Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally asBruno Mars, is an Americansinger-songwriter and record producer. Regarded as apop icon, he is known for his three-octavetenor vocal range, live performances,retro showmanship, and musical versatility. He is accompanied by his band,the Hooligans. Raised inHonolulu, Mars gained recognition in Hawaii as a child for hisimpersonation ofElvis Presley, before moving toLos Angeles in 2003 to pursue a musical career.
Peter Gene Hernandez was born on October 8, 1985, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Peter Hernandez and Bernadette San Pedro Bayot. He was raised in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu.[1][2] His father, originally from Brooklyn, New York, is of Puerto Rican and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, with ancestral roots in Hungary and Ukraine. His mother emigrated from the Philippines to Hawaii and was of Filipino and Spanish ancestry.[3][4] Hernandez's parents met while performing in a show—his mother as a hula dancer and his father as a percussionist. At the age of two, he was nicknamed "Bruno" by his father, who thought he resembled professional wrestlerBruno Sammartino.[5]
Mars is one of six children and came from a musical family who exposed him to a diverse mix of musical genres, includingrock and roll,reggae,hip hop, andrhythm and blues.[5][6] His mother was a singer and a dancer and his father performedLittle Richard's music, which inspired him as a young child.[7][8] His uncle, anElvis impersonator, encouraged the three-year-old Mars to perform songs by Presley andMichael Jackson.[4] Mars began performing five days a week with his family's band (the Love Notes) at age four, including at theSheraton Waikiki, and became known in Hawaii for his onstage impersonation ofElvis Presley.[9][10] At one point, he urinated on himself during a performance of Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" when he was five; his parents thought they might be making a mistake, but he never wavered.[7] Mars appeared in the Hawaiian tabloid shopperMidWeek as "Little Elvis" in 1990, and performed in the halftime show of the1990 Aloha Bowl.[4][11]
He had a cameo role in the 1992 filmHoneymoon in Vegas, and was interviewed byPauly Shore on MTV. When Mars was six years old, he appeared onThe Arsenio Hall Show. He performed two shows a night throughout grade school with his family's band, coveringFrankie Lymon andLittle Anthony songs. The young Mars had a small drum set, guitar, piano and percussion instruments, and learned to play them. His parents divorced when he was 12 (ending the Love Notes), and his father's varied businesses failed. Mars, his brother and father lived in the "slums of Hawaii" in a car, on rooftops, and in a closed bird zoo (Paradise Park) where his father had worked.[7][12] Mars changed schools and was bullied, but later became popular.[7]
His Elvis impersonations had a major impact on his musical evolution and performing technique.[13] Mars began playing guitar, inspired by American rock guitaristJimi Hendrix.[14] In 2010, he acknowledged his Hawaii-raised roots and musical family as an influence: "Growing up in Hawaii made me the man I am. I used to do a lot of shows in Hawaii with my father's band. Everybody in my family sings, everyone plays instruments ... I've just been surrounded by it."[15][2] AtPresident Theodore Roosevelt High School in Honolulu, Mars sang in a group (the School Boys) who opened for his father's new band with songs bythe Isley Brothers andthe Temptations.[7][4] He became well known in local Hawaii entertainment in high school, opening for a large magic show and impersonating Michael Jackson for $75 per performance.[7]
After his sister in Los Angeles played a demo of Mars for Mike Lynn (head ofA&R atDr. Dre'sAftermath Entertainment label), Lynn summoned Mars to Los Angeles.[16] In 2003, shortly after graduating from high school, Mars pursued a musical career.[4][17] He lived on Mansfield Avenue, and was surprised by its poverty and squalor.[7] Mars adopted his stage name from his father's childhood nickname, adding "Mars" at the end: "I felt like I didn't have no pizzazz, and a lot of girls say I'm out of this world, so I was like I guess I'm fromMars."[18] His stage name was also an effort to "avoid being stereotyped", since themusic industry tried to pigeonhole him as anotherLatin artist and tried to convince him to sing in Spanish.[19]
2004–2008: Career beginnings
Mars said about moving to Los Angeles to pursue a musical career:
I'd always been a working musician in Hawaii and never had problems paying rent. And then it's like, "Now I'm in L.A. and my phone's getting shut off". That's when reality hit. I started DJing. I told this person I could DJ because they said they could pay me $75 cash under the table. I didn't know how to DJ. I lost that job pretty quick.[20]
Mars signed a contract withMotown Records in 2004, but the deal "went nowhere" and he had a fruitless conversation withwill.i.am's management.[21][19] However, the singer's experience with Motown proved beneficial.[21] After Mars was dropped by the label, less than a year later, he remained in Los Angeles and landed a 2005 music-publishing deal with record producersSteve Lindsey and Cameron Strang at Westside Independent.[16][22] According to Strang, "Bruno came to the conclusion that the best way to further his career was writing and producing hit songs."[16]
Lindsey showed Mars and fellow songwritersBrody Brown andJeff Bhasker (whom Mars met through Mike Lynn) the ins and outs of writing pop music and acted as a mentor, helping them hone their craft.[16][23][24] Bhasker explained that Lindsey would "mentor us, and kind of give us lectures as to what a hit pop song is, because you can have talent and music ability, but understanding what makes a hit pop song is a whole other discipline." According to Lindsey, he "held Mars back for five years while they learned an extensive catalog of hit music."[22][24] Brown agreed in another interview.[23] Mars playedcover songs around Los Angeles in Sex Panther, a band with Bhasker and Eric Hernandez (Mars's brother, who became the drummer of the Hooligans).[16][25]
