Beyoncé & Jay Z's love story: The making of a power couple
Can you believe it's been fifteen years since music's royalty got together? Beyoncé and Jay Z built a brand, an empire and a family. And the couple is now officially worth more than a billion dollars. But how did they get here?
We decided put together a timeline of Beyoncé and Jay Z's love story in honour of B's birthday...
Getty Images2002: Started Dating
Beyoncé and Jay Z first met in 2002 where the couple to-be collaborated in the song Bonnie & Clyde. The track stormed charts and made the top ten Billboard list. “I was 18 when we first met, 19 when we started dating. There was no rush. No one expected me to run off and get married” - Bey said years later.
Rex Features2003: Going Public
In 2003 the couple went public, not fearing the spotlight they sat together FROW at basketball matches and fashion shows in New York City.
Getty Images2003: Crazy In Love Collaboration
The couple collaborated again in 2003, on Beyoncé's hit-track Crazy In Love. The song went on to become one of the best-selling singles of all-time, and the pair performed numerous renditions, proving their perfect chemistry on and off the stage.
Rex Features2004: First Red Carpet Appearance
In 2004, the couple made their first red-carpet appearance together at the MTV Video Music Awards. Seven years later, they chose the same event to announce the news of Beyoncé’s pregnancy. (Please take a moment to acknowledge the greatness of these outfits)
Beyonce.com2006: Travelling together
On a recent series of photos, released on Bey's website, we can see just how much fun they have together. Here, they share a cuddle in the South of France.
Rex Features2007: Engagement
After five years of dating, the music moguls got engaged in 2007. Both parties remained tight-lipped about the proposal, not acknowledging to the press how or even if, it happened (although the massive rock on Bey's wedding finger gave it away).
Beyonce.com2008: Just Married!
On 4th April 2008, Beyoncé and Jay Z tied the knot in a small, secret ceremony in New York City. A source at the time told the press: “Jay wanted it to be a really private affair - close friends and family.” The bride wore a dress designed by her mother, Tina, and instead of wedding rings, the couple opted for matching tattoos of the Roman numeral four on their ring fingers as a permanent mark of their commitment to one another. On marriage, Bey said: “We took our time and developed an unbreakable friendship before we got married.”
Beyonce.com2008: Honeymooning
Straight off Beyoncé's personal archive the Carters looks picture perfect on their honeymoon in the Maldives #islandglow.
Beyonce.com2010: Beyoncé’s Career Break
In 2010, Bey decided to take some time out in order to just “be a wife and travel with (my husband)... I did it for my sanity, my life, my relationships, my nephew, my husband, my sister and my friendships.” She also hinted at her plans to start a family, commenting, “I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my family.”
Rex Features2011: Baby News
Beyoncé broke the news of her pregnancy at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2011, by revealing her baby bump for the first time on the red carpet. She said: “I didn’t want a crazy picture or gossip story to break the news, so I decided to say nothing and proudly show my baby bump.”
Rex Features2012: Blue Ivy Carter born
On 7th January, 2012, the couple announced the birth of their first child, a daughter they named Blue Ivy Carter. In their official statement, they confirmed: "Her birth was emotional and extremely peaceful, we are in heaven. We are thankful to everyone for all your prayers, well wishes, love and support.” A few days later, Jay-Z posted a track on his blog entitled Glory, which chronicled the story of Blue Ivy’s birth. He rapped: "The most amazing feeling I feel/ Words can't describe the feeling, for real/Baby I'll paint the sky blue/ My most greatest creation was you.”
Rex Features2012: Renewing Their Vows
The couple celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary by renewing their vows in front of a star-studded collection of friends and family, which reportedly included Oprah Winfrey, in early 2012. A few days later, Jay Z was spotted leaving jewellers Jacob. And Co. sporting a blinging new gold ring on his ring finger.
Wenn2012: Birthday Celebrations
In celebration of Beyoncé's 31st birthday, the couple - along with baby Blue - took to the water in their yacht, which Jay Z lovingly decked out in balloons and streamers, to celebrate in style.
Getty Images2012: The World’s Highest Paid Celeb Couple
In August 2012 the couple had overtaken Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady's first place on Forbes’ 2012 World’s Highest Paid Celebrity Couples list. With joint earnings of $78 million, their whopping combined salary was partly accredited to Beyoncé's endorsement deals and sales of her album 4, which earned something around the $40 million mark, and partly to Jay Z’s Watch The Throne album with Kanye West.
Rex Features2014: That lift drama-rama
Remember when Solange went hell for leather towards Jay Z after the Met Ball in 2014? Of course you do!
At the time, the reason for Solange's attack was never revealed, but a week after the footage leaked, they issued a joint statement saying they had resolved their issues.
The statement read: "As a result of the public release of the elevator security footage from Monday, May 5th, there has been a great deal of speculation about what triggered the unfortunate incident.
"But the most important thing is that our family has worked through it.
"Jay and Solange each assume their share of responsibility for what has occurred. They both acknowledge their role in this private matter that has played out in the public.
"They both have apologised to each other and we have moved forward as a united family."
Getty Images2014: Best mates till wifes do us part?
In 2014 the Carters did not attend Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's wedding in Florence. Despite of many years of unquestionable friendship, Jay did not show up to support his mate Kanye West, the lads go way back having even launched an album together in 2011.
Rex Features2014: On The Run Tour
Beyonce and Jay Z kicked off their first joint tour together at Sun Life Stadium in Miami in June 2014.
Beyonce.com2015: Another dreamy birthday
In 2015 the Carters head out to Italy to celebrate Bey's 34th birthday, the family's vaycay itinerary included Naples, Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Sardinia.
Getty Images2016: Bey releases Lemonade
Infidelity is a BIG theme in Beyonce's newest album, Lemonade, released exclusively on Jay Z's streaming service Tidal.
In one song, named Sorry, Beyonce sings the following lines which seem to discuss a break-down of a relationship: "So what are you gonna say at my funeral now that you've killed me? Here lies the body of the love of my life whose heart I broke without a gun to my head."
She then sings the following, which indicates the presence of another woman: "He better call Becky with the good hair."
Beyonce.com2016: What divorce rumours?
Despite of all divorce rumours after Lemonade, the couple were laying low but still going strong and steady, travelling to romantic destinations around the world. First stop: Paris!
Beyonce.com2016: Crazy in love
Second stop: Lake Como, Italy. Just look at these two.
Beyonce.com2017: The Carters announce they are expecting twins
Beyoncé broke the internet announcing that the couple are expecting twins. The singer shared an exclusive pregnancy photo shoot on her website and a beautiful snap on her social media accounts saying: "We would like to share our love and happiness. We have been blessed two times over. We are incredibly grateful that our family will be growing by two, and we thank you for your well wishes. - The Carters."
Beyonce.com2017: Bey and Jay are literally a billion dollar couple
beyonce/ Instagram2017: Welcome, Sir and Rumi!
Beyoncé, Jay Z and Blue Ivy, welcomed the newest members of their family into the world in June, 2017. And of course, the children of the most iconic couple in the world would have badass names just like their big sister's. Baby girl, Rumi, was named after Bey and Jay's favourite poet - Jay Z revealed during an interview a couple months after the twin's were born. As for baby boy, Sir, Jay said: "Sir was like, man, come out the gate. He carries himself like that. He just came out, like, Sir."
