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Successful Celebrity Side Hustles
The savviest of millionaires know it’s important to have more than one stream of income – and the same goes for many celebrities. Although being a hot Hollywood actor can be a full-time job, there’s no telling when the movie roles will dry up, leaving celebs with dwindling bank accounts, a plethora of bills, and a one-way ticket to the bankruptcy courts.
From business-minded actors and former NBA players to supermodels and stand-up comics, the following celebrities have made sure to feather their financial nests through lucrative side gigs and hustles. Whether it’s starting their own fashion lifestyle brands, investing in African diamond mines, or distilling award-winning gin, these financially astute celebs have brought in some big bucks thanks to their successful side hustles.
Kevin Costner – Ocean Therapy Solutions
Main Gig: Hollywood Actor
Side Gig: Ocean Therapy Solutions
Kevin Costner is an all-time movie hero – from protecting Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard to portraying Union Army Lieutenant John J. Dunbar in Dances with Wolves, Costner has appeared in some of Hollywood’s biggest hits. Yet when it comes to putting his hard-earned cash to good use, Costner has the health of our oceans in mind, particularly when it comes to cleaning up oil spills. The actor reportedly dolled out a whopping $24 million back in 1995 to purchase then-bankrupt company Ocean Therapy Solutions. The company makes centrifugal oil-water separators which can clean up oil spills.
Sandra Bullock – Walton’s Fancy & Staple
Main Gig: Hollywood Actress
Side Gig: Restaurateur
Aside from being one of Hollywood’s leading actresses, Sandra Bullock also has a passion for food. The Bird Box star owns Walton’s Fancy & Staple, a deli, bakery, and flower shop in Austin, Texas. The establishment is also home to a catering service, where romantic weddings appear to be one of the specialties. According to sources familiar with the business, Bullock is very hands-on with the running of Walton’s Fancy & Staple and often oversees menu changes.
Susan Sarandon – SPiN Ping Pong Club
Main Gig: Hollywood Actress
Side Gig: Ping Pong Enthusiast
Not only did Susan Sarandon star in the movie Ping Pong Summer, she also opened a table tennis club and bar franchise back in 2009 with then-boyfriend, Jonathan Bricklin called SPiN. The concept features full-service bars and restaurants along with Ping Pong tables that can be reserved by customers. According to Audacy, the Thelma & Louise actress reportedly said in an interview she loves Ping Pong, revealing, “I love the whole idea that it crosses all gender and age barriers…you can have little girls beating muscled 35-year-old men.”
Will Ferrell – Funny or Die
Main Gig: Actor and Comedian
Side Gig: Producer
In addition to movies, Saturday Night Live funny man Will Ferrell co-founded the website Funny or Die, which is dedicated to hilariously funny video clips, including some from the Anchorman actor himself. Funny or Die was recently sold to Henry R. Muñoz III for an undisclosed amount.
Jessica Alba – The Honest Company
Main Gig: Hollywood Actress
Side Gig: The Honest Company
Jessica Alba’s portfolio increased dramatically after she co-founded The Honest Company with Brian Lee in 2011. It was after giving birth to her first daughter that Alba began to take an interest in creating more natural, chemical-free baby products. Since then, The Honest Company has expanded into cleaning, clothing, skincare, and makeup products, giving Alba a reported net worth of over $200 million.
Gwyneth Paltrow – Goop
Main Gig: Hollywood Actress
Side Gig: GOOP Lifestyle Brand
Although Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP website has made headlines for some bizarre and wacky stuff, including vampire repellent and oddly scented candles, there’s no debating the lifestyle company has helped inflate Paltrow’s already bountiful bank account. The Shallow Hal actress launched the company back in 2008 and it’s now worth a reported $250 million.
George Clooney – Casamigos
Main Gig: Major Hollywood Heartthrob
Side Gig: Tequila Boss
Not only is George Clooney a swoon worthy Hollywood heartthrob, but he’s also a pretty astute businessman. The Ocean’s Eleven actor co-founded Casamigos Tequila back in 2013 alongside Rande Gerber. The dynamic duo sold the brand in 2017 for a whopping $1 billion.