WhenPhilip Lawrence was told he should meet Mars, he was reluctant to do so since he did not have money for bus fare.Keith Harris, drummer forthe Black Eyed Peas, told Lawrence: "Whatever it costs you to get out here, I'll reimburse you." Lawrence replied, "Just give me five dollars back for the bus."[26] The pair began collaborating on songs for Mars, but received a number of rejections from record labels. Lawrence introduced Mars toAaron Bay-Schuck, his future A&R manager atAtlantic Records, in 2006.[27] After hearing him play a couple of songs on guitar, Bay-Schuck wanted to sign him immediately. It took about three years for Atlantic Records to sign Mars, however, because the label felt it was too early and he needed to develop as an artist.[27]
2008–2010: Production work andIt's Better If You Don't Understand
Mars and Lawrence received a call in 2008 from Brandon Creed, who was seeking songs for a reunitedMenudo. Creed liked their song "Lost", which was written for Mars, and bought it for $20,000. The sale enabled them to continue working,[26] and Mars and Lawrence decided that they would write and produce songs for other artists.[16] Eventually Creed became Mars's manager for nine years.[26][28]
Mars was a music producer before becoming a successful solo artist, writing songs forAlexandra Burke,Adam Levine,Brandy,Sean Kingston, andK'naan.[5][20] He said that the first "big hit" he and Lawrence wrote was the 2009 single, "Right Round", byFlo Rida: "That was our first taste of what could really happen with a hit we hundred-percented".[20] Mars co-wrote theSugababes's "Get Sexy" (2009) and provided backing vocals on their album,Sweet 7 (2010).[29] He sang on the track "3D" onFar East Movement's second studio album,Animal (2009).[30] Mars appeared on American pastor and hip hop artistJaeson Ma's debut single, "Love", and American rapperTravie McCoy's "One at a Time" (acharity single forMTV's Staying Alive foundation) that year.[31][32] He was recognized as a solo artist after appearing on American rapperB.o.B's "Nothin' on You" (2009) and McCoy's "Billionaire" (2010); both songs peaked in the top ten of several music charts, with the former topping the United StatesBillboard Hot 100 and theUK Singles Chart.[33][34][35]
Mars said about the singles, "I think those songs weren't meant to be full-sung songs. If I'd sung all of 'Nothin' on You', it might've sounded like some'90s R&B."[36] He released his debutextended play (EP),It's Better If You Don't Understand, on May 11, 2010.[37] It peaked at number 99 on the USBillboard 200, and a music video was released for "The Other Side" with singerCeeLo Green and B.o.B.[38][39] Mars and the Smeezingtons composed Green's successful 2010 single, "Fuck You".[40]
Mars released "Just the Way You Are" on July 20, 2010, as thelead single of his debut studio album,Doo-Wops & Hooligans, produced primarily by the Smeezingtons.[41][42] It topped the charts of several countries, including Australia, Canada and the U.S.[33][43][35] The album, released on October 5, 2010, debuted at number three on theBillboard 200 and topped the UK,[44][45][34] Dutch and Canadian.[35][46]Doo-Wops & Hooligans has sold 15.5 million copies worldwide.[47] It spawned two other singles: "Grenade" (which topped theBillboard Hot 100, New Zealand, UK, and other charts) and "The Lazy Song", which topped the UK and Danish charts.[34][35]
Mars began to promote his debut album as the opening act forMaroon 5 andOneRepublic on the fall leg of the former'sPalm Trees & Power Lines Tour. On October 18, 2010, he began a co-headlining European concert tour with McCoy which lasted until early November.[44]The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour, which Mars headlined, ran from November 2010 to January 2012.[54][55] During this time, the co-headliningHooligans in Wondaland Tour with Mars andJanelle Monáe played North American dates in May and June 2011.[56][57] Mars turned down offers to open for arena tours, opting instead to play at smaller venues such as theaters and ballrooms; this was less lucrative, but expanded his fan base.[58][59]
2012–2014:Unorthodox Jukebox and Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show
In March 2012, Mars signed a worldwide publishing deal with BMG Chrysalis US.[65] In a September 2012 interview forBillboard magazine, he affirmed his next album would be more varied musically: "I want to have the freedom and luxury to walk into a studio and say, 'Today I want to do a hip-hop, R&B,soul or rock record'".Unorthodox Jukebox was released on December 11, 2012, in the US.[66] The album debuted at number two on theBillboard 200 before topping the chart.[67][38] It also topped the charts in Australia, Canada and the UK.[46][35][68] It has sold over six million copies worldwide.[69]
"Locked Out of Heaven" was released in October 2012 and preceded the release ofUnorthodox Jukebox, an album produced primarily by the Smeezingtons.[66] The song topped the U.S. and Canadian charts and peaked at number two in the UK;[33][43][34] it reached the top ten in several other countries.[35] Other singles released from the album include "When I Was Your Man", "Treasure", "Gorilla" and "Young Girls". "When I Was Your Man" topped theBillboard Hot 100; except for Elvis Presley, no other male artist has had five number-one singles faster than Mars.[70] The song peaked at number three in Canada, number two in the UK, and reached the top-ten in several other countries.[43][34][35] Mars contributed vocals to theEDM trioMajor Lazer's "Bubble Butt", released in May 2013. The single also includes the rappersTyga and2 Chainz and singerMystic.[71]
