15 Celebrities with Side Businesses You Wouldn’t Expect

By Olivia Bahou
Feb 21, 2018 @ 2:15 pm
Jim Spellman/WireImage, Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Jessica Biel, restaurateur? This actress is just one of the many stars who has a business outside of showbiz. The star, who opened up the kid-friendly L.A. restaurant, Au Fudge, joins the ranks of celebs like George Clooney are pursuing a career outside of acting.

Clooney started up his own brand of tequila along with his friend Rande Gerber, and what started as a fun side hustle turned into a $1 billion company, which they sold to liquor brand Diageo in 2017. But don't fret: They'll still be involved in the business: “We’re not going anywhere,” Clooney said in a statement, according to The New York Times. “We’ll still be very much a part of Casamigos. Starting with a shot tonight. Maybe two.”

VIDEO: Side Hustles of the Real Housewives

Ellen DeGeneres has a line of clothing and home furnishings, while Lenny Kravitz heads a design firm. Queen Bey might be focused on her new tour, but she’s partnered with a nutritionist on a vegan meal delivery service. And we can’t forget about Susan Sarandon, whose chain of ping-pong clubs might be the most unexpected celebrity side business yet.

Keep scrolling for 15 celebs with surprising side hustles.

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Ryan Reynolds: Aviation Gin

Michael Loccisano/Getty; Ryan Reynolds/Twitter

"In the long and in no way disastrous marriage of showbiz and alcohol, so happy to announce I’m the proud owner of a gin company," Reynolds joked, announcing that he had acquired an ownership interest in Aviation Gin. "Aviation is the best tasting gin in the world. Once I tried it, I knew I wanted to get involved with the company in a big way," he said in a press release.

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George Clooney: Casamigos Tequila

casamigos/Instagram, Denise Truscello/WireImage

The actor started a tequila line with his friend Rande Gerber because they were so in love with Casamigos's smooth texture. So what's behind the name? It fittingly means "House of Friends."

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Drew Barrymore: Flower Beauty

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The actress is an owner of the makeup line, which was started in 2012 with the idea of providing affordable, quality cosmetics to customers. How do they do it? Rather than pay for advertising, Barrymore promotes the company herself.

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Paul Newman: Newman's Own

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Paul Newman was once a famous Hollywood heartthrob, but today's generation knows him as the name behind Newman's Own, a brand of food products that gives its profits to charity.

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Beyoncé Knowles: 22 Days Nutrition

Beyonce/Tumblr, 22daysnutrition/Instagram

The star partnered with her nutritionist Marco Borges on 22 Days Nutrition, a vegan meal delivery service. Queen Bey called it "a great program to get people motivated to make better nutritional choices."

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Karlie Kloss: Karlie's Kookies

Jason Merritt/Getty Images, milkbarstore/Instagram

The model and avid baker launched a line of cookies for Momofuku Milk Bar that give back: Part of the proceeds from the gluten-free, dairy-free desserts go to FEED.

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Jessica Alba: The Honest Company

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The actress co-founded the $1-billion company with the intention of providing consumers with safe, organic products.

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Ellen DeGeneres: ED by Ellen

edbyellen/Instagram, Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

The talk show host has a clothing and home furnishings brand that stays true to her signature style.

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Jessica Biel: Au Fudge

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Biel opened the healthy, kid-friendly restaurant in L.A. earlier this year.

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Lenny Kravitz: Kravitz Design Inc.

Lester Cohen/WireImage, Kravitz Design/Facebook

The singer launched Kravitz Design Inc. in 2003, and partnered with CB2 last year to make his pieces more accessible to the public.

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Drake: Virginia Black Whiskey

George Pimentel/WireImage

The singer is launching his own brand of whiskey so you can "celebrate with class."

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Sandra Bullock: Bess

Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic, Lauren Lesley Photography via Walton Fancy & Staple/Facebook

The award-winning actress was also a restaurateur. Bullock owned Bess, an eco-friendly restaurant in Austin, Tex., for nine years before it closed its doors in 2015.

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Susan Sarandon

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The ping-pong queen started a chain of ping-pong clubs that the late Prince was a fan of.

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Raquel Welch: Hair U Wear

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The star launched a collection of wigs to let women painlessly change up their hairstyle.

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Jane Seymour: Open Hearts by Jane Seymour

Alison Buck/Getty Images, John Shearer/WireImage

The actress started a jewelry line featuring an open-heart design inspired by her mom.

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