Hollywood is interchangeable with flamboyance, glamor, and blockbuster entertainment. But above the red carpet and the flashing lights, several celebrities have shown they’re just as savvy off the screen, creating business empires rivaling their fame. These stars have channeled their passions into powerful brands, transitioning from entertainers to full-blown entrepreneurs. Here’s a glimpse at some of the biggest Hollywood celebrities who’ve become business moguls.
Kim Kardashian – SKIMS
Kim Kardashian completely transformed what it meant to be a brand ambassador with her beauty line, fragrance collections, mobile apps, and billion-dollar shapewear company, SKIMS. SKIMS soon became popular for its inclusive sizes, minimal aesthetic, and comfortable-but-chic design. Kim’s power to identify voids in the market and redirect the conversation around beauty and body image has made her one of the most potent entrepreneur-celebrities of our generation.
Jaden Smith – JUST Water
Jaden Smith proves that the new Hollywood generation isn’t just about the money but the world. His company, JUST Water, helps change our thoughts about water packaging while building the awareness needed for a sustainable environment. Through eco-friendly cartons and mission-driven marketing, Jaden has fused activism with entrepreneurship, appealing to socially aware consumers who care about the planet.
Kelly Clarkson - Kelly Clarkson Home
Kelly Clarkson has successfully extended her brand beyond the realms of American Idol and talk show host into the lifestyle space with Kelly Clarkson Home. Her furniture and home decor collection embodies a rustic-chic aesthetic with Southern charm. The line, which sells through mass-market retailers, is a play for the modern American home market and is an extension of her approachable, down-to-earth persona.
Jessica Alba – The Honest Company
Jessica Alba wants to make more households more honest. What began as a baby products brand soon branched out into personal care, wellness, and beauty and has become a household name in clean living. Alba’s on-the-ground engagement and genuine advocacy for safer products were integral to building the company, which is now worth billions.
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The Drew Barrymore Show – Flower Beauty and More
Drew Barrymore has combined Hollywood glamour with accessibility. Her cosmetics line, Flower Beauty, focuses on affordable luxury and cruelty-free ingredients. In addition to beauty, Barrymore has also introduced lines for home décor and kitchenware, all geared toward empowering consumers to look good without breaking the bank.
Kate Hudson – Fabletics
Fabletics / Kate Hudson Fitness and fashion collide in Fabletics, the activewear line founded by actress Kate Hudson. Employing a direct-to-consumer model and creating a VIP subscription program, Fabletics swiftly disrupted the athleisure market. Hudson’s star power and focus on quality and accessibility helped turn the brand into a multi-million-dollar business.
Kylie Jenner – Kylie Cosmetics
The media had a field day when Kylie Cosmetics made Kylie Jenner the youngest self-made billionaire. The brand’s lip kits quickly became a sensation, feeding Kylie’s social media power and fans’ desire for beauty. She later branched into skincare, fragrances, and collaborations, illustrating how savvy branding and digital charisma can translate into meteoric success.
Reese Witherspoon – Draper James
Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon founded Draper James, a fashion and lifestyle brand inspired by her Southern heritage. Recognizable for its colorful, preppy style and feminine appeal, Draper James embodies Southern hospitality and timeless fashion. Witherspoon’s entrepreneurial eye also pivots into media through her production company, Hello Sunshine, which emphasizes female-driven narratives.
Rihanna – Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty
Rihanna’s business empire led her from international pop star to billionaire mogul. With the groundbreaking launch of the now-iconic 40-shade foundation comprehensive Showing just how far inclusivity could go, Fenty Beauty turned the beauty to more people, a more inclusive era. She got Savage X Fenty, a lingerie line that celebrates body positivity and diversity. Her audacious creativity and genuineness made each brand a worldwide sensation.
Gwyneth Paltrow – Goop
Gwyneth Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop began as a newsletter and has become a wellness empire. Goop has been widely criticized but has also developed a devoted following, tapping into a burgeoning market for holistic living. With clean beauty, wellness retreats, and then some, Paltrow crafted a brand that mirrors her lifestyle, luxurious, curated, and strikingly different.
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George Clooney – Casamigos Tequila
George Clooney started Casamigos Tequila to make tequila so smooth he and his friends could drink it straight. From the personal project of a small group of friends, it’s grown into one of the most profitable celebrity liquor brands. It was sold for as much as $1 billion, cementing Clooney’s business instincts and establishing that he’s more than just a Hollywood heartthrob.
Jessica Simpson – The Jessica Simpson Collection
Jessica Simpson turned The Jessica Simpson Collection, a billion-dollar brand selling apparel, accessories, and footwear, into a fashion empire. Her line resonates with everyday women, prioritizing affordability, size inclusivity, and trend-right design. Simpson’s shrewd business sense has made her one of the most successful celebrity fashion moguls.
Ashton Kutcher – Tech Investments
Ashton Kutcher’s hard turn into tech investing distinguishes him in Hollywood’s entrepreneurial circle. Through his venture capital firm, A-Grade Investments, Kutcher was an early investor in companies such as Uber, Airbnb, and Spotify. His forward-looking vision of tech trends and smart partnerships has made him one of Silicon Valley’s most respected celebrity investors, clinging to a golden touch.
From fashion and beauty to tech and tequila, these Hollywood stars have changed the game on what it means to make it as a modern entrepreneur. Using their influence, connecting with their passions, and future-proofing their content, they’ve created sustainable brands and millions of dollars in businesses that show that stardom can be just the start.