Jeremy Renner – Flipping Houses
Main Gig: Hollywood Superhero
Side Gig: Hollywood Million Dollar House Flipper
When he’s not playing Hawkeye in the Avengers movies, actor Jeremy Renner is a power player in Los Angeles’ hot real estate market. Back in the early noughties, Renner teamed up with fellow actor Kristoffer Winters for their first property flip and the duo haven’t looked back since. In a 2016 interview with Robb Report, Renner revealed most of their house flips sell for between $3 and $5 million, with a few selling for way more than that. Not too shabby for a former Hollywood makeup artist!
Keanu Reeves – Arch Motorcycles
Main Gig: Actor
Side Gig: Motorcycle Company Owner
When he’s not acting, longtime Hollywood star Keanu Reeves is likely to be found riding on one of the high-end motorcycles manufactured by his company Arch Motorcycle. Reeves co-founded Arch in 2011 thanks to his passion for motorcycles and the company is renowned for tailoring its motorcycles for each customer’s wants and needs.
Matthew McConaughey – College Professor
Main Gig: Hollywood Heartthrob
Side Gig: University Professor
Students at the University of Texas at Austin may just be in for a huge surprise when they find out that their instructor is none other than Hollywood heartthrob Matthew McConaughey. The Dazed and Confused star graduated from the same college way back in 1993 and decided to return to his alma mater as a visiting instructor. Although his movie career keeps him busy, it’s reported that McConaughey has taught at least one class each year since 2016.
Mark Wahlberg – Wahlburgers
Main Gig: Actor and Musician
Side Gig: Fast Food Burger Entrepreneur
It’s no secret that the Wahlberg family owns a U.S. burger chain called Wahlburgers. The West Coast chain was featured on the reality show Wahlburgers where we got to meet the whole family, including Mark Wahlberg’s mom and his chef brother Paul, who came up with the concept. The brothers recently opened up their first European Wahlburgers in London, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, they had to close that location.
Clint Eastwood – Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant
Main Gig: Legendary Hollywood Actor
Side Gig: Hotelier and Restaurateur
Legendary Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood got to add the title of hotel and restaurant owner to his glittering array of accolades after he co-purchased an old ranch in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The derelict property was meant to be torn down and the land developed into condos, but Eastwood was having none of that. He, along with other investors, purchased the 22-acre ranch and turned it into a hotel and restaurant without compromising any of the properties’ 1800s charm.
Sarah Jessica Parker – SJP Footwear
Main Gig: Actress
Side Gig: Shoe Designer
Just like her famous character Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City, Sarah Jessica Parker is a lover of shoes, so much so she designed her own shoe line named SJP Footwear. In true Carrie Bradshaw style, the line contains swoon-worthy stilettos with a few flats and kitten heels thrown in for those of us unable to walk in high heels.
Steve Carell – Marshfield Hills General Store
Main Gig: Actor
General Store Owner
When he’s not cracking us up with his latest movie roles, The 40-Year-Old-Virgin star, Steve Carell, is the humble owner of the Marshfield Hills General Store in Massachusetts. Carell, together with his wife, are from Massachusetts and still vacation there, so when the general store came up for sale the actor swept in and purchased it. Today, visitors to the quaint store can purchase everything from candy to wine and even stop for a cup of coffee and a scone – and maybe even catch a glimpse of the actor himself!
Rita Wilson – Editor at Huffington Post
Main Gig: Actress, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer
Side Gig: Editor at The Huffington Post
She’s the better half of Tom Hanks and an accomplished actress and producer appearing in such hits as Sleepless in Seattle and Larry Crowne, but Rita Wilson is also a wonderful writer and editor. Alongside her stint as editor for The Huffington Post, she has also written for Harper’s Bazaar and O, The Oprah Magazine.
