Some celebrity side hustles will motivate you to secure the bag by any means necessary.
It’s no secret that fame doesn’t guarantee long-term success. But, if you do it right, the funds generated from your notoriety can serve as a win in a BIG way. Most celebrities possess an intense desire to remain financially secure long-term. And for some, it works well. For others, it doesn’t. Big deals or sour investments can really change a celebrity’s circumstances overnight.
Today, we shine a light on a league of hustlers who not only kill the game in their 9-5, but they have found a way to make their money work for them.
Here are some surprising celebrity side hustles.
Chris Brown has a fast-food empire
The “Run It” megastar found his way into many of our living rooms via TRL and 106 & Park many years ago. Since then, Chris Brown has faced a turbulent but pretty successful career as an international pop superstar. With those bags, Chris decided to reinvest his money. “I own 14 Burger Kings,” he told Us Weekly. Shocked? Yup, so are we!
Patti LaBelle is serving up some pies
Grammy-award winning singer Patti LaBelle caused pandemonium in 2015 after YouTuber James Wright (pictured, left) filmed a review of her Patti’s Good Life Sweet Potato Pies. The pies sold out at almost every single Walmart during the Thanksgiving holiday season, thanks to James (and Patti’s recipe, of course). According to Fortune, one pie was sold every second for 72-hours straight at one point!
Patti was already known for her baking prowess, but her line of baked goods changed the game. From her pound cake to banana pudding cups, chocolate cake, and buttermilk pie, there’s no stopping the “Somebody Loves You” superstar.
We’re not sure how much Ms. LaBelle made off of her sweet desserts, but Walmart decided to expand her range of offerings to include berry cobbler, apple cobbler, peach cobbler, apple pecan cake, and a sweet potato loaf, CNN reports.
“I don’t lie about food. It’s gonna be always good if it comes from Patti,” she told Today. She wasn’t lyin’ either!
Young Jeezy is the next tech giant
With over ten years in the game, Young Jeezy continues to keep his foot on our necks by releasing various albums and mixtapes. But even when he isn’t working on his solo projects, he’s known for working with some of the industry’s top talent, including Kanye West, Akon, Nas, and Rihanna to keep the money rolling in. And now, he’s taking his business empire to the next level.
After Billboard reported he sold his remaining stake in Avion Tequila back in 2018, Jeezy was ready to launch into his next business venture.
He partnered with telecommunication entrepreneur Freddie Fingers, the founder of Figgers Communications, in 2019. The partnership promises to rival competitors by offering various electronics, including earbuds and cell phone, according to a press release.
This new partnership brings Jeezy’s life full circle. In the aforementioned press release, he stated there was once a time in his life when he couldn’t even pay his phone bill. And now, he’s blessed to be able to “give people more access to handheld technology at an affordable price.”
Gizelle Bryant is a makeup maven
In a day and age where fame and influence come from various platforms, The Real Housewives of Potomac star Gizelle Bryant is ready to elevate her brand. Not only does she capitalize on bringing the drama week to week, but one half of the Green-Eyed Bandits has tapped into the beauty market in a way that can make major strides for not only her, but for all women of color.
Gizelle launched EveryHue Beauty with hopes of “super-serving the multiethnic woman”, according to the brand’s website. As a proud HBCU alum of Hampton University and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Soroity Inc., her team celebrates her commitment to ensuring she not only represents the everyday woman but ensures her own three daughters have makeup they can also use one day.
“I believe that your body is your temple and your skin is your canvas,” Gizelle wrote on her website. “Everyone has the potential to look radiant and perfect.”
Swizz Beatz has multiple side hustles
Grammy award-winning music producer Swizz Beatz often celebrates his commitment to growing professionally. Whether he’s chatting about his Harvard Business School program certificate or his intense passion for art through his The Dean Collection, it’s easy to see why this creative decided to invest in himself and partner with major brands.
Swizz Beatz was named a Creative Director of Reebok in 2016, according to Hip Hop DX. That same year, he was given the title of Vice President of Creative Design and Global Marketing for British car company Lotus. “The key is to infiltrate the market in a cool way,” Swizz said of his new side hustle.
He’s also the creator of No Commission, an art fair that gives artists 100-percent of their sales proceeds.
In a 2014 interview with The Breakfast Club, DJ Envy asked Swizz how he juggles being a dad, producer, and investing in multiple businesses. He answered: “You just gotta do it! [Harvard] helped me so much.”
So what if Swizz’s love life is messier than an episode of Hoarders. We can still learn a thing or two from his smart business decisions, don’t you agree?
Shaquille O’Neal is taking over the restaurant industry
Shaquille O’Neal has won everything from MVP awards, NBA championships, to Olympic gold medals. He’s no stranger to finding success with anything he touches. So what’s up next for him? How about numerous celebrity side hustles in the food and beverage industry?
In Feb. 2019, Shaquille opened his eponymous restaurant in Los Angeles, within close proximity to the Staples Center. It’s described as specializing “in Southern cuisine and service with personality,” according to the restaurant’s website. The restaurant boasts an experience similar to the larger-than-life athlete, offering nothing but the best food, drink, and service. Okay, we’re getting hungry. Take all our coins, Shaq!
Wondering what to try? Don’t worry, Shaq’s got you covered. In an interview with L.A. Live Insider, he shared with the interviewer that you have to try “everything, fried chicken, the Kobe burger’s nice, the onion rings, french fries, everything- is pretty good.”
That’s not all. The former NBA star debuted the Big Chicken restaurant in Las Vegas in Oct. 2018, as well, Eater reports.
Tia Mowry-Hardrict is a chef & YouTube star
One half of the Sister, Sister duo, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, has made the transition from child actress to an adult superstar by appearing in Netflix’s Family Reunion. The mom of two also finds time to share her passion of cooking with the world. Tia hosted her own Cooking Channel TV show, At Home. She also released a vegan-friendly cookbook entitled Whole New You.
In addition, Tia is also growing her presence on social media by teaming up with Kin network for her YouTube channel, Tia Mowry’s Quick Fix. With over 600,000 subscribers, Tia is well on her way to becoming one of the platform’s shining stars!
These days, celebrity side hustles are more common than ever. Stars are no longer relying on just one stream of income to support themselves and their families. We love seeing so many musicians, athletes, and entertainers become successful business moguls. Why? Because it inspires us to make money moves and focus on our own side gigs!
Which of these celebrity side hustles surprised you the most?