Hollywood Stars With Surprising Business Ventures

Hollywood stars often make money through films, TV, endorsements, and brand deals. But some go much further.

They launch companies, buy stakes in startups, build restaurants, create beauty brands, invest in sports teams, and turn personal interests into serious business ventures.

Some ventures feel obvious. Others are surprisingly far from the roles that made these stars famous.

Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds turned into one of Hollywood’s most successful modern celebrity entrepreneurs.

Beyond acting, he became closely linked to Aviation American Gin, Mint Mobile, Maximum Effort, and Wrexham AFC. Aviation Gin was sold to Diageo in a deal valued at up to $610 million, while Mint Mobile’s parent company was later acquired by T-Mobile in a deal valued at up to $1.35 billion.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba surprised many people when she moved from acting into consumer products.

She co-founded The Honest Company, a brand focused on baby, beauty, personal-care, and household products. The business grew into one of the best-known celebrity-founded consumer brands and eventually became publicly traded.

George Clooney

George Clooney’s tequila business became one of the most famous celebrity brand exits ever.

He co-founded Casamigos with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman. What started as a private tequila made for friends became a major spirits brand. Diageo later agreed to buy Casamigos in a deal valued at up to $1 billion.

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro is not only a legendary actor. He is also a major hospitality figure.

He co-founded the Nobu restaurant and hotel empire with chef Nobu Matsuhisa and producer Meir Teper. Nobu grew from a high-end restaurant concept into an international luxury hospitality brand. De Niro also helped build Tribeca into a cultural and business hub through ventures connected to restaurants, hotels, and the Tribeca Festival.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon built a major media business with Hello Sunshine.

The company focused on female-led stories across film, television, books, and digital media. It helped produce projects such as Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, and Little Fires Everywhere. In 2021, a majority stake in Hello Sunshine was sold in a deal valuing the company at about $900 million, making Witherspoon one of Hollywood’s clearest examples of star power turning into media ownership.

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg has built a business portfolio that goes far beyond acting.

One of his most recognizable ventures is Wahlburgers, the restaurant chain he launched with his brothers Donnie and Paul. Newsweek reported the chain had grown to 29 locations across the U.S. and Canada at the time of its roundup.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson entered the beauty market with The Outset.

The skincare brand focuses on simple, clean-positioned products rather than celebrity-glam overload. The Hollywood Reporter included The Outset among major celebrity entrepreneur ventures, describing it as Johansson’s plant-based skincare brand.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow became one of the most talked-about actress-entrepreneurs through Goop.

What began as a lifestyle newsletter grew into a brand covering beauty, wellness, fashion, home, supplements, and media. Goop has been praised for brand strength and criticized for controversial wellness claims, which makes it one of the most debated celebrity businesses.

Paul Newman

Paul Newman built one of the most respected celebrity-founded food brands.

Newman’s Own began with salad dressing and grew into a food company known for donating profits to charity. The model made the brand stand out because it connected consumer products with philanthropy rather than pure celebrity branding.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson turned his action-star image into a broad business machine.

His ventures include Teremana Tequila, production company Seven Bucks Productions, energy drinks, apparel collaborations, and sports-related business activity. The tequila brand especially fits his image: big, accessible, and built around a strong personal story.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore has built several consumer-facing ventures.

Her Flower Beauty brand brought affordable cosmetics to mainstream retail, while her broader business activity has included home goods, wine, books, and television production.

Kate Hudson

Kate Hudson became a major celebrity entrepreneur through Fabletics.

The activewear brand launched with a membership model and grew into a major fashion and fitness business. Newsweek included Hudson among actors who started businesses, pointing to her move into activewear as one of the best-known examples.

Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher is one of Hollywood’s most serious tech investors.

Rather than simply starting a celebrity product line, he backed startups and built venture portfolios through A-Grade Investments and Sound Ventures. His investments have been linked to companies such as Uber, Airbnb, Spotify, Skype, and Duolingo.

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon made an unexpected move into the ping-pong business.

She co-founded SPIN, a social table-tennis club concept that mixed nightlife, sport, food, and entertainment. Newsweek included Sarandon in its list of actors who started their own businesses.

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner has been involved in environmental technology through oil-separation equipment.

His company Ocean Therapy Solutions gained attention after the 2010 BP oil spill, when its machines were discussed as part of cleanup efforts. The business was far removed from Costner’s westerns, baseball movies, and Hollywood image.

Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd built a surprising second career in spirits.

He co-founded Crystal Head Vodka, a brand known for its skull-shaped bottle and premium positioning. The product’s packaging made it instantly recognizable and helped separate it from a crowded vodka market.

Eva Longoria

Eva Longoria has moved into restaurants, production, tequila, and investment activity.

Her business career reflects a broader shift among Hollywood stars who want ownership in food, beverage, media, and culturally specific consumer brands. Longoria has also been involved in producing projects that expand Latino representation in entertainment.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker turned her fashion reputation into business.

After years of being associated with Sex and the City style, she launched SJP Collection, a shoe brand that connected directly to the audience that already admired her fashion identity.

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock has business interests outside acting, including hospitality and food.

She owned businesses in Austin, Texas, including the former Bess Bistro and Walton’s Fancy and Staple. These ventures reflected a quieter, local-business side of Bullock that many casual fans may not associate with a major movie star.

Danny Trejo

Danny Trejo turned his name and personality into a food business.

Trejo’s Tacos grew from a Los Angeles restaurant concept into a recognizable brand tied to tacos, casual dining, and Trejo’s tough-but-warm public image.

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