Biography
Benny Blanco is an American record producer, songwriter, and musician known for shaping modern pop music. Born on March 8, 1988, he has collaborated with top artists like Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, and Selena Gomez. Blanco has co-written and produced numerous chart-topping hits, including “Love Yourself,” “Diamonds,” and “Teenage Dream.” In 2018, he debuted as a lead artist with “Eastside,” featuring Halsey and Khalid, which became a global hit. He has also worked closely with Selena Gomez, producing songs like “I Can’t Get Enough” and “Single Soon.” Over the years, he has won multiple awards, including the Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. With his signature blend of pop, hip-hop, and electronic influences, Blanco continues to be a major force in the music industry.
Profile
- Name: Benny Blanco
- Birth name: Benjamin Joseph Levin
- Birthday: March 8, 1988
- Zodiac Sign: Pisces
- Height: 173 cm
- Instagram: @itsbennyblanco
- Twitter: @ItsBennyBlanco
Career
Benny Blanco began his career under the mentorship of renowned producer Dr. Luke, co-writing and co-producing some of the biggest hits of the late 2000s, including Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Kesha’s “TiK ToK,” and Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite.” His breakthrough came in 2008 when he contributed to Britney Spears’ “Circus,” which became one of her best-selling digital songs. By 2011, Blanco started producing and writing hits independently, working on chart-topping songs like Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger” and “Payphone.”
His reputation as a hitmaker continued to grow as he worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, BTS, and Selena Gomez. Blanco has been credited with 29 number-one songs and has won numerous accolades, including Producer of the Year at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards. His ability to blend pop, hip-hop, and electronic elements has made him one of the most sought-after producers and songwriters in the industry.
In 2018, Blanco transitioned into a solo career, releasing “Eastside,” a collaboration with Halsey and Khalid, which became an international success. He followed this with several singles and his debut album, Friends Keep Secrets, which was later reissued in 2021 as a deluxe edition. Throughout his artist career, he has continued to collaborate with top musicians, including Calvin Harris, Juice WRLD, BTS, and Snoop Dogg.
Blanco has also expanded his career into media, launching YouTube cooking shows such as “Matty and Benny Eat Out America” and “Stupid Fcking Cooking Show,” featuring celebrity guests. He also appeared as a fictionalized version of himself in the FX series “Dave.” In 2024, he co-authored a bestselling cookbook, “Open Wide,” featuring his favorite recipes and contributions from famous chefs and entertainers.
In 2025, Blanco announced his most personal project yet, a collaborative album with fiancée Selena Gomez titled “I Said I Love You First,” set for release on March 21, 2025. With an ever-evolving career spanning music production, solo artistry, television, and publishing, Benny Blanco continues to shape and influence the entertainment industry.
Personal Life
Early Life
Benny Blanco grew up in a Jewish household with his parents, Sandra and Andrew Levin, who worked in the apparel industry and an assisted living facility. His passion for music ignited at age six when he received cassette tapes of Nas’ “The World Is Yours” and All-4-One’s “I Swear,” inspiring him to experiment with beat-making and recording his own vocals.
Initially aspiring to be a rapper, Blanco soon realized that his strength lay in producing rather than performing. As a child, he gained stage experience at Camp Airy, a Jewish summer camp in Maryland, where he hosted a radio show called Ebba Ebba. Eager to break into the music industry, he spent hours in his high school library reaching out to musicians on Myspace and took self-funded weekend trips to New York City, even sleeping in a McDonald’s in Times Square to attend meetings with record executives.
His persistence paid off when he caught the attention of Columbia Records, landing an internship with producer Disco D, also known as David Shayman. His stage name, inspired by John Leguizamo’s character in Carlito’s Way, reflected his early identity as a white rapper before transitioning fully into production.
Label Founder
In 2014, Benny Blanco established two record labels under Interscope Records: Mad Love Records and Friends Keep Secrets, providing a platform for emerging artists like Tory Lanez, Jessie Ware, and Cashmere Cat. Through these labels, he played a key role in nurturing talent and shaping the careers of several musicians. After a decade of success, both labels were dissolved in 2024.
Following their closure, Blanco transitioned to A&M Records, a historic imprint of Interscope originally founded by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss. He now serves as a general manager, continuing his influence in the music industry by overseeing new projects and talent development.
Relationship with Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco publicly confirmed their relationship in December 2023, following months of speculation. Their professional collaborations, including Gomez’s 2023 track “Single Soon” and the 2019 song “I Can’t Get Enough,” laid the foundation for their personal connection. In December 2024, the couple announced their engagement, with Gomez sharing images of her engagement ring on Instagram, captioned “Forever starts now…”
The engagement received mixed reactions from fans, with some expressing concerns about Blanco’s past social media content. Critics highlighted posts they deemed inappropriate, labeling them as misogynistic and anti-Semitic. Despite the backlash, Selena Gomez defended her fiancé, asserting that he has treated her better than anyone else and emphasizing her happiness in their relationship.
In the lead-up to their joint album release, “I Said I Love You First,” set for March 21, 2025, Selena Gomez initiated the “12 Days of Really Rare Stuff” campaign. As part of this promotion, she sold personal items, including a custom diamond “B” ring valued at $3,250, which she sold for just $12.
Their collaborative album is anticipated to offer an intimate glimpse into their relationship, blending their personal and professional lives.
Net Worth
Benny Blanco has built a successful career in the music industry, amassing an estimated net worth of $50 million. He has co-written and co-produced numerous hit singles for artists such as Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Maroon 5, and Britney Spears. In 2018, Blanco released his debut single as a lead artist, “Eastside,” which peaked in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. In 2019, he sold 93 songs from his catalog to Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited for an undisclosed amount, with comparable sales ranging between $40-50 million. Shortly after, he purchased a mansion in Los Angeles for $9.2 million.
Fun Facts
- Benny was among People Magazine’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2024.
- Benny once dreamed of being a rapper, but quickly decided he would focus on making beats instead.
- He’s very good friends with Lil Dicky, and appeared as a fictionalized version of himself on Lil Dicky’s show “Dave.”
- If he wasn’t a musician, he’d be a chef.
