A ceiling fan including a retention system and method of redundantly retaining a ceiling fan can include a ceiling fan motor assembly including a hollow motor shaft at least partially surrounded by a motor housing. A retainer plate is provided at the bottom of the motor housing including an opening. A retainer rod extends through the opening in the retainer plate and secures to the retainer plate. A support cable couples to the retainer rod to suspend the retainer plate from a structure, wherein the retainer plate is configured to redundantly retainer the ceiling fan.