At the2014 Grammy Awards, Mars received the Best Pop Vocal Album award forUnorthodox Jukebox. "Locked Out of Heaven" was nominated for Record and Song of the Year, and "When I Was Your Man" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance.[81] That year, the album received aJuno Award for International Album of the Year.[82] Mars was cast as Roberto in the filmRio 2 (2014),[83] and contributed to itssoundtrack with the song "Welcome Back".[84] On November 10, 2014,Mark Ronson released "Uptown Funk" with Mars.[85] The song topped the charts in several countries, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand.[43][35] "Uptown Funk" spent fourteen weeks atop theBillboard Hot 100 and seven weeks atop the UK Singles Chart,[33][34] impactingpop culture.[86]
2015–2018: Super Bowl 50 halftime performance and24K Magic
In September 2014, Mars began working on his third studio album but had not come up with a date: "Until it's done ... It's gotta be just as good if not better".[87] At the2016 Grammy Awards, "Uptown Funk" earned Ronson and Mars aGrammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year.[88] A week earlier,Coldplay headlined theSuper Bowl 50 halftime show with Mars andBeyoncé guesting; it was their second appearance on a Super Bowl halftime show.[89][90] It was one of the most-watched halftime shows.[91]
The album, scheduled for release in March, was postponed for several months due to Mars's Super Bowl halftime appearance; seven songs had been recorded.[92] They were written primarily by Shampoo Press & Curl, a production team consisting of Mars, Lawrence and Brown which replaced the Smeezingtons.[93] Mars began Gorilla Management, operated by Aaron Elharar, in May 2016.[28][94] At the2017 Grammy Awards, he shared the Album of the Year award as part of the Smeezingtons on Adele's "All I Ask" from25 (2015).[95][96] According toGuinness World Records 2017, Mars was the "First Male Artist to achieve three 10-million-selling-singles".[97]
24K Magic, released on November 18, 2016, debuted at number two in Canada, France, New Zealand, and the US.[98][46][35] It sold over five million copies globally.[99] Its singles "24K Magic", "That's What I Like" and a remix of "Finesse" with rapperCardi B, reached the top four of the US and the top-three in Canada.[33][43] "That's What I Like" topped theBillboard Hot 100 and peaked at number four in New Zealand, while "Finesse" reached number two in New Zealand.[33][35] "24K Magic" peaked at number one in France and New Zealand.[35] Other singles include "Versace on the Floor" and "Chunky" (released in Australia).[100] All singles appeared on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; "That's What I Like" and "Finesse" topped.[101]
A partnership was announced in February 2020 between Mars and Disney for a "music-themed theatrical narrative" in which the singer would star in and produce the film.[115] A month later, it was confirmed that Mars was working on his next album withBabyface.[116][117] During the COVID-19 lockdown, he wrote music every day for his upcoming album.[118] That year, Mars sold part of his song catalog toWarner Chappell Music and kept a small share; his co-publishing contract with BMG was also part of the deal.[119] In 2021, Mars was reportedly paid $3.2 million to perform at theCape Cod wedding of the Motorola CEO's son.[120]
2023–present: World tour, collaborations and fifth studio album
Mars and the Hooligans inSingapore during Mars's 2022–2024 tour
Mars continued hisBruno Mars at Park MGM concert residency in 2022, and begana world tour with shows in Sydney and Tokyo.[134][135] The tour continued in 2023 in South Korea, the Philippines, Brazil, Chile,Georgia and Israel.[136][137] After performing inTel Aviv on October 4, a second Tel Aviv concert scheduled for October 7 along with a concert inDoha scheduled for the following day were cancelled due to theOctober 7 attack.[138] The following year, after dates in Tokyo, Bangkok and Singapore, the tour ended with a 14-show leg in Brazil.[139] He kept performing shows at his concert residency alongside the world tour. The 37 shows reported during 2023 grossed more than $66.3 million.[140] As of May 2025, 20 shows have been reported between Brazil and Las Vegas, selling 849 thousand tickets and a total gross of $101 million.[141]
In 2023, Mars was working on his next studio album with Brody Brown, Lawrence andJames Fauntleroy.[142][143][144] The album was reportedly near completion that May, with a new sound and a tentative release date. Mars was in early talks withLive Nation Entertainment for a 2024–2025 tour.[145] In 2024,D'Mile was involved on the singer's follow up album.[146] In 2025,Andrew Watt andAndrew Wyatt said they had worked on a song with Mars.[147] D'Mile affirmed he was working with the singer on his studio album.[148]
Mars andLady Gaga released their single, "Die with a Smile", on August 16, 2024.[149] It was his first number-one on theBillboard Global 200,[150] and topped the charts in Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the U.S.[33][43][35] The song received theBest Pop Duo/Group Performance award at the2025 Grammy Awards and was nominated forSong of the Year.[151] A month later, Mars andRosé released "Apt.", the lead single of Rosé's debut albumRosie (2024).[152] It was Mars's second number-one on theBillboard Global 200, and topped Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and New Zealand charts.[153][43][35] Both were the world's top-streamed songs in November 2024, continuing into January 2025.[154][155] On January 24, 2025, Mars andSexyy Red released "Fat Juicy & Wet". The single charted moderately in the US, Canada and New Zealand.[33][43][35]
In December 2024, Mars appeared on the covers ofHits andLas Vegas Magazine. According toHits' publisher, he is expected to release an album and tour in 2025.[156] Ken Miller ofLas Vegas Magazine said that Mars has been working on a new album since early 2023.[157] Mars produced a new cover of "Burning Love" by Elvis Presley performed by his nephews Nyjah Music and Zyah Rhythm for theLilo & Stitch (2025) movie.[158] In June 2025, Mars was announced as the Fortnite Festival featured artist for Season 9. To commemorate, the single, "Bonde do Brunão" was released.[159]
Mars was raised on his father's 1950sdoo-wop collection ("simple four-chord songs that got straight to the point") and on Little Richard, Frankie Lymon,Little Anthony, andJerry Lee Lewis.[160][161] As a child he impersonatedElvis Presley, affecting Mars's musical evolution:
