ROC4LIFE

Rihanna is one of the biggest pop stars in the world, but the top spot of the Billboard 200 has always eluded her. That changed this week when Unapologetic debut at #1 on the U.S. chart.

With sales exceeding 238K copies, Unapologetic landed atop the Billboard 200. In addition to earning Rihanna the largest first week sales of her career, beating the 207K starting figures of 2010′s Loud, the record is now listed as Rihanna’s first #1 set.

The success of Unapologetic was fuelled by the success of the lead single, “Diamonds,” which peaked at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as her 12th chart topper. Rihanna is now ranked in fourth place alongside Madonna and The Supremes among acts with the most No. 1 singles. Mariah Carey is still the all-time leading female chart topper, with 18 No. 1 songs.

Unapologetic is expected to remain in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 next week with sales of 70K-80K copies. However, with “Diamonds” continuing to grow on radio, those numbers may increase.

Congratulations, Rihanna!

(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images North America)

— Trent