24+ Surprising Celebrity Side Hustles

Main Profession: Actor
Side Hustle: Arch Motorcycle
Net Worth: $300 million*

Keanu Reeves is one of the coolest cats on the planet, even if his acting skills are sometimes up for debate. Despite having plenty of capital thanks to his acting work, Keanu decided to branch out and start a motorcycle company in 2011. Arch Motorcycle is Keanu’s passion project, which he started with Gard Hollinger. 

Keanu Reeves @alegnahc / Pinterest.com

The company has produced several different types of motorcycles in the last decade. While it may not be at Harley level notoriety quite yet, Arch isn’t messing around and appears to be doing quite well. 

Main Profession: Popstar
Side Hustle: Children’s Book Author
Net Worth: $700 million*

When it comes to pop stars, they really don’t come much bigger than Madonna. The songstress burst onto the scene in the ‘80s and cemented a legacy as a larger-than-life icon. She also managed to accumulate a very sizable net worth over the course of her career – but did you know that Madge has a few other business ventures that keep the cash flowing? 

©Denis Makarenko/Shutterstock.com

The AT&T Warner artist is actually an accomplished author, too. Madonna released her first children’s book, The English Roses, in 2003. Since then, she has created several more, including Yakov and the Seven Thieves and several more titles in The English Roses series. 

Main Profession: Actor
Side Hustle: Avocado Farm
Net Worth: $40 million*

There’s no doubt about it, Tom Selleck is a cool guy through and through. However, being involved in Hollywood for as long as he has must have an impact on you. Tom’s way of coping is by spending time on his avocado farm which he first bought in 1988. 

Tom Selleck @beautifulciana / Pinterest.com

Tom has been quoted as saying, “My relationships and my ranch keep me sane. I do grunt work and I make the rounds.” Amazingly, despite having 1,500 avocado trees on his farm, the actor actually hates them. David Letterman once surprised him with one during an interview – it didn’t go down well. 

Main Profession: Rapper
Side Hustle: Competitive Horseback Rider
Net Worth: $12 million*

No one ever said being a musician was easy, but Iggy Azalea knows that better than anyone. The Australian native came to America with nothing but a dream and managed to forge her way in a notoriously competitive industry. It wasn’t easy though, and apparently, a fan suggested she try horse riding as therapy. 

©Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com

The UMGP artist decided to give it a shot and has been in the saddle ever since, taking it up as a professional sport. She has since credited her love of horses for getting her through some seriously tough times.  

Main Profession: Actor
Side Hustle: Offerman Wood Shop
Net Worth: $25 million*

Nick Offerman might be best known for his role in Parks and Rec, but did you know that he can make a mean canoe? The actor has been passionate about woodworking for many years. In fact, just before he landed his big breakout role, he thought it might be time to give up and stick to woodworking full time. 

Nick Offerman @woodandstufff / Pinterest.com

Life intervened, but Offerman didn’t give up his business. Instead, he hired staff and Offerman WoodShop was born. These days, you can buy anything from cutting boards to dining tables and whiskey coasters from the business. 

Main Profession: Athlete
Side Hustle: Team owner/garage owner 
Net Worth: $1.7 billion*

When it comes to celebrities with side hustles, Michael Jordan might just reign supreme. He started out as a legendary athlete, but Michael didn’t squander his hard-earned fortune. He poured it into other investments. Not only is he a team owner, but he also owns several other businesses. 

Michael Jordan ©Paul Natkin/Getty Images

He co-owns several car garages and even owns restaurants, too. So, even if he decides to stop being involved with sports one day, he’s still going to protect his $1.7 billion fortune. Even his wife, Yvette, was once a successful model. 

Main Profession: Actress
Side Hustle: The Honest Company
Net Worth: $200 million*

For a while in the noughties, Jessica Alba was everywhere – but her talents don’t end when the camera stops rolling. In 2011, she co-founded The Honest Company with Brian Lee. After welcoming her first daughter, she wanted to create a brand that didn’t use all the hidden nasty ingredients that some others do. 

Jessica Alba and the Honest Company @refinery29 / Pinterest.com

Things quickly took off and by 2017, The Honest Company was worth over $1 billion. Just four years later in 2021, the company went public. Since Alba is less active in the acting world than she once was, this venture is probably helping her pay the bills in a big way. 

Main Profession: Singer/Songwriter
Side Hustle: Doula
Net Worth: $10 million*

To most people, Erykah Badu is a musician and a brilliant entertainer, but to others, she’s their doula. Badu has been hot property in the music industry since the ‘90s, but apparently, she’s just as good at using her soothing tones to help moms safely deliver their kids. 