Nick Offerman – Offerman Wood Shop
Main Gig: Actor
Side Gig: Carpenter
He may be best known for his role as the staunch libertarian Ron Swanson on the hit show Parks and Recreation, but in real life Nick Offerman is actually a professional carpenter and boat builder. Offerman, who is married to Will & Grace star Megan Mullally, has a side business as a wood craftsman making furniture, canoes, and boats. He even shared his talents in an instructional DVD titled Fine Woodstrip Canoe Building with Nick Offerman in 2008.
Tom Selleck – Avocado Farm
Main Gig: Hollywood Actor
Side Gig: Avocado Farmer
Despite hating the taste of avocados, actor Tom Selleck is a keen avocado farmer and tends to approximately 1,500 avocado trees on his Ventura, California ranch. According to People, Selleck revealed his ranch helps keep him sane, sharing, “I do grunt work and I make the rounds.” Since he doesn’t eat the fruit, Selleck sells them, telling People, “Why eat them when I could sell them. I’ve got a mortgage.”
Kate Hudson – Fabletics
Main Gig:Actress
Side Gig: Fabletics
Aside from being an oscar-nominated actress, Kate Hudson is also a savvy businesswoman who channeled her love of fitness into the successful athleisure line Fabletics. Since starting the company back in 2013, Fabletics has grown from an online store to Hudson opening brick and mortar locations across the nation and collaborating with celebs such as Demi Lovato.
Ryan Reynolds – Aviation Gin
Main Gig: Actor
Side Gig: Gin Millionaire
Ryan Reynolds isn’t just a pretty face! Two years after becoming co-owner of Portland-based Aviation Gin, the company sold for a whopping $610 million. That didn’t mean the end of Reynolds’ involvement with Aviation. According to its parent company, Diageo, the actor still has an “ongoing interest” in the brand.
Shaq – DJ’ing, Commercials, etc.
Main Gig: Basketball Legend
Side Gig: DJ and Commercials Star
After hanging up his NBA boots, Shaquille O’Neal has had quite a few side gigs, including appearing in commercials and his own reality shows Shaq’s Big Challenge and Shaq Vs. However, DJing is Shaq’s big passion and his rap album Shaq Diesel actually went platinum. The former NBA star performs as DJ Diesel around the globe and calls himself “the biggest DJ in the world.”
Rihanna – Fenty Beauty
Main Gig: Grammy-Award Winning Singer
Side Gig: Billionaire Businesswoman
Barbados pop star Rihanna not only adorns her homes with her numerous awards and accolades for singing, but she also continues to feather her nest egg thanks to her profitable makeup business Fenty Beauty. Originally launched in 2017, Rihanna expanded on her Fenty Beauty empire by adding the lingerie line Savage X Fenty in 2018, Fenty fashion brand in 2019, and in 2020 launched a skincare brand called Fenty Skin. In August of 2021, Forbes added Rihanna to its list of billionaires.
Dwayne Johnson – Teremana Tequila
Main Gig: Former Professional Wrestler and Actor
Side Gig: Teremana Tequila Owner
Former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson went from the ring to the red carpet and has appeared in a myriad of box office hits including the Fast & Furious films and the Jumanji movies. However, he also has an extremely lucrative side hustle. “The Rock” co-founded Teremana Tequila in March 2020 and the booze is getting rave reviews. By the end of 2020, the tequila brand made “record-breaking sales compared to any other spirit in its first year of business,” Food&Wine reported.
Venus Williams – V Starr Interiors
Main Gig: Tennis Superstar
Side Gig: Interior Designer
When she’s not beating her opponents on the court, tennis superstar Venus Williams and her firm V Starr Interiors has been wowing the world of interior design. Williams studied interior design in college and since 2002 has been designing the interiors of high-end residential homes, hotels, and other commercial spaces ever since.
