Think you’re the only one with a side hustle? Think again! These days everyone needs an extra way to bring in money — even if you are a world-renowned celebrity. Long gone are the days where writers, actors, and athletes only do one thing to make money.
Now, in addition to doing their “day jobs,” celebs have become beauty mavens, designers, and publishers. Some buy or open their own restaurants. Some start production companies. Others go totally for the unexpected. From TV actors, musicians, and even a Harry Potter star, here are 23 celebs with some truly awesome side hustles.
23. Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland.com
The award-winning mastermind behind TV hits like Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy has officially jumped into the digital publishing industry. Shondaland.com features sections on style, family, body, beauty, and inspiration. The recently launched site is designed to provide a home for “complex articles and honest conversations beyond the fictional space,” according to the website’s ‘about’ section. Interesting.
22. Rob Lowe, Profile
Developed especially for male skin, Rob Lowe’s men’s grooming line offers high-performance products perfect for guys who like to keep their skin in tip-top shape. According to the company’s site, Rob believes that every man should have access to what he needs “to maximize his potential and put his best face forward.” We couldn’t agree more!
21. Beyoncé, Ivy Park
So what if we don’t always wake up flawless? We can still look the part on our way to the gym, thanks to Bey’s athleisure collection. Launched in 2016 in partnership with Topshop, Beyoncé’s Ivy Park goes way beyond the regular t-shirt and leggings combo. The affordable, but quality pieces come in a multitude of colors and sassy designs perfect for women who want to look and feel “at the top of their game.”
20. Jessica Alba, The Honest Company
Inspired by the 2008 birth of her first child and her own history of childhood illnesses, actress Jessica Alba set out to create a company that provided eco-friendly ingredients for baby products. Known for its “Honestly Free Guarantee” that it does not use “health-compromising chemicals or compounds,” The Honest Company’s products can be found in Whole Foods, Costco and CVS stores across the country.
19. Gabrielle Union, Flawless by Gabrielle Union
If there’s anyone in Hollywood whose hair is always laid, it’s actress Gabrielle Union. That’s what makes her the perfect person to create a haircare line. According to her company’s website, Flawless products are “specifically created to help women feel flawless and address the concerns women with textured hair face most.”
Each product contains a three-oil blend to hydrate, repair and improve hair strength. Best of all, it’s available in Ulta retailers around the country (and online!) and is super affordable.
18. Zendaya, Daya By Zendaya
Ever looked at a celeb’s Instagram account and thought “man, I really want that dress?” If you’ve done this more than once on actress and singer Zendaya’s page, then you’re in luck. The 21-year-old added fashion designer to her growing resume when she launched her dope new clothing line with stylist Law Roach in 2016. Featuring plenty of chic and affordable pieces, you’ll have to hide your credit card from yourself once you take a look at her site.
17. Shay Mitchell, YouTube Channel
Best known as Emily Fields on the cult series Pretty Little Liars, actress and author Shay Mitchell gives fans a peek into her private life on her hit YouTube channel. Having amassed over 2 million subscribers, the star frequently posts about beauty tutorials, workout recommendations, and even answers fan questions. No surprise that one of her most popular videos is a Pretty Little Liars farewell, in which she literally cries her fake eyelashes off while saying goodbye to the show.
16. Emma Watson, Book Club
Actress Emma Watson spends her downtime doing what any bookworm does when they get tired of mindlessly scrolling down Instagram: she reads. Turns out Emma isn’t all that different from Hermione Granger after all. In honor of her bookish roots, she started a feminist book club called “Our Shared Shelf” in January 2016. Each month, she picks a new title to discuss with her online fans and often hides extra copies in public spaces.
15. Jessica Biel, Au Fudge restaurant
Au Fudge, a self-proclaimed “shabby-chic” bistro in L.A. is co-owned by none other than actress Jessica Biel. The Sinner star opened the kid-friendly restaurant with designer Estee Stanley and it focuses on healthy, colorful food (both sweet and savory) with a vibe that’s accessible to everyone. Other features include playrooms and on-site au pairs, indoor and outdoor dining and a marketplace.
14. Drew Barrymore, Flower Cosmetics
While Drew Barrymore is definitely known for her work in front of and behind the camera (with her successful production company, Flower Films), it’s her other side hustle called Flower Beauty that has been getting her praise lately. Founded in 2013, the affordable collection of makeup and beauty products are available exclusively at Walmart.
13. Tia Mowry, Tia Mowry at Home
Actress Tia Mowry stepped into the spotlight over 20 years ago alongside her twin sister, Tamera Mowryon the hit comedy show Sister, Sister. Nowadays she’s showing off her cooking chops on a hit show on the Cooking Channel, in addition to releasing her vegan-friendly cookbook called Whole New You.