I'm a big fan of 1950s Elvis when he would go on stage and scare people because he was a force and girls would go nuts! You can say the same thing forPrince orThe Police. It's just guys who know that people are here to see a show, so I watch those guys and I love studying them because I'm a fan.[13]
Mars also impersonated Michael Jackson (another inspiration),[4] and hip-hop songs byThe Neptunes andTimbaland which were played on the radio influenced him.[7]
Regarding his dancing influences, Mars explained "anybody that was natural", includingTina Turner as she had the confidence of doing what she felt at the moment. Others included Jackson, Prince andJackie Wilson as "there was a confidence born of the assurance of knowing what they look like onstage."[10]
Musical style and themes
Mars's music has been noted for a variety of styles, musical genres, and influences includingpop,[171] R&B,[172]funk,[173] andsoul.[174] He also includes other elements such asdisco,reggae, androck in his work.[174][175][176] His debut album,Doo-Wops & Hooligans, is primarily a pop,reggae pop and R&B record.[171][177][178] Many of Mars's songs on the album have "feel-good", carefree, optimistic sentiments.[179][175] Darker subjects in his songs, however, address failed relationships, pain and loneliness.[177][180] Mars's subsequent release,Unorthodox Jukebox (like his debut album) is influenced by disco, funk, rock, reggae and soul, and balladry.[174][181] His second album differs from the first lyrically, addressing traditional notions of romance, male chauvinism and sexuality;[182][183] the explicit content in "Gorilla" sparked controversy in Australia.[184] Mars's third album,24K Magic, was influenced by R&B, funk, pop andnew jack swing.[185][172][186] Lyrically, the album involves money and sex.[187]An Evening with Silk Sonic is the debut studio album bySilk Sonic, composed of Mars andAnderson .Paak. The album is rooted in R&B, soul, funk,hip hop and pop music.[188][189][190] It explores themes of seduction, romance, reconciliation and materialism.[188][191]
Voice
Mars has a three-octavetenor vocal range.[181]Jon Caramanica ofThe New York Times called him one of the most "versatile and accessible singers in pop, with a light, soul-influenced voice that's an easy fit in a range of styles, a universal donor",[160] and Tim Sendra ofAllMusic described the singer's vocals onDoo-Wops & Hooligans as "the kind of smooth instrument that slips into your ear like honey."[192]Jody Rosen ofRolling Stone called Mars a "nimble, soulful vocalist" onUnorthodox Jukebox. Jim Farber of theNew York Daily News likened his voice to "the purity, cream and range of mid-period Michael Jackson" in a review of a concert promotingUnorthodox Jukebox.[193] On24K Magic,Consequence of Sound's Karen Gwen said that Mars showed his "pips" and pushed his vocals to the limit. She described his voice as a "clear, unapologetic tenor" and a modern-day "blessing".[194] Jon Caramanica ofThe New York Times said that24K Magic demonstrated the singer's vocal ability, from tenderness to "the more forceful side of his voice".[195]
Songwriting
Mars has described his writing process: "I don't sit down and think, 'I'm going to write a song'"; inspiration comes out of the blue in different places. Ideas occur suddenly to him and, occasionally, he can materialize them into lyrics.[196] He has said that he typically writes songs by playing the guitar or piano.[197] Mars plays drums,[198][199] guitar,[199][200] keyboard,[200] bass,[199] piano,[70][200] ukulele,[201] and congas.[202] He usually plays the instrumentation (or part of it) on his albums and the songs he composes for other artists.[199][42][203]
Mars says his work with other artists influenced his music style: "Nothin' on You had a Motown vibe,Billionaire was a reggae acoustic guitar-driven song, though one of my favorites is theCeeLo Green song. I don't think anyone else could've sung that song. And there'sJust the Way You Are. If you know my story, you know I love all different genres of music."[204] Growing up in Hawaii has influenced his style, giving the songs a reggae sound: "In Hawaii some of the biggest radio stations are reggae. That music brings people together. It's not urban music or pop music. It's just songs. That's what makes it cross over so well. The song comes first."[165]
Although music partner Philip Lawrence said that Mars has a darker side, most of his music is romantic: "I blame that on me singing to girls back in high school".[36]Brody Brown, who has worked with Mars, said that the singer is in charge of the melody and lyrics of his tracks: "I'll just do the music, but Bruno does both. I chime in on some things with words, but the majority of the content is written by Bruno and Phil (Lawrence)."[142]
Showmanship
Mars and the Hooligans performing with strobe lights
Mars is known for hisretro showmanship, which is acclaimed by tourcritics and reviewers.[205][206][207] Deanna Ramsay ofThe Jakarta Post described Mars as a "truly global star".[208] TheBoston Herald's Jim Sullivan compared Mars's showmanship to that of Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley.[205] Kevin Johnson of theSt. Louis Post-Dispatch called Mars a "consummate performer".[209]The Boston Globe's Sarah Rodman said Mars shows an "indefatigable ecstatic approach to performing" and "classic showmanship".[206] Jim Farber of theDaily News said Mars'sSuper Bowl XLVIII halftime show "[brought] old-school showmanship to [a] dynamic performance."[207] Mars played videotapes of Elvis, James Brown and Jackson when he was younger. Now, before shows, he watches Brown'sT.A.M.I. Show, Jimi Hendrix'sLive at Woodstock or Prince performing "Purple Rain" (1984).[7] In 2025, John Fossitt, who plays the keyboards in The Hooligans, reveled that Mars watches videos of Brown and Jackson to learn how they interact with the public during live shows.[210]