Erykah Badu @thefader / Pinterest.com

Badu only works with a handful of clients, but that’s what marks the experience all the more special. According to one Vogue writer, Badu works with the mom-to-be from the get-go until the baby is around one year old. As you can imagine, she gives some very wise advice!

Main Profession: Musician
Side Hustle: Kravitz Design Inc.
Net Worth: $60 million*

We all know that Lenny Kravitz is an iconic musician, but did you know that when he’s not tearing it up on stage he’s hard at work with his creative studio, Kravitz Design? The star launched the business in 2003 and covers a lot of ground. 

Lenny Kravitz @iconointerioris / Pinterest.com

Kravitz Design can take care of interiors, commercial design, and even produce some top-notch graphics for companies in need. When it comes to making money, Kravitz is a jack of all trades. Just one look at the website tells you that Kravitz really is the king of cool.

Main Profession: Acting
Side Hustle: Foodstirs
Net Worth: $20 million*

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is also Buffy the…baker? That’s right. Sarah Michelle Gellar, star of Buffy and vampire-slaying enthusiast, is also the owner of a national cooking company. Foodstirs produces baking kits, baked treats, and mixes for sale online and in stores across the country.

Foodstirs Sarah - Michelle Gellar @vincent8a / Pinterest.com

Headquartered in Santa Monica, the private company focuses on being a “junk-free” bakery. The company makes its food from organic, non-GMO ingredients that let you “savor the flavor” without having “the guilt.” Organic cookies, brownies, and cakes are for sale pre-made or in a kit, and Michelle Gellar was inspired to start the company after she saw there was a need for non-junky sweet treats.  

Main Profession: Acting, Comedy
Side Hustle: Funny or Die
Net Worth: $160 million*

Will Ferrell is one of comedy’s biggest and brightest stars. The actor has starred in contemporary classics like Anchorman, Stepbrothers, Talladega Nights, Old School, and more. The comedian was an SNL alum before he became a movie star.

Funny or Die Will Ferrell @Funny Or Die / Youtube.com

Apparently, he’s also a producer too, and not just of movies. Ferrell founded the site Funny or Die, which is a video website dedicated to all things LOL-worthy. Ferrell owns it, along with Adam McKay, Chris Henchy, and Mark Kvamme. He founded the site in 2007, and it has a lot of classic Ferrell clips on it, in addition to producing movies like Between Two Ferns and Impractical Jokers.   

Main Profession: Actress, Activist
Side Hustle: SPiN Ping Pong Club
Net Worth: $60 million*

Actress Susan Sarandon and non-celebrities Andrew Gordon, Jonathan Bricklin, Wally Green, and Frack Raharinosy founded a different kind of fitness club. This fitness club wasn’t based on treadmills or weights. Instead, it was united by one sport: ping pong.

Susan Sarandon Playing Ping Pong @ Strombo / Pinterest.com

SPiN is an international line of ping pong clubs and bars. Founded in 2009, SPiN opened its first location in 2009. Sarandon was inspired to get into the business after she attended a ping pong party hosted by Raharinosy, who was a friend of her then-boyfriend. The chain has even gotten into philanthropy, partnering with youth organizations to give at-risk kids a chance to play.

Main Profession: Acting 
Side Hustle: Fabletics
Net Worth: $80 million*

Kate Hudson, star of classic movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Almost Famous, Bride Wars, and Fool’s Gold, isn’t just an Oscar-nominated actress. She’s also a businesswoman, and she owns a very successful athleisure line called Fabletics.

Fabletics Kate Hudson @mercarius / Pinterest.com

Fabletics, which is up for an IPO soon and just hired banks for the process, brings in half a billion dollars in revenue each year. Hudson, a fitness fanatic herself, started the company in 2013, and it took off from there. The brand has a membership program, and its e-commerce business is the heart of its money-making, along with fifty brick-and-mortar stores. 

Main Profession: Acting
Side Hustle: College Professor
Net Worth: $140 million*

Matthew McConaughey might not seem like a college professor (he’s pretty ripped), but he is, and at his old school, nonetheless. McConaughey graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1993, achieving a degree in film. He then would go on to be a super-famous actor, starring in movies like Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club, Dazed and Confused, and many, many more.

College Professor Matthew McConaughey @Entertainment Tonight / Youtube.com

He is a visiting instructor, as his busy acting schedule likely doesn’t leave much time for teaching. However, he’s taught at least one class a semester since 2016, no doubt thrilling students who get to meet the superstar celebrity.