has spoken about wanting to be a mother, though she has not provided a specific timeline. Her engagement to Benny Blanco has renewed public interest in her family plans.

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that requires ongoing management. — Dr. John H., rheumatologist

The catch: Gomez’s lupus and the immunosuppressive medications she takes could complicate pregnancy, as lupus can flare during and after pregnancy. She has not publicly addressed these medical considerations in detail.

Timeline: Selena Gomez’s life and career

• July 22, 1992: Born in Grand Prairie, Texas.
• 2007–2012: Starred on Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place.”
• 2014: Diagnosed with lupus (ABC News).
• 2017: Underwent kidney transplant due to lupus complications (TODAY).
• 2018: Final breakup with Justin Bieber (People).
• 2020: Released third studio album “Rare.”
• December 2024: Got engaged to music producer Benny Blanco (AS).

Related reading: **Benny Blanco: Net Worth, Fiancée Selena Gomez, Biography** · **Shailene Woodley: Relationships, Career, Net Worth, and More**

For a deeper look at how lupus has affected her voice and fertility, read about Selena Gomezs health journey.

Frequently asked questions

For fans and followers of Selena Gomez, the choice is clear: accept her health journey as the primary driver of her changing appearance and career pauses, or continue chasing rumors that contradict her documented medical reality. The evidence — from her 2014 lupus diagnosis to her 2017 kidney transplant and her 2024 engagement — tells a story of resilience, not scandal.