Duringthe Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour, Ara Jansan ofThe West Australian called the show "one of the most creative and exciting displays of musical artistry" she had seen in a long time and noted the concert attracted a wide-age-range audience.[211] On theHooligans in Wondaland Tour,the Oregonian's Robert Ham noted, that Mars grabbed the audience's attention during the entire concert and had considerable guitar skills.[212] Duringthe Moonshine Jungle Tour, Jason Lipshutz ofBillboard described the singer's performance, "entertaining ...and he does a better job at it than almost anyone working in music right now".[213]Rolling Stone ranked Mars 35th on its list of 50 Best Live Acts Right Now in 2013: "Anyone from the age of 5 to 95 can walk out of a Bruno Mars concert feeling like the show was designed just for them. Mars walks the old-school walk...he also nails the hits, leads a super-energetic nine-piece soul band, and rips a mean drum solo".[214]NFL executives Sarah Moll and Tracy Perlman said, "If you go to his concerts, it's 11-year-old girls to 65-year-old women" after seeing the Moonshine Jungle tour several times during the summer of 2013.[215] The24K Magic World Tour was praised by critics for its showmanship, guitar skills and stage production.[216][217][218] The tour received twoPollstar awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and aTEC Award.[219]Bruno Mars at Park MGM residency won Top R&B Tour at the2022 Billboard Music Awards.[220] As of 2024, it is one of the highest-grossing residencies with $154.8 million.[221]
Mars's concerts feature The Hooligans, including a guitarist, bassist, drummer, keyboardist andhorn section, who are also dancers andbackground singers.[209][222] Critics noted the difference the backup band and arrangements made to the live versions of the songs compared with the album versions.[211][223] The shows contained all-band dancing arrangements, includingfootwork inspired byJames Brown and thesplits.[214][224][225] The shows, influenced bydisco, have asoul-revue-inspired set;[209][207] long, mellow, soft interludes echoing the smoothcontemporary R&B style popular during the 1990s are also included.[209][222] Theset lists blend several genres of music, including pop, doo-wop, funk, R&B, soul, and reggae.[209][206] Mars's shows usually featurepyrotechnics, strobe and laser lighting,[206][209] and he plays drums and guitar.[206][209] In 2021,Pollstar named Mars the hip-hop/R&B touring artist of the 2010s.[226]
Music videos
Mars has collaborated with several directors to produce his music videos, and has emerged as a music-video director. From 2010 to 2017, Mars co-directed ten music videos from his albumsDoo-Wops & Hooligans,Unorthodox Jukebox,24K Magic, and singles withCameron Duddy.[227] In 2011, Mars developed the second concept and treatment for "The Lazy Song" and brought in Duddy to co-direct its music video.[228][229] In an interview, Duddy said that he and Mars "can fight...when it comes to doing music videos. The best collaborations are always fueled by opposite perspectives or alternative ideas. We always find a common ground."[230]
In 2018, Mars co-directed the music video for "Finesse" with Florent Dechard. He collaborated with Dechard on music videos for "Please Me", "Blow", "Leave the Door Open" and "Skate".[231] In 2024, Mars co-directed the Don Quijote campaign commercial with Daniel Ramos.[232] The singer collaborated with Ramos on music videos for "Die with a Smile", "Apt." and "Fat, Juicy and Wet".[233]
Mars wears outfits inspired by previous decades, and matches that aesthetic to his music. OnDoo-Wops and Hooligans, the singer wore '60s-inspired suits and had faded hair; on24K Magic, Mars channeled the 1980s and 1990s in sound and aesthetic.[241] He imposed adress code in the studio during the recording of that album, favoring jewelry and "fine clothes" oversweatpants to create "groovy, smooth and soulful songs".[242] When Mars collaborated with Anderson .Paak onSilk Sonic in 2021, he wore the "wide collars, leisure suits, and funky patterns" common during the 1970s; this complemented their sound. ForInStyle, Tessa Petak wrote: "Regardless of the decade he's emulating, Mars's fashion sense and stage presence make him larger-than-life".[241]
Band members
Bruno Mars – lead vocals, guitars, keyboards (2010–present)
Mars appeared in two commercials forBench in 2011.[249] He and modelJoan Smalls were photographed in 1950s-influenced suits in Puerto Rico as part of the clothing line "La Isla Bonita" forVogue.[250] Mars invested in Chromatik, which makes digital versions of sheet music for the web and the iPad, the following year: "I love that Chromatik will bring better music education into schools. [...] And I'm happy to be a part of it."[251] In 2013, Mars tweeted a picture of himself smoking anelectronic cigarette. A press release reported his investment in theNJOY electronic-cigarette company "to quit smoking for his mother"; the singer "believe[d] in the product and the company's mission."[252] Chromatik and NJOY have been acquired by TakeLessons andMarlboro, respectively.[253]
In 2014,SelvaRey Rum began catering events and parties by Mars. He was introduced to the brand by co-founder Seth Gold the following year, and invested an undisclosed amount.[254] In 2020, Mars redesigned the rum's taste, branding and packaging in a 1970s style.[254][255] At that time, the brand was co-owned by Mars, Seth and Marc Gold, and Robert Herzig.[256][257]
Mars released Lacoste x Ricky Regal, a luxury1970s-inspired sportswear line withLacoste, on March 5, 2021. Working with Lacoste creative director Louise Trotter to create a clothing line which blended his personality with Lacoste sportswear, he was involved with every aspect of the collection.[258] When Mars and Trotter began to work, he adopted "an alter ego to help him think as a designer."[259]
