Hailey Bieber, the model-turned-beauty mogul behind Rhode, is getting real about one of her biggest regrets, leaving high school before graduation. In a new interview clip shared by The Wall Street Journal, the 28-year-old opened up about the decision that changed her life, for better and worse.
“I wouldn’t sit here and, like, tell anybody to, like, bet on that,” she said candidly when asked about dropping out to pursue modeling full-time. “Obviously, it did work out and I’m really proud of myself that I have accomplished what I have without having finished high school,” she added.
But Bieber admits the decision haunts her a little. “I just wish that I had finished it because I was so close,” she said. “I was, like, a senior in high school, I was almost done, and I got lazy.”
From High School Dropout to Billion-Dollar Beauty Founder
Bieber’s career trajectory is the kind of Hollywood fairytale most people only dream about. From walking runways for major fashion houses to gracing international magazine covers, she’s built a global brand.
Her skincare company, Rhode, became a viral favorite for its minimalist aesthetic and “glazed donut” glow. But the biggest twist came recently when Bieber sold Rhode to e.l.f. Beauty for a jaw-dropping $1 billion.
Though she no longer owns the brand, she’ll remain on board as Chief Creative Officer and Head of Innovation, a role that allows her to keep steering the brand’s vision while enjoying the fruits of her success.
Bieber shared that she plans to use the money from the sale wisely, focusing on long-term financial security for her growing family. “I want to preserve that for my son’s future,” she said, referencing her newborn, Jack Bieber. “It’s an amount of money that I have not dealt with before, so I just want to be smart with it. I would like to invest it wisely.”
The “Nepo Baby” Conversation Strikes Again
Of course, the internet had thoughts. While many praised Bieber’s honesty, others pointed out that her path to success was cushioned by privilege. The daughter of actor Stephen Baldwin and the niece of Alec Baldwin, Hailey has long been labeled a “nepo baby.”
In the comments of the Wall Street Journal interview clip, critics didn’t hold back. “The most tone-deaf thing that nepo babies do is think that they’re like everyone else and they accomplished xyz because they were just that great,” one user wrote. “No, you had a head start that most people don’t get to have. That’s why you didn’t need high school.”
Another commenter was even more blunt: “She doesn’t even have a high school diploma? How sad. Her ‘accomplishments’ have NOTHING to do with her and everything to do with nepotism.”
Hailey Bieber Isn’t Shying Away from the Label
If you think Bieber is ignoring the “nepo baby” chatter, think again. In June 2023, she leaned right into the controversy, literally wearing it on her chest. The model was photographed in a white T-shirt emblazoned with the words “nepo baby.”
“I’m just going to call myself a nepo baby, because I am one, and I embrace that I am,” she told The Circuit With Emily Chang during a Bloomberg Originals interview last year.
A Lesson in Privilege and Perspective
There’s something undeniably human about Bieber’s reflection on her education, even amid her success. Yes, her fame and family opened doors that most could never dream of, but her willingness to acknowledge regret and responsibility adds nuance to her public image.
She’s a reminder that no one’s path is perfect, even when it’s paved in luxury skincare and celebrity connections. At the end of the day, Hailey Bieber’s journey is part cautionary tale, part comeback story. It’s proof that you can own your past, build your empire, and still look back wishing you’d studied just a little harder.