12. Sarah Jessica Parker, SJP Collection
Infused with personal details of actress Sarah Jessica Parker‘s fashion influences, the SJP collection is perfect for Sex and the City fans! From the names of shoes, such as ‘Carrie’ from her infamous role on the hit show, to a grosgrain ribbon detail found on each product representing her childhood, each style creates a personal connection between the shoe mavens and the actress herself.
11. Venus Williams, Jamba Juice
In 2011, Venus Williams teamed up with Jamba Juice as a celebrity spokesperson before joining the company, officially, as a franchise owner. The tennis pro now has four locations in the Washington, D.C. area. And while there are no official reports on the exact amount she makes from her involvement with the company, it’s estimated that each location generates about $700,000 in annual revenue.
10. Reese Witherspoon, Draper James
Launched in 2015, Reese Witherspoon was influenced to create her clothing and home company to honor her Southern heritage and her grandparents in particular who were, and still are, “the greatest influences” in her life. According to the company’s site, the actress learned everything she knows about dressing and decorating from family, and after returning to Nashville years later she wanted to create something that honored her roots.
9. Kate Hudson, Fabletics
Athleisure is a growing trend, and Kate Hudson jumped on the train early. Transitioning from showbiz to businesswoman, the actress created Fabletics in 2013. The online subscription service sells fashionable athletic wear and accessories for women, tailored to their own unique lifestyle and fashion tastes.
8. Gwyneth Paltrow, GOOP
Goop is a lifestyle brand launched in 2008 by actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The brand originally began as a weekly e-mail newsletter with “new age” wellness advice before transforming into a total-body and mind revamp destination. Now the company has expanded into supplements and recently held its first wellness summit in June 2017 with over 600 attendees.
7. Erykah Badu, Doula
While we know the soulful songstress for her vocal pipes, she also moonlights as a certified doula. Doulas use techniques such as massage to provide physical and emotional support to mothers in labor, in an effort to avoid the use of pain medications during childbirth. And get this: Badu does this all for free and revealed to People magazine that her clients call her “Erykah Badoula.” Amazing!
6. Scarlett Johansson, Yummy Pop
We just want to go to Paris for the popcorn! Scarlett Johansson’s side hustle is none other than a Paris popcorn shop offering a variety of unique flavors like salted caramel and Nutella. Opened in October 2016 with her French ex-husband, Romain Dauriac, Yummy Pop puts the movie-theater-butter kind of kernels to shame.
5. Patti Labelle, Patti’s Pies
You haven’t had good sweet potato pie until you’ve had Patti’s Pies, sold exclusively at Walmart. The pre-packaged desserts literally flew off the shelves after YouTube star James Wright Chanel sang its praises in a hilarious video that went viral. After that, her sweet potato pie sold like hot cakes. Her line has now expanded to include berry cobbler, apple cobbler, peach cobbler, apple pecan cake and sweet potato loaf.
4. Nick Offerman, Offerman Woodshop
Comedian and actor Nick Offerman rose to fame with his role as Ron Swanson on the hit sitcom, Parks and Recreation. But when he’s not acting you can find him working hard inside his carpentry den. Featuring a small collective of woodworkers and makers in East Los Angeles, his woodshop carves spoons, chainsaw stumps, and plank canoes. Additionally, pinball machines and fine furniture are on the menu.
3. Frankie Muniz, Racecar Driver
After gaining celebrity in Hollywood for the hit show Malcolm In The Middle in the early ’00s, Frankie Muniz basically disappeared from the limelight. Instead of sitting around with the cash he made as a child star, he reinvented himself and became a professional racecar driver. His career in car racing traces back to 2004, when he ran the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach as a celebrity participant, finishing 7th, and he’s been speeding around the ring ever since then.
Sadly, Frankie suffered an injury while racecar driving. But now you can catch him showing off his moves on Dancing With the Stars.
2. Jeremy Renner, House Flipper
When Jeremy Renner’s not saving the world alongside The Avengers, the actor can be found with a paintbrush in his hand. The star has bought and remodeled more than 20 homes in his free time and has reportedly made millions from the side hustle. That’s how to do it!
1. Rihanna, Fenty Beauty
Rihanna put in tons of work, work, work, work, work in order to make her beauty line a hit! Although this isn’t the singer and fashion aficionado’s first side hustle, it’s one of the most talked about! Fenty Beauty recently launched at Sephora and had consumers everywhere rejoicing about how inclusive and high-quality the products were.