Cameron Diaz – Avaline Wine
Main Gig: Actress
Side Gig: Avaline Wine Business Owner
After essentially retiring from acting and stepping away from the red carpet, Cameron Diaz has been funneling her business acumen into a line of wines called Avaline Wine, alongside business partner Katherine Power. The organic wine was launched in 2020 and is made as “clean” as possible. According to Forbes, Diaz’s favorite wine from the collection is the Avaline Red, which the Charlie’s Angels star describes as “a French wine with hints of cherry and a touch of spice perfect for any season.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Foodstirs
Main Gig: Actress
Side Gig: Foodstirs Cooking Company
Buffy the Vampire Slayer may have propelled actress Sarah Michelle Geller into infinite stardom, but her baking line Foodstirs is allowing customers across the country to indulge in guilt-free sweet treats. The actress launched the company after realizing there was a niche in the market for organic baking goods featuring non-GMO ingredients. Foodstirs line of goodies includes baking kits, mixes, and baked goods.
Beyoncé – Ivy Park
Main Gig: Singer and Actress
Side Gig: Ivy Park Athleisure Brand
Is there nothing Beyoncé can’t do? After slaying the charts as part of the award-winning group Destiny’s Child, the singer went on to forge her own award-winning solo career. Aside from singing and acting, the busy mom originally teamed up with retail tycoon Sir Philip Green to launch Ivy Park – an athleisure brand designed for women. In 2018, Queen Bey’s management company, Parkwood Entertainment, acquired total ownership of the brand. Ivy Park has collaborated with Adidas on numerous collections, which normally sell out incredibly fast.
Bob Dylan – Heaven’s Door Whiskey
Main Gig: Singer-Songwriter
Side Gig: Heaven’s Door Whiskey
In 2018, legendary American singer/songwriter Bob Dylan launched Heaven’s Door Whiskey – named after one of his bestselling songs “Knocking on Heaven’s Door.” Since its release, the brand has garnered more than 35 awards and its Double Barrel Whiskey was named “Whiskey of the Year” and “Spirit of the Year” at the London’s Spirit Competition.
Madonna – Children’s Book Author
Main Gig: Pop Icon
Side Gig: Children’s Book Author
It’s hard to think of pop icon Madonna as anything other than a cutting-edge superstar who has continuously evolved and pushed the boundaries in the music industry. Yet, there’s a softer side to Madonna. When the Like a Virgin star isn’t singing, she can be found reading one of the children’s books she authored. Madonna first put pen to paper in 2003 with her children’s book “The English Roses.” Since then, Madonna has written several more, including, Yakov and the Seven Thieves.
Lenny Kravitz – Kravitz Design Inc.
Main Gig: Musician
Side Gig: Kravitz Designs
Not only is Lenny Kravitz a creative genius when it comes to music, but his eclectic touch can also be found in his creative studio, Kravitz Designs. The singer founded the company in 2003 and since then has been busy designing interiors, branding, graphics, and industrial design.
Drew Barrymore – Flower Beauty
Main Gig: Actress/Talk Show Host
Side Gig: Cosmetics Company Entrepreneur
She’s descended from Hollywood royalty and has had an illustrious acting career since childhood, but Drew Barrymore is also a savvy businesswoman. Aside from her acting, Drew also owns a production company, is the host of The Drew Barrymore Show, and in 2013 launched the cruelty-free beauty line Flower Beauty. The plant-based makeup line is manufactured in the US to diminish shipping pollution and contains everything from hair straighteners to lip gloss. Drew’s company is so well respected that Allure magazine awarded Flower Beauty with their “Best of Beauty” Award two times!
Paul Newman – Newman’s Own
Main Gig: Legendary Hollywood Actor
Side Gig: Newman’s Own Organic Products
Legendary Hollywood actor Paul Newman co-founded Newman’s Own food company way back in 1982 with a homemade salad dressing. Since then, the company has expanded to include everything from frozen pizza to dog food. What makes the company really special is that it donates 100% of its after-tax profits to the Newman’s Own Foundation, with the company stating that it has donated over $550 million since its inception.
Ashton Kutcher – A-Grade Investments
Main Gig: Actor
Side Gig: Investor
When it comes to investing his money, Ashton Kutcher is pretty savvy. The That ‘70s Show star co-founded the venture capitalist firm A-Grade Investments in 2010 with a focus on tech start-up companies. Since its inception, A-Grade Investments has invested in companies such as Airbnb, Uber, and Affirm and is reportedly valued at $250 million.