On July 29, 2022, Mars was ready to open the Pinky Ring, a lounge bar on theLas Vegas Strip replacing the Lily Bar & Lounge at theBellagio; its name referred to the lyrics of "24K Magic" (2016).[260] In October 2023, the bar was announced to open in early 2024. It is planned to include "moody" lighting, a specialty bar, live music, and DJs.[261] The Pinky Ring opened on February 12, 2024, with the Hooligans performing every night of its first two weeks.[262] Mars wore a pinky ring to celebrate the opening, created byTiffany & Co. in yellow gold with the Pinky Ring initials framed in white diamonds on the front and "Pinky Ring 2024" on the back.[263]
Mars's partnership withFender on the "Bruno Mars Stratocaster", a limited-editionFender Stratocaster in a color called "Mars Mocha Heirloom", was announced on November 7, 2023. The guitar, inspired by Mars's "retro style and showmanship", includes a "'69 neck profile modeled on Mars's own '69 Strat", "custom-voiced Fender Mars pickups" and "a leopard print strap, which pays homage to two of Mars's favorite guitar players, Jimi Hendrix and Prince".[264] Mars said, "I don't think of myself as a guitar player. Every song is like a puzzle you have to solve, and a good guitar can bring something out of you that can help take you to the finish line."[265]
In August 2024, Mars appeared in a commercial for the Japanese discount-storeDon Quijote. He, dancers Miyu, Haruka, Miyuri and miku, and store mascot Donpen danced around the Mega Don Quijote store in Shibuya while picking up articles from its People Brand (Jōnetsu kakaku).[232][266] Mars wrote the jingle and shared the commercial on his Instagram.[267][268] The collaboration included limited-edition goods.[269]
In September 2024, Mars (as Ricky Regal) partnered withStetson to release a new "silhouette inspired by the American heritage brand's early designs". Available in different colours, it includes a "gold-toned horseshoe pin with rhinestones" and a "Stetson x Ricky Regal liner featuring a red rose". Mars designed the collection's hat.[270] In December 2024, Mars andHello Kitty collaborated to celebrate Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary and the opening of Mars's Park MGM residency. Limited-edition merchandise and themed food and drink was available at Park MGM's Hello Kitty Cafe, and a Hello Kitty meet-and-greet was held that month.[271] In June 2025, Regal and Stetson released a new cowboy hat, the "Regal 10X Straw".[272] In June 2025, he was the featured artist for Season 9 of theFortnite Festival, introducing a dedicated set of cosmetics within the game.[273]
Philanthropy
In 2014, it was announced that Mars had partnered with theHawai'i Community Foundation and theGrammy Foundation to establish a Grammy Camp Scholarship Fund for qualified needs-based applicants from Hawaii.[274] On September 27, 2017, he expanded his camp scholarship to applicants from throughout the United States. Mars established the partnership in honor of his mother.[275]
Mars donated $100,000 in 2014 to the orphans ofBantay Bata, who were among the victims ofTyphoon Haiyan.[276][277] He performed at the Make It Right concert (whose goal was to "help build homes for people in need")[278] and at theRobin Hood Foundation's 2014 annual benefit to "fight poverty in New York City by supporting nonprofit organizations."[279] In 2017, Mars andLive Nation donated one million dollars from the show atAuburn Hills, Michigan's Palace to help victims of theFlint water crisis.[280] Mars participated in the "Somos Una Voz" relief initiative to help survivors ofHurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and Mexico's earthquake.[281]
He donated 24,000 meals in 2018 to theSalvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division's 48th annual Thanksgiving Dinner.[282] In 2020, Mars donated $1 million to the MGM Resorts Foundation to assist MGM employees in financial difficulty due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[116] That year, Mars and other artists donated autographed microphones to music-gear marketplaceReverb.com for sale "with all proceeds going to ten youth music education programs" affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[283] He created a protest sign with anAngela Davis quote for the Show Me the Signs auction to help families of black women killed by police.[284]
Until the end of 2021, Mars donated all profits from SelvaRey Rum toHonolulu Community College's Music & Entertainment Learning Experience.[285] That year he was part of the Keep Memory Alive Power of Love event. Proceeds supported services, care, and resources to patients with neurocognitive diseases and their caregivers.[286] In 2022, Mars,Billie Eilish,Dua Lipa,Shawn Mendes, andRosalía were named co-chairs for the Grammy Museum's Campaign for Music Education raising money for its educational programs. It gave people younger than 18 and college students free admission to the Los AngelesGrammy Museum and access to "music education programs".[287] In 2024, Mars performed a charity concert sponsored byBudweiser Brasil at the Tokio Marine Hall in São Paulo to help victims of the2024 Rio Grande do Sul floods.[288]
Impact
Mars has been called a "pop icon" byThe Philippine Star,[289]Evansville Courier & Press,[290]The Dickinson Press,[291] andiHeartRadio.[292]The Guardian's Michael Cragg identified "the Bruno Mars strategy": a "songwriter turned popstar", writing and producing hit singles for other artists and later appearing with them – according toThe New Yorker, overshadowing the lead artists on the songs.[293][294] Amanda Petrusich ofThe New Yorker described Mars as "arguably one of the most instinctive and enthralling showmen of his generation".[295]Fuse TV credited him with bringing the "funkalicious vibes of retro pop and R&B back to modern music" in 2017,[296] andThe Independent's Roisin O'Connor later calling him the "king of retro crooning".[297] In 2013,NPR Music writerAnn Powers called Mars "the most valuable pop historian" of the time.[167] ForBET in 2016, Damien Scott called Mars "the prince of pop music".[298] In 2019, Margaret Farrell ofStereogum said that "Uptown Funk"'s success solidified Mars's "kingly pop stature".[299]
