These Are the 3 Most Profitable Celebrity-Owned Businesses — What Entrepreneurs Can Learn from Their Success
Written by
Dawn Allcot
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Most wealthy individuals don’t just have one source of income. They develop multiple revenue streams to create financial security in any economic climate.
For many celebrities, the money they earn from their creative pursuits such as music, acting, or modeling, provides the capital they need to take a chance and launch a business.
A new study from custom packaging manufacturer Arka shared the most successful celebrity-owned companies in 2024. Businesses were ranked based on annual revenue and search popularity.
The names at the top of the list may not be surprising, but closer analysis offers incredible insights for start-up entrepreneurs.
Dr. Dre: Beats by Dr. Dre
With $1.5 billion in annual revenue from the sale of headphones, earbuds and Bluetooth speakers, Beats by Dr. Dre tops the list of successful celebrity-owned businesses.
The company launched in 2008, born out of Dre’s desire to improve the way fans would hear his music. Bemoaning cheap earbuds and headphones that didn’t showcase the bass profile in Dre’s rap, he told business partner Jimmy Iovine, as reported by Forbes, “It’s one thing that people steal my music. It’s another thing to destroy the feeling of what I’ve worked on.”
By marketing to the same demographics that purchase Nike sneakers to make a fashion statement, Beats quickly became a fashion accessory despite the high price tag.
Kim Kardashian: SKIMS
The right shapewear can make anyone feel like a celebrity. But even celebrities struggle to find the right fit when it comes to undergarments.
This challenge drove Kim Kardashian to found SKIMS, a shapewear line available in sizes XXS up to 4X, with 10 choices in skin tone.
“It started off with simply finding shapewear that was a skin tone that would match my color,” Kardashian said in a cover story for Time, as reported by People.com. “I used to take my shapewear and dye it with tea bags and coffee in the bathtub.”
SKIMS earns $750 million in revenue annually and has garnered 4.2 million searches.
Selena Gomez: Rare Beauty
Like Kardashian, songstress Selena Gomez started her company because she wanted to create more inclusive products to help women look and feel their best.
Her cosmetics company, Rare Beauty, seeks to challenge industry norms, according to an article on TheIndustry.Beauty.
“These products aren’t about being someone else, it’s about being who you are, whether that’s rocking a full face of bold makeup or barely any makeup at all,” said Gomez in the article.
The message resonated with her target audience. Launched in 2020, Rare Beauty generates $600 million in annual revenue and has a search popularity of 3.3 million, according to Arka’s research.
The company’s success catapulted Gomez onto the billionaire’s list in 2024, with a net worth of $1.3 billion, according to Bloomberg.com.
The Secrets to Celebrity Success
A common thread runs through successful celebrity businesses. These stars drew on their passions and interests, found a unique need in the marketplace and filled that gap with innovative products.
They paired up with the right people to help execute their vision, creating not just an additional revenue stream for themselves but enduring brands that positively impact people’s lives.
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