Whoopi Goldberg – Whoopi & Maya
Main Gig: Actress and Talk Show Host
Side Gig: Medical Cannabis Company
Although Whoopi Goldberg’s medical cannabis company Whoopi & Maya may no longer be in operation, for a while the company was tackling the problem of women’s menstrual cramps with cannabis – something Whoopi saw a need for. The Sister Act star is reported as saying she started the company after “a lifetime of difficult periods and the fact that cannabis was literally the only thing that gave me relief.”
Akon – Diamond Mine
Main Gig: Singer
Side Gig: Diamond Mine Owner
Although Akon was born in the United States, his father hails from Senegal and the Lonely singer spent a large part of his childhood there. So, it’s no surprise that Akon has chosen to invest a large portion of his money by buying African real estate, including a diamond mine in South Africa. Not only does Akon earn megabucks from the mine, but it also provides him with the bling he’s well-known for sporting.
Lady Gaga – Cook Books
Main Gig: Singer/Actress
Side Gig: Cookbook Author
When Lady Gaga strutted the red carpet wearing nothing more than a dress made out of raw beef at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards it could have been featured as one of the ingredients in her bestselling cookbook. Surprisingly enough, when Lady Gaga isn’t performing for her legion of “Little Monsters” she can be found in the kitchen whipping up a variety of Italian-American recipes with her dad, Joe Germanotta. The pair even released a cookbook – Joanne Trattoria Cookbook: Classic Recipes and Scenes from an Italian American Restaurant in 2016. Not only is the cookbook full of delicious recipes, but it also received rave reviews from fans who tried it!
Emily Ratajkowski – Inamorata Swim
Main Gig: Supermodel
Side Gig: Swimwear Designer
When it comes to women, supermodel and actress Emily Ratajkownski is all about body positivity, something she weaves into the designs for her swimwear company Inamorata Swim. Inspired by the small California beach town where she grew up, Inamorata Swim was launched in 2017 and has since exploded on the swimwear fashion scene earning Ratajkowski a “Fashion Entrepreneur of the Year” recognition from Daily Front Row for 2019.
Ellen DeGeneres – ED Ellen DeGeneres
Main Gig: Comedian, actress, writer and producer
Side Gig: ED Ellen DeGeneres
Since 2003 Ellen DeGeneres has been hosting her own talk show, but with The Ellen DeGeneres Show ending, the comedian and actress will have a lot more time to devote to her side gig – a line of clothing, accessories, home goods, and other merchandise. Ellen, who is noted for her love of interior design, launched ED Ellen DeGeneres as a creative outlet inspired by her own style and the lifestyle brand has since grown in leaps and bounds.
Frankie Muniz – Open Wheel Racer
Main Gig: Actor
Side Gig: Race Car Driver
After retiring from acting at a young age, Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz developed his love of race cars into a profitable side gig with open-wheel racing. Turns out Muniz is no novice at racing. He raced for a few teams between 2007 and 2009 and even clinched the title of “Celebrity Winner” at the 2005 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race.
Nicole Richie – House of Harlow 1960
Main Gig: Reality Star/Socialite
Side Gig: Fashion Designer
During her stint on the reality show The Simple Life, Nicole Richie came across as a tad ditzy, but in real life, the daughter of Lionel Richie is anything but. With a name inspired by her daughter, Richie launched House of Harlow 1960 in 2008 as a costume jewelry line. The company quickly grew to include apparel, footwear, accessories, and limited-edition items. Featuring Richie’s love of all things vintage, House of Harlow 1960 also includes her fascination with crystals, which she hand selects and charges in the full moon.
Erykah Badu – Doula
Main Gig: Singer/Songwriter
Side Gig: Doula
Not only is Erykah Badu an entertainment icon, but she’s also a doula and certified midwife! According to Essence, Badu’s fascination with becoming a doula started in 2001 after she helped guide one of her friends through natural childbirth. “When I saw the baby, I cried,” Badu shared with People. “I knew what I was supposed to do with my life.”
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