Mars was namedBillboard's 2013Artist of the Year, and was a 2016 NRJ Artist of Honor in recognition of his contribution to music.[215][317] The singer received an Innovator Award at the2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards and a Visionary Award at the2017 Teen Choice Awards.[318][319]iHeartRadio Canada listed Mars as one its "Icons of the Decade" in 2019, andInsider gave him an honorable mention on its 2010s list.[320][321] In 2021,Billboard ranked Mars the third Top Artist of the 2010s and 14th on its list of Top Touring Artists of the 2010s.[322][323] Three years later, he was ranked 20th onBillboard's Greatest Pop Stars' 21st-century list. Kyle Dines called Mars "one of the century's great writers, performers and hitmakers, who essentially arrived to early-'10s pop already on top of the world and has scarcely left his perch since."[324]
Mars has received a number of awards and honors, including 16Grammy Awards,[325] 14American Music Awards,[326] 4Brit Awards,[327] 14Soul Train Music Awards,[328] and 8Guinness World Records.[97][329] He was onTime magazine's 100 list in 2011 and in 2014 toppedForbes'30 Under 30 list.[330][331] At the 2018 Grammys, Mars was the second recipient of Record and Song of the Year with two songs from the same album.[332] At the 2022 Grammys, he was the second three-time Record of the Year recipient.[333] As of 2025, Mars holds the record for most nominations as a male artist for Record (eight) and Song of the Year (seven).[325] In 2013,Billboard ranked him sixth on its list of Hot 100 Songwriters and in 2019 he was number 41 on the list of greatest all-time artists.[334][335] In 2025, he made the list ofBilboard's Top Songwriters of the 21st Century on the Hot 100 placed at number 10.[336] Mars's former songwriting and record-production team, the Smeezingtons, received several accolades, including best songwriters of 2010 byMusic Week.[337][338]
"Just The Way You Are" spent 20 weeks (the longest debut) on theAdult Contemporary chart in the U.S.[339] "When I Was Your Man" was the country's second number-one song with only piano and vocals.[340] Mars is the first male artist to place two titles as a lead act in the U.S. top 10 simultaneously.[341] He has nine number-one singles in the U.S.[33] In 2018, he matched Beyonce and Mariah Carey as the only artists with three top-five singles in the U.S. from their first three studio albums.[342] He was the first solo male artist with eleven number-ones in the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 chart.[343] Mars, Sheeran andJewel are the only artists with two songs to spend at least half a year in the U.S. top 10.[344] In 2019, Mars was one of the few artists spending at least 241 weeks in the U.S.Billboard Hot 100 top 10.[345] He spent 39 weeks atop theBillboard Hot 100.[346] Mars had his eleventh number-one on the Digital Song Sales chart, its ninth-best total.[347] He is the only artist to spend 30 weeks at number one on the Global 200.[348]
In 2012, "Just the Way You Are" and "Grenade" were the best-selling digital singles of the year with sales of 12.5 million and 10.2 million; Mars was the year's biggest-selling artist.[349] "Just The Way You Are", "Grenade", "Locked Out Of Heaven", and "When I Was Your Man" have each sold over 4 million digital copies, making him the first male artist to do so as a lead singer.[350] Six of his singles are counted among thelist of best-selling singles of all time.[351] Mars sold 26 million albums worldwide by 2016,[163] and 200 million singles by 2020.[352] "Uptown Funk" and "Grenade" were listed by several publications as among the decade's best songs.[353][354][355] In 2022, he was the first artist with six diamond-certified songs in the U.S.[356]
Due toticket reselling during the week after Mars's 2014 Super Bowl performance,Hawaii Senate presidentDonna Mercado Kim introduced Senate Resolution 12 (also known as the Bruno Mars Act). It limits all ticket purchases within 48 hours of the on-sale date to a physical box office, discouraging ticket scalping.[357] The Hawaii state senate passed the law,[358] which died in the conference committee.[359]Billboard reported in September 2021 that Mars earned $604.4 million from concerts, one of less than 30 artists to cross the $600-million threshold.[360]
Mars was the fastest-selling artist for his five 2022 shows in Japan, selling about 210,000 tickets.[135] He sold 101,000 tickets for two concerts in Seoul the following year, the largest audience ofHyundai Card's Super Concert.[361] In 2024, Mars was the first artist since Michael Jackson to sell out seven shows at the 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome.[362] His two concerts in Taiwan attracted 157,000 people.[363] Mars played 14 concerts in Brazil that year, breakingRBD's 2006 13-show record for an international artist.[364][365]
In early 2025, after the release of "Die With a Smile" with Lady Gaga and "Apt." with Rosé, Mars had a record 150 million monthly listeners onSpotify.[366][367] He was the second artist (afterSabrina Carpenter) "to replace himself at number one and take the top two spots" at the same time on theBillboard Global 200 and Global Excluding United States, and had the biggest debut by a male artist on the Global 200.[368] "Apt." was the first song with at least 200 million streams globally in multiple weeks on both charts.[369] "Die with a Smile" and "Apt." spent 18 and 12 weeks at number one on the Global 200, respectively.[370] "Apt." also spent a record breaking 19 weeks on the top of the Global Excluding United States chart, while "Die with a Smile" spent 17 weeks atop the same chart.[371][348]
Personal life
Family and relationships
Mars's brother Eric Hernandez is the drummer for his backup band, The Hooligans. Their sisters Tiara, Tahiti and Presley and their cousin, Jamie, make up the all-girl Lylas. When she was young, Jamie moved in with the siblings due to parental issues.[372] Mars began dating modelJessica Caban in 2011.[373] They remained a couple as of 2024[update], living in a mansion in the Hollywood Hills with aRottweiler named Geronimo.[163]
On May 31, 2013, Mars was returning to Los Angeles from overseas when he learned at the airport that his mother was gravely ill; he immediately got on a plane to Hawaii. His mother died at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu the following day at age 55 from complications of abrain aneurysm.[163][3][374] On June 7, 2013, the singer wrote about the loss of his mother on Twitter: "So thankful for all the love during the most difficult time in my life. I'll be back on my feet again soon. That's what mom wants, she told me."[375]
Race
In 2013, Mars toldRolling Stone that record executives "had trouble categorizing him" and were unsure which radio stations would play his songs or to which audience (Black or White) he would appeal.[7] That May, he said that "Nothin' on You" was rejected by a "music industry decision-maker" because of his race. The experience made him feel like a "mutant", and he said that was his lowest point: "Even with that song in my back pocket to seal the deal, things like that are coming out of people's mouths. It made me feel like I wasn't even in the room."[376]
In 2018, Mars was accused of cultural appropriation on social media for using his racial ambiguity to profit from black music and was criticized for mimicking the sound of past artists. Black celebrities, includingStevie Wonder,Charlie Wilson,9th Wonder, Marjua Estevez, and Stereo Williams, dismissed the accusations.[377][378][379] Mars has often spoken about his influences and has credited several Black artists, includingBabyface,Teddy Riley, andJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.[377][380] During a 2021 interview onThe Breakfast Club, Mars responded to the criticism: "The only reason why I'm here is because of James Brown, is because of Prince, Michael [Jackson] ...This music comes from love and if you can't hear that, then I don't know what to tell you."[381] In 2025, Mars was accused, a second time, of cultural appropriation due to "Bonde do Brunão".[382]
Legal issues
Mars was arrested inLas Vegas at theHard Rock Casino for possession ofcocaine on September 19, 2010, and pled guilty to felony drug possession. He was fined $2,000, sentenced to 200 hours of community service, given 12 months of probation, and required to receive eight hours of drug counseling. In January 2012, his cocaine-possession charges were dismissed after his attorneys informed a state court judge that he had completed community service and met the conditions of a plea deal reached a year earlier.[383][384][385]
Demetrius Proctor filed a lawsuit on January 28, 2014, saying he held the copyright for the McCoy and Mars's "Billionaire". Proctor alleged that he owned the copyright to the song's music and lyrics since March 31, 2011, although the song was released a year before. As evidence, he submitted a United States Copyright Office registration certificate issued in 2000 for "Frisky Vol. 1 to 30 (Tapes)". Proctor accused the defendants of "willful and intentional" copyright infringement, sought the destruction of all copies of the recording, and claimed exclusive rights to reproduce and distribute the song.[386] On November 5, 2020, the case was dismissed.[387]
"Uptown Funk" by Ronson and Mars has been cited for copyright infringement. In 2015, similarities to "Oops Up Side Your Head" (1979) bythe Gap Band led them, keyboardist Rudolph Taylor and producerLonnie Simmons to be added as co-writers of "Uptown Funk" and receive publishing royalties.[388] Serbian singerViktorija said that year that "Uptown Funk" infringed on one of her tracks, but decided not to sue Mars and Ronson.[389] Electro-funk bandCollage sued Ronson and Mars in 2016 for copying their 1983 single, "Young Girls";the Sequence, a rap group, said that it infringed their 1979 single "Funk You Up" and sued a year later.[390][391] In 2017, Lastrada Entertainment filed a lawsuit due to similarities with "More Bounce to the Ounce" (1980) byZapp. The company sought damages and a jury trial to prevent Ronson from profiting from "Uptown Funk".[392] The Collage and Zapp lawsuits were dropped the following year, and any financial settlement is unknown.[393][394] "Treasure" was re-registered, with writing credits includingThibaut Berland and Christopher Khan, due to similarities to Breakbot's "Baby I'm Yours".[395]
Wealth
Billboard estimated Mars's 2013 earnings at $18,839,681, making him the year's twelfth-highest-paid musician.[396]Forbes began reporting his earnings in 2014, calculating that the $60 million earned between June 2013 and June 2014 for his music and tour placed him thirteenth on the magazine's Celebrity 100 list.[397] Mars was sixth on the magazine's World's Highest Paid Celebrities list in 2017, earning an estimated $39 million from June 2016 through June 2017.[398]Forbes announced that Mars was America's highest-paid musician in 2017, with an estimated total of $100 million; this placed him eleventh on the Celebrity 100 list and were his highest yearly earnings to date.[94] He was 54th on the 2019 Forbes Celebrity 100 list, with estimated earnings of $51.5 million between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019.[399]
Mars was reportedly $50 million in debt in March 2024 due to gambling losses, possibly explaining his nine-year Vegas residency atPark MGM.[400][401]MGM Resorts denied the allegations on March 18, with senior vice president of public relations Jenn Michaels saying that he "has no debt with MGM ... speculation otherwise is completely false."[402][403] Mars has since poked fun at the rumor.[404][405]
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^abGreenblatt, Leah (September 29, 2010)."Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2010)".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. RetrievedSeptember 29, 2010.
^Gwee, Karen (November 22, 2016)."Bruno Mars – 24K Magic".Consequence of Sound.Archived from the original on November 23, 2016. RetrievedNovember 24, 2016.
^Greenblatt, Leah (May 17, 2013)."Bruno Mars is red hot".Entertainment Weekly.Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. RetrievedDecember 28, 2016.
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